Heading into its 57th year, the Whitehorse Curling Club's International bonspiel is still going strong.

The annual celebration begins today with a 4:30 p.m. draw and is the final bonspiel of the season for the club.

The event is the longest running Yukon bonspiel and has averaged more than 50 teams in the past few years, including 2009.

"We want also to celebrate our successes for our members throughout the year too," said Jon Solberg, business manager of the Whitehorse Curling Club. "That's good locally to host an event for them to kind of kick out the season and have some fun at the same time."

Solberg said what makes the International special is that it attracts teams from Fairbanks as well as Whitehorse's neighbouring communities like Atlin, Carcross, Teslin, Watson Lake, Mayo and Pelly Crossing.

"This really brings our communities together, us as well as our neighbours from Fairbanks to celebrate in the year-end."

Solberg said the bonspiel continues Friday afternoon, going "full steam ahead" Friday evening and all day Saturday. The bonspiel will conclude Sunday afternoon.

Instead of giving away a grand prize, the International features a prize table will set up with an assortment of items team members can choose from.

Prizes will include everything from power tools, curling supplies to clothing.

The top 16 teams on the men's and top 16 teams on the women's side will be able to select a prize.

The prize table will be made up of items from companies such as Canadian Tire, Coffee Tea and Spice and Climate Clothing.

Solberg said it's important for the club to include a wide variety of local business for the year-end bonspiel.

This year, the curling club has increased the money it spent on prizes to around $8,000, which is approximately $2,000 more than it spent in 2008.

Solberg said in the past, the club has allowed the winner of the A Division first selection, followed by the runners up.

While the time to register for the bonspiel ended earlier in the week, people who are interested can still purchase banquet tickets.

Saturday's banquet will feature a steak BBQ and live entertainment. The live entertainment will begin at 9:30 p.m. and should be over by about 1:30 a.m.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased in the curling club's lounge.