Plenty of purple Fez's on display in Nanton this week as the Elks and the Elks Royal Purple are holding their annual National Curling Championships.

Committee Chair Ken Lengyel says it's a pretty big deal.

"We have 31 teams, for a total of 124 curlers. There's five different events. There's ladies, mixed and then the three men's teams. The men's, seniors and masters."

The event runs through Saturday, March 25, at both the Nanton Arena and the Nanton Curling Club.

They wind things up Sunday, March 26, with the trophy presentations and a banquet.

Nanton Mayor Rick Everett (L) and Former MLA and Agriculture Minister Evan Berger celebrate the $50,000 upgrade to the Nanton Curling Club courtesy of a grant from the Federal Government.

No shortage of teams on hand to compete at this year's Elks and Elks Royal Purple event.

"Hurry Hard!!!" Jackson Hungry Wolf throws out the ceremonial first rock to get the festivities started Thursday, March 23 in Nanton.