CN Tower turns 50 with a lookalike costume contest
Wygo is hosting a contest Friday, June 26 at the tower's base. Winner gets cash and bragging rights for the most creative costume.
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The CN Tower, Toronto's crown jewel, is turning 50 this year — and a group of people are throwing it the most unusual birthday party.
Wygo, a Toronto-based community event platform, is hosting a CN Tower lookalike costume contest on Friday, June 26 at the base of the iconic tower. The quirky event has already caught the attention of locals and other cities, including Montreal, whose official social media account left a jealous comment.
"The CN Tower helps us celebrate every holiday, even the ones I've never heard of, but nobody ever celebrates the CN Tower itself," said Joss Murphy, one of the organizers. "One of the organizers, Joss Murphy, tells blogTO that the western hemisphere's tallest freestanding structure always represents Toronto, and it's time we all returned the favour."
This is the first lookalike contest for the six-member Wygo team, though they've had tremendous success throwing fast-paced scavenger hunts across the city. "I'd be thrilled to see more than 200 people turn out," Murphy says.
The image of hundreds of people dressed as the CN Tower while standing next to the CN Tower is incredibly funny — and would make for a killer photo-op. Similar successful lookalike contests for Heated Rivalry served as the model for this event.
On top of bragging rights and potential fame in a very niche corner of the internet, the winner can walk away with "a three-figure amount" in cash. The additional budget Wygo is supplying for the event will be mostly for cake, so everyone who shows up — whether or not they win — can participate in the birthday party aspect.
Murphy offers a few tips for contestants looking to stand out and take home the top prize. Decorating a bike helmet as the base of the tower works well for beginners. Wiring up your costume with lights to replicate the tower's colourful illuminations is another way to go above and beyond. "I think competing for the tallest tower is probably worthwhile," she adds. "I'd be very curious to see how tall someone can make themselves."
As for crowning a winner, the public will vote using a crowdsourced voting system that organizers will confirm before the night of the event.