Lineups around the block since night before for local Hockey Card Day giveaways

Edmontonians camped out waiting for Wayne's Sports Cards and Collectibles to open from Friday night until Saturday afternoon.

Edmonton sports card collectors take National Hockey Card Day seriously.

That was evident by the lineup curled around Wayne’s Sports Cards and Collectibles, which started at 9 p.m. Friday and is expected to last until 3 p.m. Saturday.

Patrons were looking to collect a free pack of Upper Deck NHL trading cards. Store owner Wayne Wagner said his shop alone would likely see 1,000-1,300 enthusiasts by close.

“We absolutely love this day, our day of giving back to the collectors. And it’s the first for us in our new building, which is amazing,” Wagner said on Saturday.

The 35-year-old hobby shop’s new space, which opened late last year, was the perfect setting for both the free pack giveaways and a prize-guaranteed balloon pop.

There were also 150 door prizes for the first people in line.

“That’s probably part of the reason everybody gets in line … creates a little bit of excitement, and it’s great to see,” he said.

Those who camped out seemed more than happy to do so.

“Chasing the big prizes and camping out, the experience of it all, it’s fun,” said card collector Cade Hawkins, who lined up right around the 9 p.m. mark on Friday.

“Got to kill the time a bit, meet some new people, so that’s always good.”

National Hockey Card day is celebrated across the country as a way of keeping the hobby of sports card trading and collecting alive while creating an easy way for beginners to start their collections. Wayne’s Sports Cards has been participating in the tradition for 17 years.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall