The 18th Annual Elvis Festival returns to Penticton this long weekend.
Image Credit: Penticton Elvis Festival
June 28, 2019 - 6:00 AM
This summer is heating up to be a beauty with so many returning and new events to check out throughout the Thompson-Okanagan. Take a tour this long weekend to see what's happening.
PENTICTON
The Penticton Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival Society brings the 18th Annual Penticton Elvis Festival.
The festival, Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30, will be held indoors at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and outdoors at Okanagan Lake Park.
The popular event showcases dozens of Elvis tribute artists. The tradition of rock and roll excellence continues. This a weekend of remembering Elvis through his extensive musical library and touching stories from those who knew him.
The Penticton Elvis Festival Society is a not-for-profit society whose main goal is to celebrate the life and music of the greatest entertainer ever known…
For more information about this year’s event, including the Pre-Party and Wind Up/After Party, visit http://www.pentictonelvisfestival.ca/
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You’ll be licking your fingers while enjoying the tastes at the Rotary RibFest in Penticton Friday, June 28 to Monday, July 1.
The weekend will see live music, kids zone, complete with clown school, dancing, beverage garden with a family section open to all, and mouth-watering ribs from competitive barbeque artists from all over North America.
The fun all goes down on the shore of stunning Okanagan Lake at the East end of Lakeshore Drive.
Admission is free with donated proceeds going to Rotary projects such as local parks, the Youth Centre (YES), Stratford Centre Kitchen, Penticton Regional Hospital, Worldwide Polio eradication and more. Donate if you can.
KELOWNA
Come out and celebrate the opening of the Janzen Garlic Acres Farm Saturday, June 29 from noon until 5 p.m.
Everyone will enjoy the petting zoo, farm tours, and various games. Ticketed activities include a hayride, tractor-pulled cow carts and duck race.
The opening day is in partnership with the Central Okanagan Food Bank to launch a canned food drive. General Admission is $6. Each ticketed activity is $5. Admission is free with a minimum three can donation. https://www.facebook.com/events/335999497079470/
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It’s a folk fest kind of Canada Day in Penticton.
Prospera Place will come alive during Canada’s birthday July 1. There will be a variety of ethnic entertainment and food. Admission is by donation.
Stuart Park, Waterfront Park and Kerry Park will also be hopping with tons of activities and performances that are multi-generational, family-friendly and entertaining. Over 60,000 people are expected for the day which runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Be sure to check out each location for something different.
New this year you can use your phone to tap and donate. Look for the "square" at each Info booth into Waterfront Park. Visit https://www.tourismkelowna.com/event/celebrate-canada-day-kelowna-2019/18580/amp/ for the full schedule.
VERNON
Canada Day comes alive in several locations in Vernon this long weekend.
Be part of the celebration at Silver Star all weekend.
The Star is highlighting and celebrating favorite Canadian pastimes. Whether it’s trail running races, bike events, music or simply taking in the breathtaking view, Silver Star has it all this weekend.
Saturday will kick off the weekend with Slay the Dragon Trail running race that will see competitors run 13, 25 or 50 k.m. around the resort and deep into the forest. Starting at noon and into Sunday is the return of the Okanagan 24s back to the region with a 24-hour race (team or solo) – the highest 24-hour mountain bike race in Canada.
Cake cutting takes place at noon, plus all day fun activities include live music, eurobungy, gondola rides, snow cones and more.
More info at http://www.skisilverstar.com/summer/activities-events/events-calendar/month
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Polson Park comes alive again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with games, activities, music, demonstrations that will make your hair curl, mouth-watering food and of course cake. Check out https://www.facebook.com/NOCDS/ for the schedule.
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Funtastic is back with a bang this weekend at the DND grounds in Vernon.
The slo-pitch and music extravaganza gets underway Friday, June 28 and runs until Monday, July 1. Come cheer on the fun, dressed up teams. Games will also be played at Grahame Park at Fulton Secondary School.
The Funtastic A&W Funtastic Music Festival runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
Listening to what the public requested, music Director Tim Reardon has provided bands covering a variety of genres. Everything from The Young’uns, to Dirt Road Kings, Simply Queen and Bad Moon Riders, a CCR tribute band and others you won’t want to miss. There’s a band for everyone. Schedule at http://funtasticsports.ca/
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The BX Press Cidery and Orchard’s fun summer series of events kicks off this weekend.
The summer concert series begins Friday, June 28 with Lowell Friesen & Lancen Harms team up to bring you a tasty combination of familial harmonies, sprightly acoustic interplay and poetic lyrical license.
Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music starts 6:30 p.m. Wood fired pizza, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available.
The cidery also offers a Sunday brunch June 30, long table dinners, stretch and sip yoga and cider social and cider tasting events throughout the summer. Visit https://thebxpress.com/
KAMLOOPS
It’s going to be a wild weekend in Kamloops.
Summer kick-off weekend of the BC Wildlife Park runs Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30.
The weekend will see all sorts of exciting animal encounters including snake, birds of prey, turtle and bearded dragon encounters. Visitors can also take in the fun of a porcupine, bison and bobcat feedings. Shows run every hour each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit https://www.bcwildlife.org/
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Art in the Park is a part of the City of Kamloops Canada Day celebrations along with Kamloops Multicultural Society's Folkfest at Riverside Park.
This year, more than 100 artists and artisans will show and sell their work.
Performances will be taking place on the grass stage on the southeast side of the park, including performances from Randi Edmundson the Puppeteer, Campbell Whitaker and Friends Juggling, Wishins Well Parties, Lindy in the Loops, local buskers and others.
The Rivertown Players Summer Theatre Group will also make their seasonal debut.
The new 'Mural Moolah Madnesss' lotto fundraiser will be on display and people 19+ can purchase a ticket for a chance to win $5000 with phenomenal odds with only 500 tickets being sold.
Artwork showcased into the 'Release from the Vault' Silent Auction Series will be on display.
The public is encouraged to take advantage of free bus service on Canada Day, or ride their bicycles. Secure bike parking is provided y donation to Kamloops Mental Health Association.
To contact our events coordinator, email Stacy Pavlov or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2019