Buskers will fill Riverside Park in Kamloops this weekend.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Tourism Kamloops

It's a jammed packed weekend of things to do in the Okanagan and Kamloops this weekend.

Catch one event, or catch 'em all, but be sure to enjoy some of what our communities offer.

KAMLOOPS

Kamloops welcomes the world to Riverside Park for the second annual Buskers Festival. It runs until Sunday, July 28.

Professional street performers from the local region, across Canada, South America, Europe and Australia will converge on the park. The event is a family-oriented, free festival presented on outdoor stages.

Tips into the Buskers’ hats are welcomed and appreciated.

Entertainers include acrobats, magicians, jugglers, hula hoops, artists, musicians and more. You’ll be amazed by the outstanding depth of talent. Get the schedule here. 

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The Ride to Reach motorcycle fundraiser will hit the road for A Way Home Kamloops from July 26 to 28.

The group will leave Kamloops and ride through the Rocky Mountains to Jasper.

Ride to Reach is an annual charitable motorcycle ride that was established in July 2011 by Tim Kasten and Justin O’Conner. This marks the 9th ride and organizers hope to raise $50,000.

All funds raised will go towards providing safe and stable housing for homeless youth through the Safe Suites program. Find more information here. 

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Donkey ambassadors will be out to meet and greet you as the Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge kicks off their Donkey Day Fundraiser on July 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This unique event has been dormant for a few years while the refuge focused on other special events for their members and supporters.

This year marks the first time in three years that the refuge will celebrate Donkey Day and they will celebrate 20 years of donkey rescue. There will be special donkey ambassador barn areas, kids’ crafts for making donkey ear hats and a food concession with nachos. The Refuge’s 2019 T-shirts and one of a kind donkey related items are featured in the Donkey Shoppe and will be available throughout the event.

The event helps raise support and awareness for donkeys by collecting donations for hay, sponsorships for ambassador donkeys and memberships to the refuge.

The Refuge is located at 7877 Skimikin Rd. in Chase. Visit here for more info.

VERNON

The Okanagan Military Tattoo is returning to Kal Tire Place Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 for one evening and one afternoon show.

This musical extravaganza of pipers, drummers, musicians, military bands, marching troops, multicultural dancers and singers of all ages come together in an action-packed, non-stop choreographed two-hour event.

There will be over 400 performers featured from all over North America paying tribute to military past and present.

A musical tattoo is a demonstration of military drumming, piping and skills. Known as a 'tattoo' from when the British Army was fighting in Belgium 300 years ago, soldiers were called in from the pubs each night for curfew, or Doe den tap toe, Dutch for 'Turn off the taps, too'.

The expression evolved to 'tap-too' and then 'tattoo'. The Okanagan Military Tattoo is an exhilarating showcase of military bands, choirs and skills as well as the sounds and dances of today's finest performers from around the world.

For more information go here. 

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This Saturday, July 27, bring the whole family to the Enderby Arts Festival to enjoy this free, family-friendly event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Enderby.

In addition to 40 vendors, there will be an all-day entertainment stage, Lions pancake breakfast, Legion burgers and food court, along with a live auction of artist-painted chairs, benches or stools.

The Family Fun Zone returns to Belvidere Park (by the bridge) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be face painting, bouncy castle, games, crafts, a roving puppeteer/ventriloquist, clowns and a mini-goat petting zoo. Bring a chair or blanket.

The Enderby & District Community Resource Centre is partnering with the Enderby & District Arts Council to organize and run these activities for children. Visit the website here for more information.

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The Enderbeer and Wine Festival returns to the Lions Gazebo in Enderby this Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m.

Hosted by the Enderby and District Chamber of Commerce, the fifth annual festival will bring a country kick to the event with country music guitar slinger Ben Click.

This beer tasting event, established five years ago by the Enderby Fire Rescue Society, has evolved over the years to incorporate wineries, distilleries and cideries from the neighbouring communities.

This is a 19-plus event. Go here for tickets. 

KELOWNA

Once again, Big White has invited some of the best cideries and breweries from all over B.C. to the mountain on Saturday, July 27.

Join in as cideries serve their delicious, thirst-quenching beverages at 7500 feet. Last year, Somersby, Lone Tree, Left Field, BX Press, Okanagan Springs, Summerland Cidery, Sea Cider, Truck 59 Cider House, Urban Distilleries and Merridale Cidery all joined to celebrate and offer tastings.

Tastings begin at 12 p.m. Visit the Concierge Desk inside the Village Centre Mall to get your wristband, then purchase your tasting tokens on The Woods Patio located in the Village Center. This year will see the return of the Craft Market, which is a great chance to find some new household treasures, gorgeous works of art, or maybe a beautiful piece of jewelry for someone special.

The main stage will see live performances from artists on stage. Be sure to also check out apple bobbing, oversized games and the henna booth. For more information visit Big White's website here.

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The East Kelowna Market is proud to present A Mid-Summer’s Market at the Father Pandosy Mission for one day Sunday, July 28 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

This fun, family affair on the grounds of a beautiful heritage museum will allow participants to explore Kelowna’s past while you experience a community of creative entrepreneurs.

There will be all local fun and games with Orbis Sports Okanagan and Axe Monkeys, fresh produce, food and family-friendly refreshments, crafters, jewellers and other vendors, wine tastings, visual artists, live music and give-a-ways. Find out more about the event here.

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The Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT) is freshening up your pets’ coats Saturday, July 27 at Bosley’s in Penticton.

ALERT is a non-profit and volunteer-driven group dedicated to animal welfare through the preparation for and the actual rescue and shelter of domestic animals and livestock in a disaster.

On Saturday, these volunteers will wash and dry your dog. A minimum $10 donation will go towards animal care during local disasters. Meet ALERT volunteers to learn about emergency response and preparedness for you and your animals. You can find more information about the event here.

PENTICTON

The beach will be rockin’ in Penticton on Friday, July 26.

The Barefoot Beach Resort on Skaha Lake Rd. comes alive with the fourth annual Rockin’ the Beach rock tribute concert featuring tributes to David Bowie, The Tragically Hip, Pearl Jam, Pat Benatar, Fleetwood Mac and others.

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