FILE PHOTO - Kelowna's downtown Christmas Tree December, 2014.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA – The official launch of the Christmas season starts the first weekend of December, and Kelowna has a sleigh-full of fun activities to help get you in the spirit.

The biggest event this weekend is the downtown Kelowna Light Up Saturday, Dec. 5, with live music, crafts, shopping, food, ice skating and Santa, followed by the lighting of a brand new tree next to the sails. 

Light Up starts at 11 a.m. at Stuart Park on Water Street.

You can pick up a copy of the schedule at participating venues, or download it here.

Also on Saturday is Handel's Messiah presented by the Okanagan Festival Singers. See the entire Messiah performance with choir, orchestra and soloists at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church on Lakeshore Drive. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students and can be purchased at Wentworth Music, Keystone Music and Mosaic Books.

The Evangel Church on Gordon Drive is hosting The Nutcracker produced by Mission Dance Centre and Company Saturday night at 7 p.m. Narrated by Peter Comrie, this ballet is a Christmas classic. Admission is by donation.

If you’d rather spend your weekend getting a dose of adrenaline, then check out the Big White Winter Rally and SnowX Saturday starting at noon. This is the seventh running of the Rally and SnowX at Big White Ski Resort. 

The Kelowna Rockets will be hosting Portland Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Prospera Place. Get your tickets here. 

Also at noon on Saturday is the 25th annual Santa Shuffle. This 1 km or 5 km fun run raises money for the Salvation Army. Runners are encouraged to dress as their favourite character. For more information visit the Santa Shuffle website.

On Saturday at 11 a.m. the SPCA has organized a Santa Dive in Okanagan Lake. SCUBA divers from the Okanagan Dive Club will gear up in Santa suits in the name of charity. There will be pictures with Santa, guest appearances from the Grinch, raffles and more.

On Sunday at 3 p.m. the Willow Park Shopping Centre and Roxby Square are hosting the Uptown Rutland Christmas Light Up. For more information visit the Light Up website.

Also on Sunday, the Mount Boucherie Community Centre in West Kelowna will hold Winterfest starting at 8:30 a.m. There will be a pancake breakfast, ice skating, crafts, cookie decorating, face painting, food and hot drinks. Santa will also be paying a visit in the afternoon.

This is a free family event but a donation of a non-perishable item for the food bank would be greatly appreciated. 

Did we miss an event? Leave it in the comments section below.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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