The Shiamak Dancers will headline the final event in Vernon's Diwali Festival Oct. 19.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED
September 22, 2019 - 6:00 PM
VERNON - After a successful first year, organizers are back with the much-anticipated Diwali in Vernon Festival.
The five-day festival kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 15 and runs until Saturday, Oct. 19. A multitude of multicultural activities will fill the week and culminate in a final showcase performance at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
“The Festival welcomes everyone to participate in a multicultural gathering that aims to unite Vernon citizens, regardless of age, identity and culture,” said Janelle Escott, marketing and community engagement director with the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.
Headlining the multicultural showcase is Vancouver's popular Bollywood dance group the Shiamak Dancers. Renowned tablaist, Cassius Kahn, and Kathak Dancer, Amika Kushawa, a duo who recently performer for the United Nations in Geneva with rave reviews, will also headline the event. Tickets to the final performance are $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $30 for students through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469 or online at www.ticketseller.ca.
The Okanagan Regional Library will kick off the festivities Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. with pop-up performances from local dancers and free chai and samosas. The Vernon Public Art Gallery will launch its community rangoli before the launch.
A free lantern-making workshop is set for Oct. 16 at the Vernon Community Arts Centre from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Lanterns can be taken home or left on display as part of the Centre’s Diwali in Vernon Festival exhibit, which runs until Oct. 25. The museum will also host a multicultural gathering and discussion at 7 p.m.
Trace, the first performance in the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society’s 2019/20 Spotlight Dance Series is set for Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
“Red Sky Performance is at the forefront of contemporary indigenous performance in Canada and their show Trace is a highly kinetic dance that maps Anishinaabe sky and star stories and offers a glimpse into our origins as well as our future evolution,” said Escott, noting that tickets are available through the Ticket Seller.
The Caetani Centre is offering a free memoir writing workshop with Janelle Hardy from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 as part of the festival. A Bolly X workout is set at Soul Studio from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. End the night at the Vernon Public Art Gallery’s Art After Dark from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., which includes art activities, light refreshments and a raffle draw. Tickets are available through the Gallery.
Signalling the final day of the festival, the Okanagan Science Centre will host the One Sky, Many Stories planetarium show from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. featuring South Asian stories of Diwali and its significance. Regular entrance fees apply. The Curry Pot will host an Indian Buffet Dinner at 9 p.m. where one can eat with the performers and enjoy a delicious meal. Tickets for the dinner are $30 per person and are limited. Reserve a spot through the Ticket Seller.
For more information about upcoming events, visit the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre website.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Parker Crook or call (250) 864-7494 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.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2019