The Winnipeg Pipe Band at the Pacific Tattoo held in July in Victoria. The first Okanagan Tattoo is planned for next summer in Vernon.
Image Credit: pacifictattoo.com
August 12, 2013 - 1:30 PM
The postponed Okanagan Tattoo will march on next year, but they haven't surrendered the 2013 season hoping to drum-up an audience for a mini-tattoo this coming Thursday.
A tattoo is a demonstration of precision military drumming, piping or musical expertise. It's not that painful one that involves needles and ink.
Organizer and president of the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe and Drum Society Norm Crerar says they'll put on a mini-tattoo at the Vernon Army Camp Dieppe Parade Square Aug. 15. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and will feature the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band, the Shuswap Pipe and Drums, along with bands from Kelowna and Penticton. There will also be highland and Ukrainian dancing demonstrations, some BMX riders and a firefighting fit challenge. The show will run before the Army Cadet Camp's sunset ceremony.
The military pipe and drum festival was going to be held on Aug. 3 at Kal Tire Place in Vernon, but a last minute cancellation by a brass military marching band put the Tattoo on hold. The band was forced to stand down for the summer due to budget cuts.
"You can't have a Tattoo without a military marching band," Crerar says. "The postponement has given us a chance to reach out to more out-of-town bands. We'll have all the local bands, Ukrainian dancers, highland dancers, all the local talent."
Crerar is hoping next year's Okanagan Tattoo will be the beginning of something big for the valley.
"A Tattoo is good for tourism. It's good for business."
He expects to have about 400 performers in Vernon next year.
"If it builds the way we think it will, other local cultural groups will eventually have their own festivals that will run in conjunction with the Okanagan Tattoo."
I would like to see it build into a week long celebration of ethnic cultures in the Okanagan says Crerar.
Next year's event will go the weekend of Aug 2. at Kal Tire Place.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013