Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund thanking volunteers who put on the show for the Vernon Winter Carnival.

(STACY PAVLOV / iNFOnews.ca)

Everybody loves a parade; especially the Vernon Winter Carnival parade.

Time is running out to enter a float into the popular 58th annual winter  parade. Entries must be registered by this Friday, Jan. 12. The parade winds its way through downtown Vernon starting at noon Feb. 3.

“We have over 60 people who have already registered…but we usually see around 100 so we are expecting a lot more entries,” said Vicki Proulx, Vernon Winter Carnival executive coordinator during the media carnival kick-off Tuesday evening at Fairfield Inn and Suites.

Carnival in Wonderland, this year’s theme, is packed with events including 50 free activities such as family day, dance lessons, snow sculpture competition, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, kids carnival,  Unicorn party, Adventures in Marketland and dozens more. There are also 14 new events including an online auction.

“We’re really excited to be holding an online auction this year from Feb. 5-8. People can make their bids on Facebook. The items include a houseboat vacation from Waterways Houseboats, an autographed Seattle Seahawks hat, two return tickets from Kelowna courtesy of Pacific Coastal Airlines and  13 weeks of homepage advertising courtesy of iNFONEWS.ca,” said Proulx.

"We are very, very grateful to have our sponsors," said Deb White, Vernon Winter Carnival chair.

Four carnival events are already sold out, but there are many more with tickets remaining. The Jopo Raffle is a wonderland of prizes with the grand prize being a one week relaxation holiday from March 16-23 in a one bedroom suite, donated by Cotton’s Chocolates and the Sweet Smiles Society valued at $1,200. Tickets are $2.00 each and available at the carnival office at 3401 35th Ave.

Retiring 57th carnival royalty, Queen Silver Star Jordynne Tomiak and Princess Silver Star Meghan Townley will hand over their crowns to the winning candidates Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Schubert Centre during the procolamation and coronation event. Tickets are $20 and available from the candidates, at the Winter Carnival office or at the door.  Doors open at 6:15 with the show running from 7 to 10 p.m.

Vernon Mayor Akbul Mund expressed his appreciation to those who organize, support and participate in the carnival, many of them for multiple years.

“Without the board ofdirectors we could never put this on, and to the volunteers who come out to help. The sponsors do so much as well, and thanks to the media. We’re looking forward to things this year,” said Mund at the kick-off.

Carnival in Wonderland runs Feb.2-11. Visit  www.vernonwintercarnival.com for more information, and visit and like them on Facebook. Be sure to check out the online auction items on Facebook. Bidding starts Feb. 5.

News from © iNFOnews, 2018