Tatewari brings their unmistakable sizzle to Vernon this weekend.

(FACEBOOK-TATEWARI / iNFOnews.ca)

Let your inner kid shine through this weekend or take in some exotic food and talent. There is no shortage of things to do throughout Kamloops and the Okanagan.

KAMLOOPS

It’s a magical place to be this weekend in Kamloops.

The Kamloops Children’s Arts Festival is full of Wizards and Wonder September 13 and 14 at Riverside Park.

The Kamloops Children's Arts Festival gives children in the Kamloops area, ages two and up, the chance to try out different art forms. Unlike many kids' festivals in the province, thanks to sponsors and supporters, the Kamloops event is completely free.

Friday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., there will be a fun after school party geared to slightly older children from six to 12 years. There will be sock puppet workshops, magic, cartooning, stop motion animation and much more.

Saturday, the day runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with art activities and performances. Children will be able to create their own wizardry gear including hats, wants, fairy wings or anything creative.

Visit here to download the full program.

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Valleyview residents are invited to join in on the Valleyview Community Association's Second Annual Community Block Party Saturday, September 14.

This is a family fun event that is free to attend. There will be games, prizes, music, community booths, activities and so much more. The Lions club will be cooking up a fabulous BBQ as well. All this amazing fun while listening to the incredible Dave Coalmine Solo. This is a great place to visit with neighbours new and old.

The party runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Valleyview Centennial Park.

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The VW Turtle River Race returns for the ninth year on Saturday, September 14 at the railway bridge on the South Thompson River.

Participants can Adopt a Turtle by buying a raffle ticket. There are over $15,000 in great prizes to be won. On Race Day, the turtles will be released into the South Thompson River at the railway bridge. From there, they'll race on the river's current past the Riverside Park beach, down to the finish line at the pier. The first three turtles from each of the two races will win incredible prize packages.

This year's proceeds from the VW Turtle River Race, the annual fundraiser hosted by Terry Lowe and the Volkswagen of Kamloops, will go to supporting youth education programming at Western Canada Theatre for the ninth year. Such support is vital for WCT’s subsidized student matinees, Stage One Theatre School for young performers aged four to 18, and family shows for all ages.

Turtle raffle tickets are sold by volunteers from June through race day September 14, at participating outlets across Kamloops. The number printed on each raffle ticket corresponds to a numbered plastic turtle.

Check out the prizes here. 

VERNON

Viva Mexico, a fiesta celebrating Mexican Independence Day through music, dance, food and company finds its way to Paddlewheel Park Friday, September 13 at 6 p.m.

Headliner Tatewari, a visionary international flamenco quartet, fuses Spanish, gypsy, jazz, rhumba and Mexican music traditions into a fiery and memorable concert experience.

Touring Western Canada to mark the release of their fourth CD, Tatewari brings a sparkling creativity to the stage, adding Mexican heat to their interpretations of traditional and contemporary flamenco music and masterful compositions inspired by life in the Bay of Bandaras. City Dance Latin dance masters will lead off the fiesta’s dancing, including a group mini-lesson.

All fiestas require good food and drink, available through the sale of handcrafted tacos from Shabbang Curbside Eats & Catering, Mexican desserts and cash bar. Bid on some truly surprising silent auction items and purchase handmade Mexican crafts and gifts. Proceeds go to Hope for The Nations, a local charity working with over 200,000 children in 21 countries.

Get tickets here.

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Calling all Dutchies in the Okanagan.

Whether you wear the wooden clogs or not, all are invited to join the sixth edition of the Dutch Mountain Fest, or Nederlands Bergfeest 2019 Saturday, September 14.

Frank Berkers, owner of the Bugaboos Bakery Cafe and Roel Van De Crommenacker, the Kitchen Designer expert in the North Okanagan, will make sure all have a great time in the Bugaboos on Silver Star Mountain Resort. Kids are welcome.

As in the previous years, the party is based on pot luck.....so all guests are asked to bring their own drinks and make some awesome food; salad, appies, mains, or dessert that will be put on tables, so everybody can enjoy great Dutch food. There is a huge fridge, oven and microwave that can be used.

Also, everybody can compete in a contest to win the Golden Wooden Shoe. You must wear or bring something Dutch to compete. Visit here for more info. 

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Welcome to the inaugural year of the Freaky Creeky 50 with four distances to choose from; 10 km, 25 km, 50 km and 100 km, located in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.

In this trail running event, runners will be taken through grassland dotted with Ponderosa pine and groves of Douglas fir, with km after km of single-track trail. Featuring some gnarly climbs, rolling terrain and a cross between technical and cruising descents, runners will find a challenging and scenic race course that leaves them feeling exhausted but overjoyed and fulfilled upon completion.

Don’t let the fact that this is the first Freaky Creeky race scare you off. This course is designed for trail runners, by trail runners, so you can expect priority to be placed on a challenging, crazy-fun, well-flagged, fantastically aided course with the mightiest of volunteers.

See more details and race descriptions here. 

KELOWNA

Join in on the Wilden Presentation Centre as Wilden Shows its Talents at the 2019 Creativity Festival Sunday, September 15th from 1-5 p.m.

A wide array of artists and artisans will display their work and crafting skills. As well, there will be live music, kids programs, food and drink tasting.This year’s Wilden Creativity Festival promises an abundance of fun, special treats and inspiration.

Find more event information here.  

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Earth to Table Vegan Market is proud to present their first outdoor market at the House of Rose Winery, Sunday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunshine (hopefully), wine, music and vegan goodies. What more could you ask for?

Earth to Table Vegan Market was created with one goal in mind; to create a space which encourages a cruelty-free and sustainable way of living.

Earth to Table brings together local vendors with products ranging from food to cosmetics and personal care products. Their belief is that having all these vendors under one roof will not only make acquiring vegan goods more accessible, but to help create dialogue within the community.

Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just curious about plant-based options, this market will have something for you.

Admission is free but donations for Critteraid will be accepted. For more info. visit the website. 

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Join in on the annual Movie in the Park Saturday, September 14 at 6 p.m. featuring Disney's Aladdin (2019).

Your Kettle Valley Neighbourhood Association is fortunate once again to obtain an early public screening of a blockbuster summer movie.

This time we present the classic tale from the book One Thousand and One Nights of how infinite strength and wealth comes from within and it is best to be yourself. Although this is a free event, a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family would be appreciated to enable the continuation of this activity for future occasions. A fun "Walk To" event as there is no street parking available. Everyone is welcome. Title Sponsor: Stone Sisters Group, Mission Creek Animal Hospital. For your convenience the Kettle Valley Coffee and Scoops will be on site to provide hot drinks and snacks for purchase. More information is available here.

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PENTICTON

Lace up your shoes and remember Terry Fox while raising much needed funds for cancer research.

The Terry Fox Run heads out from the SS Sicamous Sunday, September 15 at 10 a.m.

This is the 39th year for the run, walk or wheel to support Canada’s hero and keep the dream alive. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

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