The town of Oliver is planning to double down on the power of the sun, hoping this weekendās sunny forecast and the townās Sunshine Festival will have Community Park packed with people in a celebration of summer.
The Sunshine Festival started last year as an effort by Oliver parks and recreation to offer an event following Oliverās yearly parade.
āEverybody was coming out for this awesome parade, and then going home like half-an-hour later, and I was like, āMaybe we should keep people around,āā said Carol Sheridan, festival director.
The festival will feature beverage gardens, live entertainment, vendors, kidsā games and activities, and carnival rides from West Coast Amusements.
However, according to Sheridan, the real heart of the show are the live acts. Lobo Blanco will be delivering up their reggae world beats and Vancouver-based classic rock band Worms Hate Rain will also be making the trip to play Community Parkās band shell. Lastly, Nankama, a west-African drum group will be performing their interactive drum and dance show on Saturday.
āAs far as our international component goes, this is what people should come down to see,ā said Sheridan.
As well, Penticton musician Mat Duffus will be performing mid-afternoon on Saturday. It will be Duffusā second time at the festival, and he said he plans on bringing a fun, spontaneous performance that both kids and adults will enjoy.
āI really like to get people out of their shell, and let them discover that they can entertain people and entertain themselves,ā he said, adding that he hopes to get as many people as he can on the stage to help him out.
The goal of this yearās festival, Sheridan said, is twofold: for Oliver residents to celebrate the summer and to provide a draw for tourists.
āWeāre trying to build the Sunshine Festival in July as a way (for tourists) to come into Oliver and spend a few days here in the summer,ā she said.
Building on last yearās success as a local, family-based event, Sheridan said organizers were working to expand this yearās focus and working to turn the festival into a draw for local adults and tourists.
āThis year weāve added a Friday night where weāre still a great time for families, but weāve kind of tried to say, āThis is a great way to start your weekend,ā to adults, like come on down, hit the beer garden, weāve got some great bands on Friday night,ā said Sheridan.
On Friday, the festival in Community Park will be open from 5 to 10 p.m., and on the Saturday it will be open following the 10:30 a.m. parade until 5 p.m.