With the weather expected to reach highs of 28 C, there will be plenty of sunshine to go along with Penticton’s Canada Day festivities.
Good news for sure as there will be lots of celebrating in Gyro Park.
The South Okanagan Women in Need Society and Quota International of Penticton will start the day off right with their eighth annual pancake breakfast fundraiser. The morning meal will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. and include pancakes, hotcakes and Summerland Sweets syrup, sausages, peach juice and coffee or tea for only $5.
The Downtown Penticton Association will present a public market on the 200 and 300 block of Main Street with 60 vendors from 9 a.m. right through to 4 p.m.
The International Food Fair begins at 10 a.m. in Gyro Park, serving cuisines from around the world right through to 10 p.m. with a big Canada birthday cake served at noon.
The entertainment kicks off at the bandshell at 11 a.m. with Lucas Penner, followed by Black Widow Skippers at 12:30 p.m.; Rube Band & Amigo Diego at 1 p.m.; Indo-Canadian Dancers at 1:45 p.m.; Bahiti Belly Dancers at 2 p.m.; Michael Musclow at 3 p.m.; Clarenz & Russell & Taylor at 3:45 p.m.; Kirk Dixon at 4 p.m.; Darylectones at 5 p.m.; Okus Pokus at 6 p.m.; Get Bent Belly Dance at 7 p.m.; Nankama with Bobby Bovenzi & Friends at 8 p.m.; and Pappa Wheely from 9 to 10:30 p.m. The celebrations will climax with fireworks at 10:30 p.m. at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.
The Grist Mill Heritage Club in Keremeos is hosting an evening of historic stories and live music from 4 p.m into the late evening. The Kettle Valley Brakemen will be preforming folk and bluegrass music from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Cawston’s Infusion will perform from 8:30 through dusk. In addition, Jack and March Durand will play a set of lively French Canadian folk ballads and visiting Mexican farm workers will present traditional fiesta dance pieces. Admission is free, with folks being encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets and cushions to sit on.
The Women’s Institute in Okanagan Falls will host live entertainment and games with food, beverages, crafts and cake from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kenyon Park.
And in Summerland, the Legion will host a Canada Day celebration with a colour party, cadets and pipe band marching to the cenotaph and raising the flag at 11 a.m. There will be face painting, clowns, balloons and traditional games. There will also be hotdogs, hamburgers, soft drinks and ice cream by donation, along with cake.