Festival

In past years, the Summerland Festival of Lights attracted around 10,000 people to downtown Summerland. This year, a three-weekend event has been scheduled in December to launch the festive season. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland’s light-up to extend over three weekends

Event in December marks start of festive season in the community

 

Crowds pack Kings Stadium at the 2018 Denim on the Diamond show in Kelowna. The 1-day festival returns Oct. 2, 2021. (Denim on the Diamond/Facebook)

Thanks to the B.C. vax card, Denim on the Diamond still a go in Kelowna

Those hoping to attend the event will need to be fully vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine

 

The Shumka Dancers and Running Thunder Dancers will perform together during the Ryga Arts Festival in August, 2021. (Contributed)

Events scheduled for Ryga Arts Festival in Summerland

Festival in Summerland will feature theatre, music and more

 

Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki presents Peach Festival president Don Kendall with the Order of the Peach medal while making an announcement at Gyro Park Thursday that they will jointly host a one day Peach Fest this summer on Aug. 7, 2021. (Brennan Phillips Western News)

Mini Peach Fest coming to Penticton this summer

Mega Motorcross, parade and concert among the festival’s one-day celebration

Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki presents Peach Festival president Don Kendall with the Order of the Peach medal while making an announcement at Gyro Park Thursday that they will jointly host a one day Peach Fest this summer on Aug. 7, 2021. (Brennan Phillips Western News)
Farm fresh food is on display at the Summerland Fall Fair. While the fair did not run last year, organizers are planning a one-day event in Memorial Park in late September. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland Fall Fair planned for Sept. 25

One-day event will be held in Memorial Park

Farm fresh food is on display at the Summerland Fall Fair. While the fair did not run last year, organizers are planning a one-day event in Memorial Park in late September. (Summerland Review file photo)
Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)

Merritt country music festival’s ‘crazy-ass scene’ recalled in photographer’s new book

Campground C party zone and more remembered in Dee Lippingwell’s third book

Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)
The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to meet with the Interior Provincial Exhibition organization in Armstrong to help ensure the long-term viability of the annual fair, which has been cancelled the last two years due to the pandemic. (Morning Star - file photo)

Vernon chamber calls on Victoria to ensure viability of Armstrong’s fair

The annual IPE, more than a century old, has been cancelled the last two years due to COVID-19

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to meet with the Interior Provincial Exhibition organization in Armstrong to help ensure the long-term viability of the annual fair, which has been cancelled the last two years due to the pandemic. (Morning Star - file photo)
Canadian blues sensation Colin James will close down Saturday night, Aug. 14 of the 2021 digital Salmon Arm Roots Blues Festival. (Black Press Media file photo)

Salmon Arm’s Roots & Blues Festival returns online after 2020 success

Nine acts, including Colin James, Caleigh Cardinal, to perform on festival website Aug. 13 and 14.

  • Jun 18, 2021
Canadian blues sensation Colin James will close down Saturday night, Aug. 14 of the 2021 digital Salmon Arm Roots Blues Festival. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sandra Krauer, Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki and Barb Hoolaeff were in Skaha Park to announce the return of Ribfest for September, 2021. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Ribfest returns to Penticton

Festival runs from Sept. 17 - 19 at Skaha Lake Park with proceeds going to new splash park

Sandra Krauer, Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki and Barb Hoolaeff were in Skaha Park to announce the return of Ribfest for September, 2021. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
The popular Penticton Elvis Festival is cancelled this June again. (File photo)

Penticton Elvis Festival cancelled

‘It is with heavy hearts and great disappointment we can’t host our Festival again this year’

The popular Penticton Elvis Festival is cancelled this June again. (File photo)
Adrian Witt has been named the managing director of the Ryga Arts Festival. The festival is held each year in Summerland in honour of Canadian author and playwright George Ryga. (Contributed)

Ryga Arts Festival names managing director

Annual arts festival will be held in Summerland in August

Adrian Witt has been named the managing director of the Ryga Arts Festival. The festival is held each year in Summerland in honour of Canadian author and playwright George Ryga. (Contributed)
The Summerland Action Festival was last held in 2019. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not known if the festival in early June will be able to go ahead this year. (Summerland Review file photo)

Organizers uncertain if Summerland Action Festival can proceed

Festival planned for early June typically attracts thousands of people to Summerland

The Summerland Action Festival was last held in 2019. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not known if the festival in early June will be able to go ahead this year. (Summerland Review file photo)
The Abbotsford Tulip Festival is permanently closing, with plans to eventually set up in Armstrong, B.C. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Abbotsford Tulip Festival is closing, with plans to rebloom in Armstrong

Event organizer says pandemic and sale of land were factors in decision

The Abbotsford Tulip Festival is permanently closing, with plans to eventually set up in Armstrong, B.C. (Abbotsford News file photo)
A member of the SkyHawks parachute team colours the skies over Okanagan Lake Park on the opening day of the 2019 Penticton Peach Festival. (Western News - File )

Penticton Peach Festival calling on past royalty for 75th-anniversary reunion

All past royalty are being invited back for 2022’s Peachfest

A member of the SkyHawks parachute team colours the skies over Okanagan Lake Park on the opening day of the 2019 Penticton Peach Festival. (Western News - File )
Miss Okanagan Restoration Services Megan Fowles is crowned Queen Silver Star LX by her predecessor Hayley Rakos while the new Princess Silver Star, Miss Johnston Meier Insurance Piper Cahoon, watches Feb. 6, 2020 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Crown drops on North Okanagan’s royal tradition

Excellence program postponed due to COVID-19

Miss Okanagan Restoration Services Megan Fowles is crowned Queen Silver Star LX by her predecessor Hayley Rakos while the new Princess Silver Star, Miss Johnston Meier Insurance Piper Cahoon, watches Feb. 6, 2020 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
BC NDP’s Harwinder Sandhu, a Vernon registered nurse, was elected as the MLA for Vernon-Monashee in the Oct. 24 provincial election. (Black Press - file photo)

VIDEO: Vernon-Monashee MLA encourages safe Diwali celebrations

Harwinder Sandhu reminds people to “keep circles small” while celebrating the Festival of Lights this year

BC NDP’s Harwinder Sandhu, a Vernon registered nurse, was elected as the MLA for Vernon-Monashee in the Oct. 24 provincial election. (Black Press - file photo)
In past years, Summerland has launched the festive season with the annual Summerland Festival of Lights. This year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival has been cancelled. (Summerland Review file photo)

Festival of Lights cancelled in Summerland

Annual November event normally launches start of festive season

In past years, Summerland has launched the festive season with the annual Summerland Festival of Lights. This year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival has been cancelled. (Summerland Review file photo)
The Summerland Action Festival and other organizations have been allowed to carry forward their funding from the municipality for one year. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland grant in aid funding carried forward

Because of COVID-19, four organizations allowed to use this year’s funding in 2021

The Summerland Action Festival and other organizations have been allowed to carry forward their funding from the municipality for one year. (Summerland Review file photo)
The annual Ryga Arts Festival, which will be held in August, 2020, pays tribute to the works of Canadian playwright George Ryga. (File photo)

Ryga Arts Festival to include virtual and in-person events

Arts festival in Summerland will run from Aug. 15 to 23

The annual Ryga Arts Festival, which will be held in August, 2020, pays tribute to the works of Canadian playwright George Ryga. (File photo)
Author and playwright George Ryga lived in Summerland from 1962 until his death in 1987. His artistic legacy is honoured at the annual Ryga Arts Festival. (Contributed)

Ryga Arts Festival to proceed with online presence

Organizers of Summerland-based festival examining technologies to present readings and concerts

Author and playwright George Ryga lived in Summerland from 1962 until his death in 1987. His artistic legacy is honoured at the annual Ryga Arts Festival. (Contributed)