Peachfest kicks off in Penticton today

PENTICTON – The August long weekend has come and gone, now for a week of mostly free fun in Penticton.

The 68th annual Penticton Peach Festival starts today, Aug. 5, with an outstanding lineup of free family activities through Sunday, Aug. 9.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will take to the skies over Okanagan Lake Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 5, in their first performance over the Peach City since 2013. The aerial show gets underway at 6 p.m.

Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts opens five nights of free performances at the Peters Brothers Construction stage in Okanagan Lake Park. He’ll be followed by Canadian band 54-40 on Thursday, George Canyon Friday, High Voltage — an AC/DC tribute band — on Saturday and The Phonix on Sunday. Concerts get underway by 9:30 p.m., except for Sunday’s concert which starts at 8:35 p.m.

Special events occurring over Peachfest include:
– Shooting Star Amusements in Rotary Park throughout the festival
– The second annual Peach Bin Race on Aug. 5
– 63rd annual Square Dance Festival Aug. 5 to 8
– Peachfest Reel Film Festival, Aug. 5 to 9
– Sandcastle competiton, Aug. 6
– West Coast Loggers Show in Okanagan Lake Park, Aug. 5 to 8
– Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band free concert Aug. 7 and 8
– First annual Chefs Cook Off, Aug. 7
– Miss Penticton crowning, Aug. 7
– Elks Pancake Breakfast, Aug. 8
– Grand Parade, Aug. 8
– 12th annual Sheila Bishop Memorial Wooden Bat Slowpitch Tournament Aug. 8 and 9
– Third annual Pentown Throwdown Skateboard and BMX event, Aug. 8 and 9
– Peach Festival Steamfest Regatta, Aug. 8
– Downtown Penticton Association’s Kiddies Day Parade, Aug. 9

For a full list of events and times visit the Peachfest website.

Organizers expect crowds to most venues to be heavy through the week. Their advice is to arrive early, visit a vendor for dinner, find a comfortable spot for your lawn chair and enjoy the entertainment.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.