Opening and closing ceremonies lineups announced for B.C. Winter Games in Penticton

PENTICTON – Local artists will kick off the opening ceremonies for the 2016 B.C. Winter Games in Penticton later this month.

More than 1,700 participants will be in the city for the four-day event, which gets underway with opening events on Thursday, Feb. 25, starting at 7 p.m.

Summerland-born Olympic skier Kristi Richards will share her story of how the B.C. Winter Games helped to prepare her for the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino and the 2010 Games in Vancouver. The two-time national moguls champion competed in three world championships, earning nine medals and 22 top-10 finishes in World Cup competitions.

Shanel Pratap will act as Master of Ceremonies for the games opening, with the Beamer Wigley Band leading an entertainment lineup that includes Gypsy and the Rose joining Queens Park Elementary School Choir to sing the theme song for the games. Okanagan Dance School and Balance School of the Arts will also take to the stage.

Expect to see hip hop artist Kasp at the closing ceremonies Sunday, Feb.28, starting at 1:30 p.m. Cosmic Brew, Black Widow Rope Spinners, Nikita Afonso and Rylan Wheeler round out the closing ceremonies entertainment lineup.

Tickets for the opening ceremonies are free and will be available to the public on Feb.15. Order online at: www.valleyfirsttix.com, or drop by Valley First Box Office at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Closing ceremonies are also free, based on rush seating. No ticket is required.

To contact a 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.