Downtown activities ramping up as Penticton’s Main Street ready to reopen

PENTICTON – As construction comes to a conclusion and barricades come down on Main Street’s 200-block, the city prepares to celebrate a renewed downtown.

Starting today, Wednesday, June 15, activities return to the downtown core with the second annual Jail n’ Bail taking place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

On Friday, June 17, a 50s theme party is being hosted by the Downtown Penticton Association in the 300-block of Main Street from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be live music by Flashback, vintage cars and an Elvis appearance.

The official reopening of the street will take place right on schedule at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, with Mayor Andrew Jakubeit, MP Richard Cannings and MLA Dan Ashton meeting at the Westminster intersection for the official ribbon cutting of the revitalized block.

Completed on time and on budget, communications officer Tina Lee says early feedback on the street improvements has been very positive. The project created wider sidewalks which is expected to provide more opportunities for street activities, storefront viewing and storefront marketing. The construction portion of the project has provided more than 12,000 hours of work within the city.

Revitalization of the 100-block of Main Street south to Lakeshore Drive is expected to get underway in September.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories