Special events enhance Canada Day festivities in Penticton

PENTICTON – Hundreds of people flocked to Penticton’s downtown area on Canada Day to celebrate the nation’s birthday and take part in special events taking place in the city.

Slide the City was busy Friday afternoon, July 1, with the 1,000-foot slide attracting all age groups.

Vancouver Avenue was packed with pedestrians, most of whom seemed to be enjoying the event.

“It’s our first time and we’re having lots of fun,” says Gray Taylor of Vancouver, whose son Jakob was standing in line for his third slide.

The line up stretched from Cambie Street almost to Vancouver Place, but the Taylors didn’t mind.

“The line up is moving, there’s lots of music, it’s okay,” Gray says.

Others echoed  similar sentiments, with a steady stream of riders sliding down Vancouver Avenue, four at a time.

“We had our first slider at 8:30 this morning,” says volunteer Jordan Goerlitz, who works for the city.

Slide the City was in Kamloops last summer, where the giant waterslide encountered some issues due to weather and start up delays.

Also around town, the second annual Penticton Rotary Ribfest was into its second day Friday in Okanagan Lake Park. The two events seemed to complement each other, as witnessed by many patrons carrying Slide the City tubes. Ribfest runs over the weekend, until Sunday, July 3 at 9 p.m.

A brief squall threatened to put a damper on Canada Day festivities just after 2 p.m., but the storm was short lived. It was probably at its worst at the city’s waterfront, where several beach vendors had to pack up to prevent losing their tents in the gusty winds that accompanied the brief squall.

Gyro Park was also packed Canada Day afternoon,  with many residents content to watch the full schedule of entertainment at the Gyro Park bandshell, or cruise the many vendors set up in the park.

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.