From wine tasting to triathlon racing, the South Okanagan events schedule is full this weekend

PENTICTION – Sports, wine tasting, bathtub races, and a music and sunshine festival are happening as part of a very busy weekend in the South Okanagan and Similkameen.

The Penticton 2017 ITU Multisport World Championship Festival is taking place through the weekend from Aug. 18 to Aug. 27 in a 10 day sports event with thousands of athletes vying for four different multisport titles, including duathlon, long distance triathlon, aquathlon and the cross triathlon.

There are celebratory events taking place throughout the week to which the public is welcome. For more information, see the Penticton multisport website.

The Great Ogopogo Bathtub Race takes place at Powell Beach in Trout Creek this Saturday, Aug. 19. The third annual event is hosted by the Summerland Yacht Club and has 22 entrants vying for victory on the three kilometre course laid out on Okanagan Lake.

Three different categories of bathtubs race, starting at11 a.m. The family oriented event comes with children’s activities, sand sculpting, music and a pancake breakfast, served from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Money raises goes to the $312 million Penticton Regional Hospital expansion. For more information email jcavin@cavin.ca.

Oliver Parks and Recreation present the Oliver Sunshine Festival this weekend with a full day of family-friendly fun, activities and entertainment at the Oliver Community Park, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19. The day’s events start with a parade at 10:30 a.m., admission is free. For more information contact Oliver Recreation at 250-498-4985.

The 10th Annual Traditional Music Festival takes place in Princeton this weekend from Friday, Aug. 18 to Sunday, Aug. 20. A wide range of traditional music from fiddle tunes to jams to traditional ballads can be heard, all for free, all day. For more information, see the festival website.

Community and Farmers' Markets operating this weekend include Penticton’s Downtown Community Market, (8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) the Penticton Farmer’s Market (relocated this weekend and next to the 500 and 600 blocks of Main Street, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), the Okanagan Falls Community and Farmers Market on Sunday, Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Summerland Rotary Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20.

The Penticton Leir House Sunday Arts Markets continue on Sunday, Aug. 20 with entertainment, food, arts and vendors on the Leir house lawns, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Help animals in need with  the Sip and Support for the SPCA fundraiser at Township 7 Winery on Sunday, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation in support of the BC SPCA. For more information, contact Township 7 Winery at: 250-770-1743.

The fourth annual B.C. Pinot Noir Celebration takes place at Linden Gardens in Kaleden, Saturday, Aug. 19 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. More than 300 guests taste B.C.’s best Pinot Noirs with live music and a cocktail-style dinner. Cost is $175, all inclusive. For more information, see the B.C. Pinot Noir Celebration website.

Did we miss your event, or one you are attending? Let everyone else know about it in the comments.


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.

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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.

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