From a block party to bulls, flamenco to fair trade, there’s lots to do this weekend

PENTICTON – This weekend begins in a community-friendly way with a block party in Penticton.

Ellis on the Rise takes place today, May 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with an evening of activities for all ages in a celebration of the start of summer for Penticton’s downtown.

The Downtown Penticton Association sponsored event will see Ellis Street closed to traffic from Westminster East to the round about between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. Activities include a bouncy castle, cup cake decorating, a petting zoo, chalk art competition, beverage garden and a putting contest. Penticton firefighters will be barbecuing hamburgers and hot dogs in a charitable fundraiser as well.

Hear the music traditions of southern Spain tonight at Cawston United Church as classical guitarist William Leggott of Penticton renders his Spanish flamenco form. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Cawston United Church, 2146 Main St. in Cawston. Tickets are $15.

Penticton’s Farmer’s Market and the Downtown Community Market are in full swing for the summer on Saturday on Main Street. Both markets start at 8:30 a.m., with the Community Market ending a half hour after the Farmer’s Market at 1:30 p.m.

The Penticton Pistoleras roller derby team take on the Sea to Sky Sirens from Squamish at the Penticton Curling Club on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets at the door are $15. Refreshments, a concession and merchandise sales are available at the venue.

On Sunday, May 27 the Penticton Speedway hosts the Speedway Bull-a-Rama, a Bull Riders Canada sanctioned event. Many of Canada’s top bull riders will be featured in the event which carries a $3,000 prize purse. The event gets underway at 2 p.m.

A wide array of vendors gather Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Memorial Park in Summerland to offer fair trade products and zero waste/eco-friendly practices. Local businesses will have cosmetics, food, clothing, household goods and cleaning products for sale. There is no charge for the event.

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