It’s all about Scotland and cycling in Penticton this weekend

PENTICTON – It’s shaping up to be a very busy weekend in the South Okanagan as thousands of cyclists and lovers of Scottish culture are expected to make their way to the region.

The Penticton Scottish Festival takes place all day Saturday, July 7 at Kings Park in Penticton.

The single day event combines traditional Scottish Highland Games including musical performances and athletic competitions along with a Celtic cultural expo and whiskey tasting classes.

Members of the Central Okanagan Dog Agility Club will also compete and perform with shows through the day, along with the Society of Creative Anachronism whose members will be on hand dressed in armour like the knights of old. The Blakey School of Irish Dance and the Naramata Scottish Country Dancers will also be there entertaining.

Tickets are available at the gates.

The eighth annual Prospera Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan cycling event gets underway Sunday, July 8, starting at 7 a.m. from Gyro Park in Penticton.

There are four categories of distance rides from the 160 km Granfondo to the 55 km Cortofondo. The race is expected to attract upwards of 2,600 riders this year. Participants can progress in a casual manner or race for top spot.

Motorists should expect delays on local roads involved in the race. For more information, go here.

The Farmers' and Community Markets are back on Penticton’s Main Street Saturday morning, July 7. The Farmers' Market operates from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the community market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.


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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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