Well loved outdoor concert program returns to West Kelowna but with a wrinkle

One of West Kelowna’s most successful and well-attended summer events, Music in the Park, is coming back from COVID.

City staff are recommending that city council agree to a reduced program with a reduced budget this summer so that events will meet COVID protocols, states a report going to council on Tuesday.

“Each event date anticipates hosting multiple shows throughout the day that patrons will be required to pre-register (for) to reserve their spot,” the report states. “There will be a break between shows to allow patrons to leave the site and a new group of pre-registered patrons to enter the site for the next show.”

In the past, there were eight Friday evenings of live music and “park play” events.

Staff are looking at four daytime events, suggesting July 1 and 31, Aug. 28 and Sept. 4. Most are Saturdays.

The events will be held in the upper soccer field at Kinsmen Park. It’s fenced, which will help in managing the crowds and keeping safe distancing.

Currently, provincial health regulations limit outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 50 people. That limit is expected to be increased as of July 1 but provincial health officials are not saying if, when or by how much that will happen.

The budget for the events is $34,500, about half of what it was in 2019.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submitphotos, 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.