Canada Day Fireworks On Okanagan Lake

There is a new venue for Vernon’s fireworks show on Canada Day.

The president of the local Canada Day organizing committee, Dave Frost, says they will be held from Kin Beach Okanagan Lake.

“We are going to have a much bigger show than we had last year, biggest in the Okanagan, and we’re very pleased to have the support of Craftsman Collision as the title sponsor again this year,” Frost told the media.

Photo: (L-R) Dave Frost, president of Vernon Canada Day organizing committee, Jolene Grigg, manager of Craftsman Collision, JR Robert, Canada Day committee member.

Frost say they will have optional plans for viewing should the lake levels still be high.

“We are going to play that by ear because it’s obviously beyond anyone’s control at this point, but we definitely have options to make sure everyone has a good shot at seeing the fireworks.”

Frost says they will have a shuttle service to and from Marshall Fields to reduce parking near the beach.

“It will be running continuously for the night and will help ease parking for that area.”

The fireworks will begin at 10:30 pm on July 1 from four barges in the lake, and cleanup will be handled by volunteers from the Vernon Yacht Club and Innerspace Water Sports divers.

“The Yacht Club is going to be working on the surface area of the water, picking up debris as they find it, and Innerspace has offered to help with underwater clean up which is exceptional.”

The show will once again be choreographed and synchronized to music which will be broadcast on 107.5 Kiss-FM.

Spectators in the park at Kin Beach will be able to hear the music broadcast directly.

The event will honour Canada`s 150th birthday and some of the funding for it has come from a Heritage Canada Grant with contributions from the City of Vernon and the Okanagan Indian Band.

The Society says the fireworks will be best viewed from Kin Beach, Sandy Beach, and Paddlewheel Park as well as many vantage points on Bella Vista to Bench roads for those that wish to view from a distance.

Pets and alcohol are not allowed on any of the beaches.

RCMP and Vernon Search and Rescue boats will be on hand to maintain safe distances on the water, along with RCMP and Citizens on Patrol on the beaches.

The show was held on Kalamalka Lake last year.