60th Winter Carnival promises to be ‘far out’

Feb 7, 2020 | 5:10 AM

You can expect to hear words like peace, groovy and cool a lot, as Vernon Winter Carnival celebrates its 60th annual event.

The ten-day festival Feb. 7-16 has a theme of Remembering the 60’s, and will feature over 120 events, including 21 new events.

The activities opened with the proclamation of Queen Silver Star 2020 Thursday night.

Queen Silver Star 60 Megan Fowles (Wayne Emde Photography)

Megan Fowles (Miss Okanagan Restoration Services) was chosen as the new queen while Piper Cahoon (Miss Johnston Meier Insurance) is the new princess.

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The 60’s theme should be popular, and will be prominent for Saturday’s parade at 12 p.m.

“We really wanted something special for the diamond jubilee, something that could be fun for all ages, and a theme that could help us pay homage to carnival’s traditions and history,” said executive director Vicki Proulx.

Carnival program cover

Carnival chair Deb White, who is in her fifth and final year of leading the non-profit’s society’s board of directors, says they were awarded a large grant from the Canadian government and Western Economic Diversification Canada to assist with promoting Vernon to bring more tourism to the city.

“The grant also allow us to bring back some of the old events and introduce many more new events,” said White.

Vernon Girls Trumpet Band, which was part of the parade from 1961 until 2009. The band alumni has re-formed and will march again in 2020 (Vernon Winter Carnival photo)

Among the activities today is ice sculpting at the Civic Plaza, the B.C. snow sculpture competition at Silver Star Mountain Resort, Suns N’ Cider at the Vernon Lodge and the carnival kickoff from 4 to 7 p.m. at Kin Race Track on 43rd Ave.

Ice blocks in front of the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives for the ice castle and sculptures (Courtesy GVMA)

One event that is in the Carnival program, but will not be happening is the Hot Air Balloon Festival which was cancelled last month by the B.C. Ballooning Association due to lack of finances and volunteers.

For more information, visit vernonwintercarnival.com

by Pete McIntyre

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