(KelownaMade.ca)

By Pete McIntyre

Kelowna Made

New event announced for Kelowna

Jun 13, 2022 | 4:00 PM

Plans have been announced for a new event this summer in Kelowna.

Kelowna Made is described as a one-day community celebration that will be held on Saturday, August 27, in the downtown.

“The celebration promises to deliver an inclusive, affordable and family-friendly selection of events and activities that highlight some of what makes Kelowna special,” a news release stated.

Organizers say the event has emerged from the City of Kelowna’s Event Strategy and its Get Eventive Days which involved public engagement, local activations and surveys. A volunteer host committee, established earlier this year, is using the residents’ ideas and feedback to develop Kelowna Made.

This year will be Kelowna Made’s pilot year with activities taking place in City Park including:

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● Pancake breakfast;

● Sandcastle competition;

● Sports demos;

● Live music;

● Street dance;

● Additional programming and activities to be announced.

“Kelowna Made is a homegrown event aiming to positively reflect and celebrate the city’s identity. The resident-led initiative is inclusive and welcomes participation in all its forms. The ultimate goal is to showcase Kelowna’s attributes while bringing the community together,” the news release informed.

Lance Macdonald, co-chair on the host committee, is looking forward to the event.

“We listened to the feedback from residents and our volunteers are working to bring as many of those inspired elements into this year’s event as possible. But this is just the beginning; there’s a grander vision for what can be done in future years with more time and even greater resident support and participation. There’s an opportunity here to create an ongoing event experience that reminds us of simpler times but in a modern and exciting way. We want people to have fun!”

It is anticipated that the celebration will grow to become a full weekend of programming by 2023, working toward a 10-day festival by 2027. City Park will host 2022’s inaugural event but the long-term vision for Kelowna Made is that events and activities will take place across the city.

Sarah Semeniuk, event services coordinator with the City of Kelowna, is the city co-chair on the host committee and understands the important role events play in the community. She hopes Kelowna residents will come out to support the event in its pilot year.

“Following the past couple of years, it’s even clearer that events are vital to connect us to each other. A signature event here in Kelowna will give locals something new to be proud of and an opportunity to honour our identity, history and culture. Decades from now, we want people to look back and say that they were at the first-ever Kelowna Made and that it was the start of something special.”

Planning for 2022’s event continues, and organizers say more details will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead. For now, those interested in learning more or volunteering are encouraged to register on KelownaMade.ca or follow along on Facebook and Instagram.