Festival could set new record

Jun 15, 2019 | 6:00 AM

The 25th annual Sunshine Festival is expected to attract 15,000 people to Downtown Vernon.

The free festival featuring children’s and family activities, food trucks and eateries, two live stages, a beer garden, sidewalk sales and more runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

“The Sunshine Festival brings both locals and visitors together to celebrate our community and showcase all of the authentic and locally-owned businesses in downtown,” said Dudley Coulter from the Downtown Vernon Association.

“New for 2019, we have expanded the site to include an artisan market on 31 Street and The Kal has moved their beer garden into their parking lot and is bringing in a stage and entertainment for the after party.”

Coulter said the festival is meant to celebrate the start of summer in an inclusive and authentic downtown environment.

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“We received 178 vendor applications this year which beat the previous record of 163. If the weather cooperates, we’re also hoping to beat an attendance record.”

The Sunshine Festival isn’t the only one celebrating a milestone. The title sponsor of the event, VantageOne Credit Union, is celebrating 75 years of business with most of those in Downtown Vernon.

“As a Credit Union, it’s in our DNA to support the communities we are in,” said VantageOne CEO, Glenn Benischek. “The Sunshine Festival is an amazing event that brings out a great crowd to have fun, support local businesses and celebrate the start of the spectacular summer we have in our region! It’s also a great opportunity for us to thank our members and the community for their support, as we head into our 75th year of providing financial services and more throughout the Okanagan.”

Thanks to the City of Vernon, transit will be free to and from Downtown Vernon.

The festival takes place in the 2900 through 3400 blocks of 30 Avenue, as well as the 2900 and 3000 blocks of 31 Street and 33 Street.

Motorists travelling downtown that day are asked to drive slowly and take extra caution.

30 Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information about the festival, including a site map and entertainment schedules, go to the DVA’s website here: https://downtownvernon.com/things-to-do/sunshine-festival

by Vernon Matters Staff

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