Winter Carnival will be held in 2021

Aug 18, 2020 | 10:59 AM

Vernon Winter Carnival will go ahead in 2021, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.

The organizing society says the festival will be scaled down slightly, with some events not possible, but outdoor events will play a big part and other events, like the parade, will be adapted to include physical distancing.

“Unfortunately due to COVID-19 there will be some events that just can’t happen, but we’re finding there’s lots of ways to get creative and adjust,” said Vicki Proulx, carnival executive director.

The society will be working closely with the province and the event holders to ensure proper COVID protocols are in place for the 61st annual carnival, with a Wild West theme, presented by Valley First, Feb. 5 to 14, 2021.

“Carnival will have the opportunity at setting the bar and setting an example of how to create, run and promote large scale festivals under what is seeming to be a new ‘normal’ world for possibly a few years to come,” Erik Olesen, chair of the Vernon Winter Carnival Society, said. “Not only will we be able to showcase new and creative ways to hold events, but we will do it in a safe way that makes the public feel comfortable. We hope to garner a lot of attention from other event and festival holders looking to us for support and information on how to pull it off.”

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Organizers say Winter Carnival was the last large scale event to take place in Vernon before the COVID-19 pandemic, and seemingly it will be the first to return.

“Our festival attracts thousands of visitors to our region on a normal year, this is an fantastic opportunity for us to really promote the festival across Western Canada, encouraging Canadians to visit their ‘own backyard’ and support our local economy,” Proulx said.

Proulx and the carnival board are encouraging businesses and organizations in the community to get involved and get creative.

“Not only do we have lots of ideas to share, but who can resist the theme this year? Wild West just screams for people to get outside and explore the many winter activities Vernon has to offer,” Proulx added.

Visit vernonwintercarnival.com to register your event today or for more information on sponsorship, volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved.

Deadline to register an event is Nov 15, 2020. Tickets for all Vernon Winter Carnival events will go on sale Monday Jan 4, 2021.

by Pete McIntyre

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