Okanagan Military Tattoo A Record Success

Record crowds took in the fourth annual Okanagan Military Tattoo over the weekend in Vernon.

Director Derek Hall says over four thousand attended the two shows at Kal Tire Place, a production that costs 250-thousand dollars to put on.

“We’re happy if we can break even, and that’s sort of where we’ve been coming in. We do support the local pipe bands, dance groups, we give them an honorarium if there is something left over, and there should be something this year,” says Hall.

Hall says sound and lighting for the show cost $38,000, while the building rental is $20,000, with ticket sales covering about a third of the costs and the rest from sponsors, ads and grants.

“Overall, it was a huge success. There were no major wrinkles. Lots of little things the committee would know about, but the audience wouldn’t have a clue,” says Hall.

The show featured over 600 performers including the 160 member Calgary Round Up Band, the RCMP “E” Division Pipe Band, and the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Hall admits Kal Tire Place was a bit warm, despite having air conditioning.

“When you’ve got several thousand people coming in the doors, and just the body heat from almost 3,000 people in the facility on a hot day, it takes a lot of air conditioning to keep a place that size  cool.”

Hall thanks sponsors like Kal Tire and Kiss FM for helping make the show a success — and says they will be back for a fifth annual next year.

“We’re meeting next Monday and do a post mortem on the 2017 show, and to start planning for next year,” adds Hall.