Wyatt Nelmes strings Christmas lights from a cherry picker bucket in the park at Town Square as Derek Ruck feeds him the string from the ground. Town of Osoyoos employees were putting up lights on Main Street recently as Osoyoos gets ready for Christmas Lite-Up. Events start on Friday morning and continue through Saturday. (Richard McGuire photo)
Special to the Times
Osoyoos Times
The holiday season will officially begin when the two-day Christmas Lite-Up kicks off Nov. 30.
The 30th annual event will begin with Smitty’s Toys for Tots to Teens, where from 7-10 a.m. a free breakfast will be served to those who give either a cash donation to the Kiwanis’ Share the Christmas Spirit program, or a new unwrapped toy.
From 5-8 p.m. Fields will be having hourly specials and hot dogs and hot chocolate will be served courtesy of the Osoyoos Rotary Club. All proceeds will benefit the food bank.
The Okanagan International Chorus will provide holiday inspiration leading up to the main event, by treating the community to carols in front of Home Hardware from 6 – 6:30 p.m.
Santa and the rest of the parade will travel down Main St. at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Sue McKortoff, who is once again chair of the event, said that she is hoping for a “calm, clear night” for the parade.
“We always encourage downtown businesses to stay open during the parade and offer Christmas goodies to the public,” McKortoff said.
Kids will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa on Saturday morning from 9-11 a.m. at Campo Marina. Emailed photos are $10. The event, sponsored by the Osoyoos Childcare Centre, will include breakfast for $5 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children under 10 eat free with a donation to the food bank.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Kiwanis Club will host a craft fair at the Legion Hall. Entry is free with a food bank donation.
On both Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. the Osoyoos Elks Hall will present It’s A Wonderful Life, a live radio play. Tickets for both shows can be purchased at soplayers.ca.
Following the Lite-Up, from Nov. 24 to Jan. 2, trees will be on display at Nk’Mip Cellars Winery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oliver Twist Estate Winery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, Black Hills Winery from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at Tinhorn Creek Winery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of the Festival of Trees.
A shared event between Osoyoos and Oliver, people from both communities are encouraged to see the trees and vote for their favourite with a minimum donation of $2. Tax receipts from BC Children’s Hospital (BCCHF) will be issued for donations over $25.
Anyone interested in being part of the parade can call 250-495-6880 or visit the Osoyoos Times office for entry forms. Entering is free of charge and entries will be accepted until 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30.
