Cherry Fiesta this Sunday sticks to tried-and-true formula

Osoyoos celebrates the 70th anniversary of Cherry Fiesta this Sunday, July 1, but the event will be essentially the same as in other recent years.

As always, the Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Town Square kicks off the festival at 7:30 a.m., followed by a water fight and a parade down Main Street around 11 a.m.

From there, the major events move to Gyro Park, culminating in a fireworks display over Osoyoos Lake at dusk.

Lyn Motkoski, president of the Osoyoos Festival Society, said the fireworks are “hands down” the most popular event at the festival.

“The fireworks are definitely the big draw,” she said. “People come from everywhere.”

In a recent year when there were wildfires in the area, Motkoski said she was getting phone calls from Vancouver people asking if the fireworks were still happening.

They told her if the fireworks weren’t on, they wouldn’t come, she said.

A popular addition to the festival last year – Punjabi Bhangra dancers and drummers – will be back this year.

Once again the South Okanagan Punjabi Society, a non-profit society representing the local Indo-Canadian community – will be providing free samosas and water along with the entertainment.

As was done last year, they will be closing a portion of 85th Street next to BMO, said Sarabjit Rai, one of the organizers.

These activities take place in the morning prior to the parade and starting sometime after 9 a.m.

Bhangra music and dance is based on Punjabi tradition, but it has been influenced by Western music in the Punjabi diaspora, especially in the United Kingdom.

Aside from the Bhangra, most of the music at Cherry Fiesta takes place at the bandshell in Gyro Park.

The music at the bandshell tends to change every year, but Motkoski said most of this year’s performers have played at Cherry Fiesta before.

One exception is Timbre Wolves, a Summerland classic rock and acoustic duo, who have played Music in the Park, but never Cherry Fiesta. They perform the final concert before the fireworks.

Other bands performing are Gypsy and the Rose, August Accord, Cindy Doucette, Real Ponchos, Judy Rowe and the Diamonds, Rebel Luv and Timbre Wolves.

Other bandshell activities and performances include the opening ceremonies just after 1 p.m., Dance Oasis at 1:30 p.m. and the cherry pie eating contest at 3:30 p.m.

Other events, including the cherry pit spit, also take place at Gyro Park away from the bandshell. The spit, in which participants aim to spit the pits of local cherries the farthest, gets underway at 4:15 p.m. on the paved area next to the concession.

The Elks Club hosts a beer garden at Gyro Beach, while the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 173 has a beer garden with beef on a bun and entertainment at the Legion Hall between 11 a.m. at 8 p.m.

Town-sponsored children’s activities take place at Gyro Beach from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For many kids, the highlight of Cherry Fiesta is the water fight between children and firefighters just before the parade in front of Osoyoos Home Hardware. People who don’t want to get wet should avoid the area, as some of the artillery on both sides is pretty powerful.

In past years, firefighters with the Osoyoos Fire Department have dressed as women, but they usually come up with a few surprises. Anarchist Mountain Fire Department follows behind, soaking anyone the Osoyoos firefighters may have missed.

Motkoski hopes there will be more parade entries, though typically people wait until the last minute, she said.

She hopes that more people with antique cars will enter the parade, in addition to the floats from local businesses and organizations.

With the Osoyoos Ambassador program not running a pageant this year, it is not likely that the parade will draw visiting Royalty and Ambassadors from around the province as it does in other years.

Nonetheless, Osoyoos Ambassador Aikum Takher, who served for 2017-18, will be serving again in 2018-19, and will be riding the Festival Society float in the parade.

Motkoski said there are still openings for vendors. The vendor area for crafts is on the concrete area next to the beach, while a food court will be in the parking area next to the museum.

Vendor and parade entry forms are available on the Osoyoos Festival Society website (osoyoosfestivalsociety.ca) and at the W office.

Volunteers are also still needed, Motkoski said.

The parade runs down Main Street and the road will be closed to traffic between the intersection of Highways 97 and 3 and Kingfisher Drive between 10:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Detour routes will be marked.

Motkoski reminds people not to park on Main Street downtown the morning of the parade, and preferably not the night before either.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times