Children celebrate Canada amid a sea of Canadian flags and balloon in this file photo taken at Cherry Fiesta in 2012.
The Cherry Fiesta celebration on Canada Day this year marks a special milestone – it’s the event’s 65th year.
“Everyone involved is extremely excited about it,” said Nancy Katerenchuk, president of the Osoyoos Festival Society, which organizes the event.
Although there will be recognition of the event’s landmark year, the events and schedule will be similar to previous years, Katerenchuk said.
One difference, she noted, is that festival organizers are working closely with the Osoyoos Royalty program, which is holding a special pageant the evening of Sunday, June 30 to which past royalty have been invited.
Most events, however, take place on Monday, July 1.
Popular highlights include the parade, which rolls down Main Street starting at 11 a.m. and the fireworks over the lake, which start at dusk around 10:15 p.m.
But Katerenchuk emphasizes that numerous other events, some organized by local service clubs, are also very popular.
The Lions Club will once again host a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Town Square to get things underway Monday.
A traditional water fight is held just before the parade at 10:50 a.m. between local water-pistol slingers and the Osoyoos Fire Department on both sides of Main Street between Home Hardware and Shoppers Drug Mart.
“If you do not want to get wet, stay out of these zones,” Katerenchuk warns.
Water fights cease once the parade starts so that floats and non-willing spectators don’t get wet.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. at 74 Avenue and Nighthawk Drive, continuing along Main Street to Kingfisher Drive.
To accommodate the parade, Hwy. 3 will be closed along the route from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Katerenchuk also warns that people should not park along the parade route after 7 p.m. on Sunday. Organizers will be putting up barricades and it is very time consuming for them to contact vehicle owners and ask them to move, she said.
As of last week there were 35 parade entries, but many usually come in closer to the deadline, Katerenchuk said. Last year there were about 70 entries, she said.
The events typically bring an influx of visitors with thousands coming from elsewhere either just for the day’s events or to stay overnight, Katerenchuk said.
Typically the event attracts between 7,000 and 8,000 people, she said.
The Osoyoos Festival Society co-ordinates the event, but various activities are run by other groups.
In addition to the Lions Club pancake breakfast, the Elks organize a beer garden at Gyro Beach. The Royal Canadian Legion also has a beer garden serving beef on a bun.
A number of activities, live entertainment events and vendors are part of the action at Gyro Beach throughout the day. Many of the activities at the beach are aimed at children.
Events include cherry pit spitting, cherry pie eating, musicians and dancers.
Dogs are permitted at Gyro Park, but they must be on a leash attached to a human.
The fireworks display, which you can watch from the beach, is claimed to be the best Canada Day display in B.C.
Weather forecasts show the spell of rain and cloudy weather ending the middle of this week, but Katerenchuk said events go ahead rain or shine to the extent possible.
“We just do the best we can,” she said. “Usually it can be an extremely hot, hot day or a little bit of a cool day, which is not a bad thing either. Last year we had a tremendous hail storm at Gyro Park in the late afternoon. It was unbelievable, but it didn’t spoil too many spirits.”
The event was originally called the Cherry Carnival when it first started in 1949, but it was changed to Cherry Fiesta in the 1980s when the town was promoting a southwest theme.
“When it first started, it was a celebration of the first harvest of the fruit in the Okanagan Valley, which was the cherries,” said Katerenchuk. “So that’s how it got its name and it stuck.”
The event is volunteer run and work began back in March, said Katerenchuk.
“We just want everybody to come and have a fabulous time,” she said.
Miss Osoyoos Pageant
Osoyoos Mini Theatre
Sunday, June 30, 6:30 p.m.
(Tickets at the door)
Lions Pancake Breakfast
Town Square
7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Water Fight
Main Street between Home Hardware and Shoppers Drug Mart
10:50 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Cherry Fiesta Parade
Main Street
11 a.m.
Legion Beer Garden & Beef on a Bun
Legion Hall
11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Children’s Activities on the Beach
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Cherry Pie Spit
Gyro Beach
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cherry Pie Eating
Gyro Beach
4 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Fireworks
Gyro Beach
Dusk (about 10:15 p.m.)
Gyro Beach Bandshell events
12:00 – 12:55 Highway 97
1:05 – 1:25 Dance Oasis
1:30 – 2:05 Opening Ceremonies & Cake
2:15 – 3:15 Lou Lou & the Boys
3:25 – 3:55 Kayla Turnbull
4:00 – 4:25 Cherry Pie Eating Contest
4:30 – 5:00 Kansas Hatherly
5:15 – 6:15 Colin Easthope & The Goal
Harbour Band
6:30 – 7:30 Wined It Up
7:45 – 8:45 Uncorked
9:00 – 10:00 Miami Device
BY RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
