By Times Chronicle Staff
Fans of the annual Rock & Roll Picnic family event at the Oliver Community Park should know one thing: the annual event has leapfrogged nearly two months earlier on the calendar.
In what used to be an August event is now taking place on the evening of Thursday, June 20 just shy of the Summer Solstice by a day.
According to the Director of Recreation for the Town of Oliver, Carol Sheridan the event, in different forms, was held in the late spring/early summer originally and then after she took on the role in about 2010, shifted it after a couple of years to its August slot.
But after last year’s wildfires and what looks to be an annual smokey end to BC’s summers Sheridan says the decision was made to bring it forward to the late spring. She also notes that more locals come out for the event before kids start their summer holidays, at which point people start heading out of town for their summer getaways.
It’s important to maximize the numbers she highlights because this event enables the Roots & Fruits Expo on Sunday, June 23 (likewise bumped forward a couple of months) to remain a free event.
Rock & Roll Picnic kicks off with live music from 6 p.m. featuring Oliver’s own Sean Petersen, who has something for everyone putting his own spin on songs spanning all genres and eras.
At 8 p.m. the groove gets dancy when one of the most polished party bands in the Okanagan Valley, Jack and Jill, hit the stage. Hailing from Penticton and Summerland, Jack and Jill have been bringing down the house at parties, events, festivals and ski hills all over the province for the past five years.
Jack and Jill come to rock with set lists that include a wide variety of rock and roll music from the 70’, 80’s and 90’s to now.
Sheridan emphasizes a key highlight of the event, that being the fact the ticket price includes a tasting of three of the best gourmet hotdogs the valley has to offer.
Chef Ian Stilborn of Ward’s Wine Country Kitchen will look to defend his 2023 title of “Top Dog” against chefs Campbell Kearns (The Wienery) and Nick Atkins (Fairview Mountain Restaurant) during this year’s friendly but fierce competition where humble hotdogs are transformed into culinary works of art.
Event goers will vote for their favourite dog resulting in one Chef winning the coveted “Golden Weinie” People’s Choice trophy.
Oliver’s own Firehall Brewery will be pouring a selection of craft beers and beverage sales will also feature local wine and a selection of spritzers and coolers. For those wanting sweet treats and cold, non-alcoholic drinks there will be options available for purchase.
Sheridan also highlights that the Rock & Roll Picnic is a family-friendly event and tickets for children 10 years and under are free. And when they get tired of eating and dancing, they can dig about in the giant sandbox, check out the playground or visit the henna tattoo tent.
Families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and/or lawn chairs and settle in for a fun night in the park.
There is a limited number of tickets available for this crowd favourite and in 2023 the event sold out in advance. Advance tickets are $25/adult, $10/student and tickets at the gate (if available) are $30/adult and $15/student. Children 10 and under are free.
Tickets are available now at the Oliver & District Recreation office at 6359 Park Drive or 250-498-4985 or can be purchased online by visiting oliverrootsandfruits.com
