By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
Don’t leave Oliver on Saturday because the Roots & Fruits Expo starts off with a Main Street parade at 10:30 a.m. and only gets better as the day goes on.
The annual event, formerly called the Sunshine Festival, is a free celebration of the community, its people, the land, and its history.
Gates open at Oliver Community Park at 11 a.m. when the activities start with opening ceremonies, including dancing and drumming by the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Musical entertainment includes classic rock band 13 Broken Bones and Oliver’s own Rebel Luv.
There will be lots to see and do during the day, such as a giant sand box for kids, henna tattoos, face painting, art show, fancy hat contest, and bike parade.
Take part or watch people compete in the annual pie eating contest which starts at 2 p.m.
New to the festival this year is an Okanagan language workshop from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Learn “nsyilxcn basics” and practice greetings, introductions, and basic commands. Nsyilxcn is an endangered language spoken throughout the land of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.
Language House instructor Francesca Raven Bell will be leading the workshop using an interactive game format where participants will be introduced to new vocabulary through pictures.
The festival will have a variety of food trucks on site as well.
Plan to bring a picnic blanket or chairs and stay for the evening for the live entertainment, including folk rock, hip hop, Latin-funk, and dance beats.
At 5:15 p.m. on the mainstage will be “badgentina,” Oliver’s own Stephen and Lisa Toon, married folk-rockers who have been making music together for over 20 years.
From 7-8:30 p.m. Indigenous-led “Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz” will perform. Their album Indigifunk released in 2019 consists of hip-hop with Latin-funk, soul, ska, reggae and blues. Curtis Clear Sky descends from the Blackfoot and Anishinabe Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America) and members of the Constellationz derive from around the world including Aotearoa (New Zealand), Brazil, Belize, El Salvador, Guyana, and Jamaica. Band members also descend from Indigenous backgrounds. Expect funkified rhythms and a highly-engaging, energetic and unifying experience.
Local artist MadHoney will take over after sundown with fun beats and dance tracks to keep the party going until 10 p.m.
For more information about the Oliver Roots & Fruits Expo weekend, visit oliverrootsandfruits.com.
