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Westside Daze is in full swing today with countless activities having already taken place, and dozens more to come in West Kelowna's Johnson Bentley Memorial Park.
The annual event is hosted as a way for organizers to give back to their community — something Leah Thordson, president of the Westside Celebration Society, feels is very important to do.
“I strongly believe in community spirit,” said Thordson.
“It is important that we as volunteers get together to give back to our community, we have a fabulous place where we live and this is our celebration of that, our home.”
The annually recurring event brings a weekend of fun to West Kelowna in many ways including the beloved parade, live music, children’s activities and celebrations of the prominent Okanagan Indigenous culture.
Saturday marked Okanagan Day here in the valley and to commemorate it organizers had members of the West Bank First Nation out in abundance to educate visitors of the park on their rich heritage through drumming, traditional dances and various educational booths.
In addition to the educational and vibrant Indigenous displays, families can enjoy refreshments from a number of local food trucks, a number of exciting activities for the little ones and look forward to a night of live music ahead featuring West Kelowna’s own Ben Klick.
Not only are organizers giving back by providing such an action-packed weekend to members of the community, but they are doing it at no charge to attendees.
“It takes a lot of time, energy and effort but we really grateful that we live in a community that has business people and a city that want this to happen, they don't want it to stop,” said Thordson.
“We are thankful for the businesses that come forward and say ‘yes I’ll sponsor it’ to keep it absolutely free — I feel so extremely grateful, to be quite honest.”
Tonight’s festivities will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display at 10 p.m. from Gellatly Bay. More fun will return on Sunday with the by donation Lion’s Pancake Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., more music and the Show n’ Shine until 3:30 p.m.
For a full schedule of events, click here!
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