The Vernon Winter Carnival is less than two weeks away, and there’s plenty to do in the meantime, including signing up for some marquee events and entering to win some fantastic prizes.
There are still a handful of tickets available for the Winter Carnival’s Sip and Savour event. The event will see 23 vendors set up at the Vernon Recreation Centre for beer, cider, wine and tasty food bites on Feb. 2, the first day of Winter Carnival, which runs until Feb. 11. Tickets are $35 and include two tasting tokens. The event is 19-plus and takes place from 6:30-10:30 p.m.
The Winter Carnival is also accepting items for its online auction until Friday, Jan. 26. All proceeds go to the Winter Carnival Society. Items can be dropped off at the Winter Carnival office at 3401 35th St. (behind the Rec Centre), or people can email Winter Carnival at hello@vernonwintercarnival.com and they will pick up the items.
People also have the chance to win big with the Winter Carnival jopo Raffle, which boasts over $16,000 in prizes including a houseboat trip from Twin Anchors retailing at $7,600, two bikes from Electric Fat Bike Company valued at $4,462 and several $1,000 gift certificates. Tickets are one for $20, three for $50 and 10 for $150 and can be purchased online until Feb. 10 at vernonwintercarnival.com.
The Snowglobe Concert is set to rock the Vernon Recreation Centre auditorium on Feb. 3 with Cod Gone Wild and The Dirt Road Kings, as well as music from DJ Lunchbox. Tickets for the 19-plus event are $35. The concert will be held from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
People can also register for anything-goes Snogolf. The event takes place Feb. 11, when people can bring a “club” (or a hockey stick, driver or even a frozen fish). Dress up with your team and enjoy a day of “golf” including lunch, prizes and games. Registration is $180 per team of four.
Winter Carnival organizers also want people to know that there will be free transit for the signature balloon glow event. The free transit applies to local routes only and no regional routes. People can plan their arrival for the annual balloon glow Feb. 2 at Polson Park, starting at 5 p.m. There will be food trucks and the Vernon Girls Trumpet Band will be playing. Kinshira will be fire juggling and Carnival will have lights to enjoy, as well as mascots and winter fairies. Okanagan Ballooning is bringing six of its massive balloons to light up in the park. The show usually lasts 35 to 40 minutes, depending on the weather.
Winter Carnival organizers thank the Arts Council of the North Okanagan and the North Okanagan Optimist Club for supporting the events.
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