Local Entertainment

Vernon Public Art Gallery executive director Dauna Kennedy and board member Kyle Britton accept a $43,400 grant from the BC Arts Council one-time StrongerBC fund amid the COVID-19 pandemic April 9, 2021. (VPAG)

$43K boost for Vernon gallery

Province backs local art gallery with one-time pandemic grant

Revolutionary Love, a film showcasing youths response to vandalims of the rainbow crosswalk in Coldstream, has been chosen for the Reel 2 Reel International Film Festival for Youth, which is online April 13-24. (Revolutionary Love image)

Vernon youth take stance against LGBTQ2+ crosswalk vandalism in film

Reel 2 Reel International Film Festival for Youth features two local productions

Sveva Caetani's art has come home to Vernon and will be displayed at her childhood home, the Caetani Cultural Centre this summer. (Contributed)

Caetani art comes home to Vernon

Cultural Centre getting ready to showcase more than 50 peices from Sveva Caetani

Yuri Auney's Yangbin Park, Wave 5, 2019 is one of the works featured in the Okanagan Print Triennial, on display at the Vernon Public Art Gallery until May 19, 2021. (VPAG photo)

World’s best prints make their way to Vernon

Okanagan Print Triennial on display with virtual artist talks

Yuri Auney's Yangbin Park, Wave 5, 2019 is one of the works featured in the Okanagan Print Triennial, on display at the Vernon Public Art Gallery until May 19, 2021. (VPAG photo)
Chipko Jones performs in the final episode of Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre’s Focus Online Series, April 1-4. (VDPAC photo)

Vernon stages final focus on live entertainment

Performing Arts Centre’s series comes to a close with last episode

Chipko Jones performs in the final episode of Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre’s Focus Online Series, April 1-4. (VDPAC photo)
(Jason Emde photo)

Japanese hair salon takes Vernon B.C.’s namesake

Former resident’s brother-in-law, who lives in Gifu, Japan, named the salon after his hometown

(Jason Emde photo)
March of the Masks Arts Council of the North Okanagan and special guest artist Bob Kingsmill’s work on display, and most for sale, until April 5 at the Arts Centre, located at the entrance to Polson Park, next to the Okanagan Science Centre. Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Contributed photo)

Vernon displays March of the Masks

From the paper and cloth masks of the pandemic, to creative Mardi Gras masks

March of the Masks Arts Council of the North Okanagan and special guest artist Bob Kingsmill’s work on display, and most for sale, until April 5 at the Arts Centre, located at the entrance to Polson Park, next to the Okanagan Science Centre. Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Contributed photo)
Armstrong MetalFest co-founder Jesse Valstar performs with Odinfist during the annual event at the Hassen Arena and IPE Grounds in 2019. (Jennifer Blake - File)

Province backs Armstrong MetalFest

Metal festival organizers announce support from BC Arts Council will keep them ‘on their feet’

Armstrong MetalFest co-founder Jesse Valstar performs with Odinfist during the annual event at the Hassen Arena and IPE Grounds in 2019. (Jennifer Blake - File)
Enderby’s Starlight Drive-In movie theatre will start its 20th season early, opening for the season Friday, March 19, 2021. (Starlight/Facebook)

Enderby’s Starlight Drive-in theatre gets early start on season

The outdoor movie theatre will start its 20th season this weekend

Enderby’s Starlight Drive-In movie theatre will start its 20th season early, opening for the season Friday, March 19, 2021. (Starlight/Facebook)
Lake Country author Tanya Zaufi. (Contributed)

Lake Country author writes her own story of romance

Tanya Zaufi finds literary inspiration in tale of how she met her husband

  • Mar 16, 2021
Lake Country author Tanya Zaufi. (Contributed)
Montreal musician Krista Muir will perform a live virtual show at Vernon’s Caetani House Wednesday, March 24. Tickets are just $6 for the multimedia extravaganza. (Photo submitted)

Vernon’s Caetani House hosting live virtual show

Montreal musician Krista Muir to perform multi-media extravaganza Wednesday, March 24

Montreal musician Krista Muir will perform a live virtual show at Vernon’s Caetani House Wednesday, March 24. Tickets are just $6 for the multimedia extravaganza. (Photo submitted)
This is the second year (2021) the heavy metal music festival had to be cancelled. (Morning Star file photo)

Plug pulled on Armstrong MetalFest once more

COVID-19 silences heavy metal music festival that draws hundreds to region for a second year

This is the second year (2021) the heavy metal music festival had to be cancelled. (Morning Star file photo)
Chelsea Ishizuka was borned and raised in Penticton but has now moved to Japan. When she found out there was a popular restaurant there named after Penticton, she had to go check it out. Here she is with the owner (right). (Facebook)

Popular restaurant in Japan named after city of Penticton

A Pentictonite now living in Tokyo discovered the eatery and the history behind its name

Chelsea Ishizuka was borned and raised in Penticton but has now moved to Japan. When she found out there was a popular restaurant there named after Penticton, she had to go check it out. Here she is with the owner (right). (Facebook)
Displays and programming have continued at the Vernon Public Art Gallery despite pandemic restrictions. (Lianne Viau file photo)

Support keeps Vernon art groups’ lights on

Despite pandemic restrictions, art gallery and others sustaining the storm

Displays and programming have continued at the Vernon Public Art Gallery despite pandemic restrictions. (Lianne Viau file photo)
The Dixie Fried Hep Katz are featured in episode four of the Focus Online Series, March 4-7. (Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre photo)

Okanagan talents shine under Vernon spotlight

12-year-old from Lake Country, Enderby singer-songwriter-guitarist and Kelowna duo in Focus

The Dixie Fried Hep Katz are featured in episode four of the Focus Online Series, March 4-7. (Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre photo)
The Vernon Public Art Gallery's new Regional Reach program which sends supplies and lessons to classes, has been a hit in the North Okanagan classrooms. (VPAG photo)

Travelling art kit a hit in North Okanagan schools

Art Gallery’s new Regional Reach program delivers art education to the classrooms

The Vernon Public Art Gallery's new Regional Reach program which sends supplies and lessons to classes, has been a hit in the North Okanagan classrooms. (VPAG photo)
Shane Koyczan spent February going to the art spaces that sit empty, breathing some life into them through his spoken word poetry which has been shared on the Chan Centre's Dot Com series which premiers March 12. (Facebook)

Famed Okanagan poet Shane Koyczan reflects on the pandemic in new show

The show premiers March 12 and features Penticton art centres hit hard by COVID-19

Shane Koyczan spent February going to the art spaces that sit empty, breathing some life into them through his spoken word poetry which has been shared on the Chan Centre's Dot Com series which premiers March 12. (Facebook)
The Okanagan Regional Library is hosting an online Author Talk with Vernon author Destanne Norris, who recently published her first book, on March 4, 2021, from 6:30-7 p.m. (Keylight Photography)

Vernon author headlines library talk and documentary

Destanne Norris, who recently published Leah’s Gift, will be onscreen March 4

The Okanagan Regional Library is hosting an online Author Talk with Vernon author Destanne Norris, who recently published her first book, on March 4, 2021, from 6:30-7 p.m. (Keylight Photography)
Grade 3 students William Barsaleau (left) and Tyson Liefke take control of a water blaster during a Beairsto Elementary School class trip to the Polson Park spray park Friday. (Lisa VanderVelde/Morning Star)

Demolition of Vernon spray park sparks call for new facility, fast

Pressure to get new park, at Lakeview, in place before summer as Polson Park facility is a public health concern

Grade 3 students William Barsaleau (left) and Tyson Liefke take control of a water blaster during a Beairsto Elementary School class trip to the Polson Park spray park Friday. (Lisa VanderVelde/Morning Star)
Five-piece funk band Charlene is one of the featured acts in the Feb. 18-21 online Focus series presented by the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. (VDPAC photo)

Vernon stage puts new artists in focus, amid pandemic

Performing Arts Centre third episode in online series features local youth, dancers and more

Five-piece funk band Charlene is one of the featured acts in the Feb. 18-21 online Focus series presented by the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. (VDPAC photo)