If it was a board game, they’d roll the dice to see who goes first.
If it was a card game, they’d cut the cards or take, say, the first spade to see who deals.
If it was a hockey game, the centres would be ready for the opening face-off.
If it was a pinball machine, the quarters would be deposited and the silver balls ready to fly.
The 64th Vernon Winter Carnival – Carnival of Games – begins today, Friday, Feb. 2, and runs through to Sunday, Feb. 11.
“It’s go time,” said Carnival society board chair Laurell Cornell. “We’ve had our final board meeting. There’s lots of excitement among the directors. We will try to put on the best Winter Carnival we can, hopefully putting smiles on everybody’s faces, inside and outside.”
Ah, yes: outside.
Mother Nature, for once in a very long time, is being a tad fickle. Unseasonably warm weather and rain instead of snow has caused some issues for the directors.
The Balloon Glow, always held on the first Friday of Carnival, is still slated to go from 4-6:30 p.m. at Kal Tire Place and Kin Race Track. The event has been moved from its original spot, Polson Park, because of extremely wet conditions.
A lack of snow at SilverStar Mountain Resort means the BC Snow Sculpture competition has been cancelled, replaced by an ice-carving challenge. A People’s Choice vote will take place Sunday, between 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. in the village, and awards will be handed out at 12 p.m.
The Ice Slide that has appeared the last couple of years has also been cancelled because of the warm weather.
The Family Fun Park will again be set up at Kal Tire Place’s rear parking lot.
One thing that will happen rain or snow or shine is the annual Winter Carnival Parade, which runs at 12 p.m. Saturday. Road closures throughout Vernon will be in affect from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate the parade, which runs down 27th Street south, turns west onto 30th Avenue, then north on 29th Street. The parade goes left onto 32nd Avenue, and right on 31st Street, ending on 39th Avenue, behind Civic Park.
Among the indoor events on opening weekend: Sip and Savour Friday night at the Vernon Recreation Centre; the Snow Globe Concert Series Saturday, featuring Cod Gone Wild and Dirt Road Kings, is also at the rec centre. Fans of feathers can check out the Chicken Plop Bingo and Fancy Feather Show, hosted by the Vernon Pigeon and Poultry Club at the Halina Activity Centre Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A free Family Gym Bouncy Castle will be set up Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the rec centre. And Celebration of Talent will take place at the Schubert Centre at 1 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
A list of all Vernon Winter Carnival events can be found at vernonwintercarnival.com/events/.
“We are more than ready to welcome everyone of all ages,” said Cornell, who praised the non-stop, tireless efforts of Carnival executive director Kris Fuller for getting the word out about Carnival.
“She’s just a whirlwind of energy. She’s gone so far and beyond in helping us get ready.”
READ MORE: B.C. premier, health minister to make announcement at Vernon hospital
READ MORE: Warm weather closes Vernon ski hill lifts, terrain