It’s been a long time since the Greater Vernon Museum took part in Vernon’s annual Winter Carnival.
The museum is returning in a big way.
“We’re going to be hosting a pair of events,” said museum marketing and communications coordinator Denise Marsh at Tuesday’s official countdown launch to the 57th annual Vernon Winter Carnival at the Holiday Inn Express.
“We will host a history trivia night, featuring Canadian and local trivia, on Friday, Feb. 3, and we will host a Sweetheart Dance for grandparents and grandchildren on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m.”
The trivia night is for teams of six or individuals can sign up and will form a team.
Tickets for both events are available at the museum and the Winter Carnival office, and tickets for all events that aren’t already sold out out are available at the Carnival office.
The 57th annual Carnival – with the theme of Carnival Celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday – runs Feb. 3 to 12.
“We have so many new sponsors with our title sponsor being Fix Auto,” said Carnival chairperson Deb White, decked out in a Canada red onesie, complete with Canadian flags attached to her head.
“The whole community has come together. We have so many new sponsors, so many new events.”
Pre-Carnival events included the 44th annual Best Decorated Premises contest, with Jan. 27 being the deadline to spruce up your business in one of three categories: Window Display, Window Painting (professional and non-professional) and Interior Decorations and Costumes.
The proclamation and coronation of Queen Silver Star takes place Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.
And a school poster contest open to all school aged children from kindergarten to Grade 7 will be held with a deadline of Wednesday, Feb. 1 to enter posters at the carnival office (3401-35th Avenue).
Among the returning Carnival events are the B.C. Snow Sculpture Championship at Silver Star Mountain Resort; Suds N’ Cider; 25th annual North Okanagan Hot Air Balloon Festival; Over the Hill Downhill at Silver Star; annual Vernon Coca Cola Classic Pee Wee Hockey Tournament; Irish Pub Night with local favourites Cod Gone Wild; Celebration of Talent (formerly known as Bandarama); 48th annual Feather Fancier Show; Medieval Carnivale; Chili Cook Off; Winter Carnival Blues Festival; Dinner Theatre at Schubert Centre; and Sweetheart Ball at Halina Centre; Restaurant Olympics.
Also returning is last year’s Best New Event, Pianographicus II, held at Studio E and Pianojam Studio on Pottery Road on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
All events, returning and new, can be found in the official Vernon Winter Carnival brochure or check out the Carnival website at www.vernonwintercarnival.com.
The always popular Vernon Winter Carnival Parade will begin at noon Saturday on 27th Street near Seaton Secondary, heads south to 30th Avenue, goes west to 31st Street and finishes heading north toward the Vernon Civic Arena.
