Funtastic ready to rock with 128 teams in Vernon

Funtastic is ready to roar this Canada Day weekend, as the annual slo pitch tournament and music festival returns for its second year since COVID cancellations.

“People have found others things to do coming out of the pandemic, so it’s been a struggle to find enough teams,” said president Jamie Austin. “Yet, we are appreciative of the teams we have and are happy to have them.”

There will be 128 teams gracing the pitches at the DND Grounds, not quite at the level of previous Funtastic Festivals and its 160 teams, but nonetheless impressive.

“People have grown older and slo pitch has changed but we still have a good showing,” Austin explained.

Slo pitch action takes place all weekend.

“The first game will be at 5:15 p.m. on Friday and we’ll have the final match at 2:30 on Monday.”

In addition to the games, there will be three nights of rollicking tunes. The Yellow Brick Road headlines Friday, Tyler Joe Miller on Saturday and Sunday wraps up with The Young uns.

“We’ve also opened up our beer gardens to be family friendly up to 7 p.m.,” added Austin. “We will have a dunk tank, day time activities for the kids and a couple of surprises that I wont give away, so come on out for yourself to check it out.”

Visit funtasticsports.ca for more information, as all profits made by the society will go back into the community.

Canada Day is chock-full of free events in Polson Park:

• Bouncy castle and slide: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Elementary skate competition: 10 a.m.

• Spray park: 11:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

• Sadok Ukrainian dancers: 10 a.m.

• Kalamalka Highlanders: 11 a.m

• Fruitfest (free cherries): 1-2 p.m.

• Bike parade: 2 p.m.

• Teen and adult skate competition: 5 p.m.

In addition, market vendors, food trucks and live music will be at the park all day, with The Carbons headlining the stage from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

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