www.kelownacapnews.com • June 26, 2015
❂Discover Summer T3
Downtown Kelowna Association expecting
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS… BY MIKE STRAUSS Summer in the Okanagan is full of a number of fun community events, but few are as well attended as the annual Block Party organized by the Downtown Kelowna Association. This year, the Block Party – scheduled for August 8 from 10 AM to 4 PM – is expected to draw up to 17,000 visitors. “This is the largest event we put on,” says Events Manager Brittany Hansum. “It’s so much fun. We close down Bernard Avenue from Richter all the way to the sails. We have a climbing wall, a bouncy castle, pedal cars, face painting, and much more.” The Block Party also features a variety of other events like a dog agility show, a cheerleading demonstration, and a monster truck show. And with 150 different vendors lined up along the street, it won’t be hard to pick up a piece of memorabilia or grab a tasty bite to eat. Even if you’re not a fan of monster trucks or cheerlead-
for the
Summer Block Party!
LOCAL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION IS CREATING A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN WITH EVENTS AND CAMPAIGNS FOR DOWNTOWN RETAILERS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, AND RESTAURANTS.
restaurants as possible to open their doors and offer a complimentary sample of food to people who have a Taste of Downtown passport. We print 1500 passports, and anyone who has a passport can eat for free at any participating restaurant.” Watters says that in 2014, twenty-six restaurants participated in Taste of Downtown. The organization deliberately
Association organizes two other major events that Kelownites can enjoy: First Thursday arts and culture celebrations and the Small Shop At Night event. First Thursday is a monthly event organized by the City of Kelowna Cultural Services and the Downtown Kelowna Association. On the first Thursday of every month from 4 PM to 7 PM, Kelowna’s Cultural District
food samples, and free wine tastings, there’s no shortage of things to enjoy at Small Shop At Night. “You’d be pretty amazed at everything that happens Downtown,” Watters says. “Kelowna isn’t a big city. People can walk out their door, walk Downtown, and do anything they want.” But for Watters and Hansum, the best part of Down-
SUMMER BLOCK PARTY • AUGUST 8 • 10 AM TO 4 PM
ing, Downtown Kelowna offers another great event centered around something everyone can enjoy. “We have a restaurant promotion called Taste of Downtown,” says Communications Manager Ryan Watters. “We encourage as many
plans this event for September when the weather is a bit cooler, so participants can walk around and explore a whole variety of restaurants. Some restaurants have reported serving 900 people in a single day. The Downtown Kelowna
hosts a variety of free events – including free wine tastings at the VQA and free admission at the Kelowna Art Gallery. Small Shop At Night sees hundreds of Downtown businesses stay open late and offer exclusive promotions. With live entertainment, free
town isn’t the events or the businesses – it’s the people. “It’s great to hear the story of each small business, and that’s where satisfaction comes from,” Hansum says. “Some of these businesses are very innovative. We love being able to help them succeed.”