Peachland to hold After the Flood Celebration on Saturday

With the levels of Okanagan Lake receding, Peachland is coming together to hold an After the Flood Celebration Saturday at Cousins Park starting at 4 p.m. complete with a free barbecue, music, children’s activities and the chance to dunk Peachland Mayor Cindy Fortin.

The event is an opportunity to say thank you to the community for their patience during the Áooding and for the community to thank all the city, regional , provincial workers who protected Peachland from the high lake levels this spring.

“It’s nice to do something for the community and all the people who came to our aid,” said Fortin.

People can bring their lawn chairs and blankets to Cousins Park, located by the Peachland Community Centre and across from Swim Bay, for all the festivities.

The Peachland Lions Club will be hosting a free barbecue from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

There will be a giant banner for people to write their messages of thanks to those who helped protect Peachland. People have a chance to dunk Fortin and other local ofÀcials at the Mayor’s Dunk Tank from 4 to 7 p.m.

“Anything for the community,” said Fortin. “This is their best chance to hit me with their best shot.” Speeches go around 5:30 p.m. Kids can have fun on the power waterslide, getting their faces painted and playing games from 4 to 7 p.m.

Dion Weisbrod and the Unbranded will take the stage to perform a free country music concert from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The District of Peachland is contributing $2500 for the event, which mostly covers the barbecue, the band and some of the attractions.

“We want to let people know that we realize that it was a tough late spring and early summer and thank you for your patience,” said Fortin.

With Peachland now in recovery mode, the district is trying to get as back to normal as possible. Fortin said the district is making it back slowly but surely, but there is still clean-up work to do, with riprap on the beaches and sandbags still in place.

“On the scale of things it took a very short time to cause so much damage and it’s probably going to take us a couple of years to sort through it all and get things back to the way they were and hopefully they’ll even be better along the shore.” said Fortin.

The After the Flood Celebration leads into the previously planned Third Annual Coldwell Banker Movie Night in the Park which will be showing A Dogs Purpose.

The event is a fundraiser for the Peachland Boys and Girls Club.

Admission is free, but a donation to the club is encouraged.

The club will have refreshments for sale at the event.

RafÁe tickets will be available to win return tickets for two people anywhere WestJet Áies. Tickets cost $20 each and only 350 are available. The draw takes place at movie night.

Money raised goes to the Peachland Boys and Girls Club.