Everything’s going on this weekend
The final days of November are not lazy ones. Decorations and twinkly lights are illuminating the city, cards and invitation are ready to be posted and men will don clean-shaven faces because it’s also the end of Movember, in which many men grow moustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues.
We have one month to get ready for a new year and those resolutions. This year, I am starting mine a month early to get a good run at keeping them come Jan. 1. I’ll keep you posted on whether this new tactic works.
This month is chock full of events that encourage us to get into the spirit of gift giving.
If you have your Christmas list ready, the weekend is packed with opportunities to find something unique that personalizes the experience of giving.
Let’s start downtown with the annual Kelowna Winter Street Market and Light Up. This will take place on Saturday in and around Stuart Park. Activities run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and include a market, inflatable play areas, live music and skating at Stuart Park, pinecone art and scavenger hunts at the Ellis Street library, and cider and games at the Laurel packing house.
Visit downtownkelowna.com/winterstreetmarket for a full schedule, then stay around until the tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Weekend parking downtown will be free in December
Also on Saturday is the Touch of Christmas Crafter and Vendors Fair at New Life Centre (formerly Main Street Centre), 2041 Harvey Ave. This pop-up market has approximately 80 plus crafters and vendors, A cookie bar will be one of the features, along with live music, a 50/50 draw, door prizes and a silent auction. It’s a $2 entry fee and every $2 delivers a week’s worth of food to someone who might otherwise go hungry. The market goes from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parking is free. Bring a donation for the food bank.
East Kelowna Hall is also open for business Friday and Saturday with its Christmas Artisan Gift Shop. This indoor shopping experience was created to give artisans and crafters an opportunity to sell their wares in an affordable, creative, warm, welcoming environment. They will be on site Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Southeast Kelowna Community Fire Department will have its fire truck parked outside for kids to climb on and look inside.
Grizzli Winery, 2550 Boucherie Rd., has a huge indoor space that will feature a variety of vendors, live music, wine tastings, and festive food pairings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On Sunday, the Westside Wine Trail Association has its Sip into the Season event which includes 13 wineries on the Westside. This event is free and open to
the public from noon to 5 p.m. Each winery hosts local artisans and crafters in their tasting rooms and cellars. Visitors can travel from winery to winery to enjoy tasting some award-winning wines while shopping for gift packages, and holiday cheer.
This is a self-guided tour, but there are options available through Roots & Vines Tours (250-868-0611) and Uncorked Okanagan (250-769-3123). Visit the website for a list of wineries, crafters and artisans at thewestsidewinetrail.com
Big White Ski Resort is open and with that is a Sunday craft market from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., featuring a wide variety of handmade and locally sourced products from independent vendors as well as the essential Big White Christmas souvenirs.
Also on Sunday is the Last Chance Craft Sale happening at the Winfield Memorial Hall at 10130 Bottom Wood Lake Rd. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Those of you who have gotten to know me musically over the past years will recognize the name of Loni Moger, who I work with a lot and consider a jewel of a musician.
I admire his knowledge of the craft of playing a guitar, and trust his considerable skills with technology.
Moger seem to always have an interesting approach to creating music beds for me to sing over, which then allows me to vocally interpret different dynamics into the story I’m singing, which makes a classic jazz tunes or even my original songs, a little more interesting.
Moger also plays with many other singers and musicians in the Okanagan as a side man, band leader or band member and in other genres of music styles to include pop, country and rock, to name a few, so it came as no surprise to hear he will now be fronting his own has solo project and hired a band of his favourite musicians to perform in concert as he takes the microphone and becomes the headline attraction. This concert will be held at the Vernon Jazz Club, 3000-31 St., on Saturday.
Moger and the band will be performing Swing era stylings with influences of blues and jazz.
Describing his own style of playing, Moger says, “It’s as if James Taylor played
guitar like the offspring of B.B. King and Joe Satriani.”
Moger will be joined on stage by Stefan Bienz, bass; Neville Bowman, piano; Steven Buck, sax and flute; and Bob Rogers, trombone. Tickets are $20 online at vernonjazz.com. The show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7.15 p.m. There is a fully licenced cash bar. No food is served, but patrons may enjoy a 10 per cent discount on food at Marten Brewpub, upon presentation of their tickets for that evening’s show.
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Bonnie Gratz director and founder of New Vintage Theatre, has written an original play titled In One Night. This play is about two ex-lovers who revisit their secret history considering what life would have been like if they stayed together. There are only three more chances to see this play. Tickets are $20 at door or in advance from info@newvintage.ca. Price includes a glass of wine and a cupcake.
Location: Studio 100, Rotary Centre For Arts, Cawston Ave. Time: 7:30 p.m.
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Opera Kelowna presents its annual Christmas concert Friday at Evangel Church on Gordon Drive. This classical Christmas gift to Kelowna will most likely be a truly refined presentation of classical and traditional favourites. Tickets are $25 through brownpapertickets.com/event/ 3621796. The concert begins at 7.30 p.m.
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Wake up early on Saturday and make your way to the Orchard Plaza cinema for the 10 a.m. live screening of Mozart’s Magic Flute performed by the Metropolitan Opera of New York. A chance to see truly magnificent musicians and voices perform the story placed inside a mythical land between the sun and the moon where Tamino, a prince must undergo a series of tests, accompanied by his goofy sidekick Papageno, in order to marry the princess Pamina.
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Saturday afternoon and evening is a special concert titled Ring in Christmas with the Kelowna Secondary School chamber choir, vocal jazz ensemble and guests from KLO and Dr. Knox middle schools. Admission is by donation at First United Church, 721 Bernard Ave. Shows are at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
————— The Okanagan Festival Singers along with the Camerata Orchestra will perform Messiah with guest soloists. Tickets are $30/ $15, through kelownatickets.com. This concert will be held at First Lutheran Church, 4091 Lakeshore Rd. beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Take advantage of the talent we are experiencing right now and have a wonderful week ahead.
Anna Jacyszyn is an award-winning jazz singer. Email : artafactevent@gmail.com.