Lineup filling out for Westside Daze
It will be party time in West Kelowna complete with rides as Westside Daze returns to in-person events July 8 to 10 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
Mike Schell, president of the Westside Celebration Society which puts on Westside Daze, announced Monday the line up for the three-day free family fun festival that will fill West
Kelowna’s Memorial Park with music, laughter and magic.
With the cancellation of Rutland’s May Days again this year, Schell said Westside Daze will have the only rides in the Central Okanagan as Westbank First Nation has given the OK for Shooting Star Amusements to set up in the field next to the A&W.
The themes for this year’s community celebration will be Mardi Gras, with the party kicking off July 8 at 6 p.m. at the Annette Beaudreau Amphitheatre.
After the official opening, the Mount Boucherie Secondary School band will perform jazz and R & B at 6:15 p.m., followed by the Musical Actors and Singers Kelowna (MASK) from 7 to 7:45 p.m. who will give a full Mardi Gras-themed performance backed by a live band.
Headliner Andrew Johns, an Elton John tribute artist, will take to the stage with an eight-piece band from 8:15 to 10 p.m.
On July 9, the Westside Daze parade with its popular Wet Zone returns from 10:30 a.m. to noon with the traditional route, and then the action moves to
Memorial Park with activities and entertainment including belly dancing starting at 1 p.m.
Thrash Wrestling will deliver two action-packed 75-minute sets at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Kids can bounce for free as Westside Daze is covering the cost for Just4Fun to bring three 10 by 20 bouncy castles.
In the evening, long-time Westside Daze performer Leif David will be bringing his family magic show at 6 p.m., followed by Tracy Millar, an Alberta country music artist, playing her tribute to the ladies of country from 7 to 7:45 p.m.
Headliner Marty Edwards as Kinda Kenny will perform his Kenny Rogers tribute from 8:15 to 10 p.m.
The day wraps up with the Saturday night fireworks in Gellatly Bay around 10 p.m.
On July 10, folks can bring their appetite for the Lions Pancake Breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m.
The Ecumenical Service returns with people gathering from 10 to 11 a.m.
Afternoon entertainment includes A Man Named Sue with a Johnny Cash tribute from noon to 1:30 p.m. as well as the winner of Canada Day’s Battle of the Bands contest, who will perform a 90-minute paid set from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
The Kids’ Fair will be running with Kinshira on hand with kids’ activities at 11 a.m.
Treasure hunters can check out the trunk sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no cost to enter. Westside Daze will close July 10 at 4 p.m.
More information is being added to the Westside Daze website. People can already go online to westsidedaze.com to register for parade entries, vendors, concessions, booths and the trunk sale.