The sound of drums and bagpipes are about to permeate Vernon when the annual Spring Fling takes place Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2.
Hosted by one of the eight different B.C. Interior pipe bands each year, the 37th annual competition and performance will welcome seven bands from Prince George, Kamloops, Kimberley, Kelowna, and Vernon.
Hosted by the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band and the Arran Campbell Memorial Youth Pipe Band, a number of events will take place over the two-day event.
Friday features a drumming contest, a social, and a pub crawl, which starts at 8:30 p.m., while a parade, featuring individual and massed bands, takes place Saturday at noon.
“The best place to watch the parade is on 33rd Street from behind Staples to the rec centre,” said Norm Crerar, with the Kalamalka Highlanders. “Bands will be graded on dress and deportment and the massed band will be the final part of the parade.”
Also on Saturday is a piping and drumming competition, which is free for people wishing to watch, and takes place outside the front entrance to the Vernon Recreation Complex starting at 1:30 p.m.
“Bands will be graded on music and playing ability,” said Crerar. “The best place to watch is from the grassy bank near the Performing Arts Centre.”
Band members will also partake in a dance and skit competition, with an awards banquet taking place Saturday evening at the rec centre.
More information is available at www.2015springflingvernon.org.
