It’s time to dust off those dancing shoes and brush up on your foxtrot, Charleston and American tango.
The Roaring ‘20s Fundraising Gala in support of the Greater Vernon Museum & Archives will be held May 23 with the doors opening at 5 p.m. The 1920s themed dinner and dance will be held at Paddlewheel Park Hall overlooking picturesque Okanagan Lake, and 1920s attire is encouraged.
Jean Manifold and Denise Marsh, event co-chairs, have an exciting evening planned.
“In addition to dining and dancing we’ll have both live and silent auctions,” said Marsh. “Local boat maker Gordon Dimsdale has graciously donated a handcrafted dory boat and a cedar strip canoe for our live auction. Waterway Houseboats has given us a houseboat vacation package and we’ll also have prints by Robert Bateman and Allan Brooks among other items up for grabs during our live auction. Jean has done an amazing job of ensuring there will be something of interest to everyone, with a wide variety of silent auction items as well.”
Not to be missed, during the evening, is a tour of the newest satellite museum, the Okanagan Landing Stationhouse Museum. Step back to a time when travel down the lake depended on the elegant paddlewheel steamers and discover the history of the shipyards and railroad station. A 21-foot scale model of the Landing as it appeared circa 1914 is highlighted within the museum.
Then dance the night away with live ‘20s period music by Monty’s 3 Piece Swing Band.
“We’re hoping there will be a number of people in attendance who know some of the period dances like the Black Bottom and Lindy Hop,” said Marsh.
A cash bar will be open throughout the evening, and 50/50 tickets will be sold at the gala in addition to being pre-sold at the museum.
All proceeds from the event will go directly to support the museum, its programs and growing number of satellite museums. Tickets are $45/person, available at the Greater Vernon Museum & Archives until May 16. For more information, call 250-542-3142 or visit www.vernonmuseum.ca.
