It is one of the busiest weekends for Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP.
And the local detachment is prepared for Funtastic.
“We will have a full contingent of officers on in Vernon, Armstrong and Enderby,” said RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk. “Our auxiliaries will be helping out. Citizens on Patrol will be helping with the fireworks and they’ll also be acting as extra eyes and ears for the RCMP.”
The Funtastic slo-pitch tournament and music festival is housed mainly at the Vernon Army Camp, with 200-plus teams taking part, but there are also Funtastic tournaments in Armstrong and Enderby.
The RCMP will have its portable command centre operating at the army camp.
“We’re asking people to not drink and drive,” said Molendyk. “We want everybody to have a good time, come to our communities and enjoy a wonderful event put on here every year by a group of people that work very hard to do that.
“But we also have a group of people on hand that work hard to keep the community safe.”
Funtastic hires extra security to work the beverage garden and concert area. However, once the music stops, there are participants who will head to downtown Vernon to check out the establishments.
“We police the downtown core as there may be individuals who get into an establishment that have had too much to drink, so the establishment’s liquor licence is now on the line,” said Molendyk.
Extra prison guards will be working the Vernon cells in case there are revelers who end up being housed at the Vernon detachment overnight.
The Department of National Defence also provides military police during the weekend to look after the army grounds.
The RCMP and North Okanagan conservation service will also be out on area lakes over the holiday long weekend, making sure the waterways are safe for all boaters.
