Party at Polson Park

The Sundog Festival of Arts and Culture is back.

The second-annual event kicks off today at 4 p.m. in Vernon's Polson Park.

Bands from across Western Canada will take to the Polson Park bandshell this weekend for hours of free entertainment.

Tonight's entertainment will be a showcase of Hip-hop and R&B acts that will light up the stage.

On Saturday, the party starts at 3 p.m. with more bands taking the stage.

The Polson Artisan Market will be onsite with a range of artists and craftspeople. There will also be food trucks and other activities at the event.

At 8:45 p.m. Saturday, the drone show that had to be cancelled on Canada Day will take to the sky.

Co-organizer Heath Fletcher said the festival was created as a way to bring the community together to celebrate arts and culture.

“It partners so well with BC Culture Days,” Fletcher said. “It gave us an opportunity to really bring together a lot of entertainment and cultural performances that no one has ever seen before.”

The festival is also the official local kick-off to BC Culture Days, which runs through Oct. 13.

“We have so many incredible partners in the community: Vernon Community Arts Centre, the library Vernon Public Art Gallery, the museum, the list goes on and on,” said Shawna Patenaude, Sundog co-organizer. “They are offering almost 50 free events in the city for Cultural Days.”
Last year, there were 34 Cultural Days events in Vernon, which was the fourth highest in Canada.

“So let's see what 50 gives us this year,” she said.

For a full list of Sundog times and events, visit their website.