Diwali in Vernon Festival

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society proudly presents, through partnership with Diwali in BC, the inaugural Diwali in Vernon Festival! Running Tuesday, October 9 through to Saturday, October 13 2018, the Festival will host a variety of multicultural activities around Vernon, culminating in a showcase at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, October 13 at 7:00pm. The Diwali in Vernon Festival showcase is part of the 2018/19 SPOTLIGHT Special Presentation Series.

Kicking off the week, the Festival Launch will take place at the Okanagan Regional Library on Tuesday, October 9 at 7pm. Featuring pop-up performances by local artists and the launch of an interactive Rangoli art project, all ages are invited to attend this free event. Soul Studio will also be hosting a BollyX Class at 5:45pm; pricing and registration information can be found through Soul Studio’s website, www.soulstudio.ca.

On Wednesday, October 10, families can enjoy a free Lantern Making Workshop at the Vernon Community Arts Centre from 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm; drop-in during these times to make a beautiful handmade lantern! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Lanterns can be taken home on the day of the workshop, or they can be left on display as part of the Centre Gallery’s “Diwali in Vernon Festival” exhibit which runs September 28th to October 25th.

The Library will be hosting a fun and interactive kids’ workshop on Thursday, October 11 at 3:30pm. Learn about the history of Diwali and South Asian dance!

On Friday, October 12 start your day at Soul Studio for their Yin Yoga Class at 10:15am, then head to the Vernon Public Art Gallery and take part in a Rangoli art project! Open from 10am-5pm, all ages are invited to come and contribute to making a large community Rangoli. This activity will be open during regular gallery hours until October 20th. From 3:30 - 4:30pm, you won’t want to miss the Okanagan Science Centre’s “Stars and Mythology” event: a planetarium show centred around South Asian mythology and its connection to Diwali. The cost is included with regular admission to the Science Centre ($5 +GST for children, $8 +GST for adults, $5 +GST for seniors). No pre-registration is required, but don’t be late! To end off the day on Friday, Record City is hosting a World Dance Concert with Zimbamoto and local guests with doors at 7:00pm and show at 7:30pm. Early bird price is $15 per person, tickets at the door are $20. Get $5 off if you bring your “Diwali in Vernon Festival” showcase ticket at the door (and get the $15 price). Also, if you buy tickets to the Zimbamoto concert you can receive $5 off your “Diwali in Vernon Festival” showcase ticket!

For the last day of the festival, Saturday, October 13, the Library will be hosting a pop-up performance at 2pm. This is a free event for all ages. Finally, the festival will culminate in a multicultural showcase of diverse artists from different backgrounds, headlined by the popular Bollywood dance group from Vancouver, the Shiamak Dancers! The show will take place at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, October 13 at 7:00pm. Pre-show activities will begin in the lobby at 5pm. Tickets for the Diwali in Vernon Festival showcase are $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $30 for students. Call the Ticket Seller Box Office at 250-549-SHOW (7469) or log on line to www.ticketseller.ca.

To end off the night, the Curry Pot will be hosting an Indian Buffet Dinner at 9pm! Eat with the performers and celebrate South Asian culture with delicious food. Tickets for the Curry Pot dinner are $30 per person. Limited tickets available, buy now through the Ticket Seller box office.

Make sure to also check out all the festive downtown businesses that will be decorating their window displays in a Diwali theme. More is being added to the Diwali in Vernon Festival all the time, so make sure to check back closer to the date!