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Delayed fireworks to go this weekend in Kelowna

Postponed from Canada Day, the fireworks cap off events planned for Stuart Park on Saturday.
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The postponed Canada Day fireworks will go Aug 5 at 9:30 p.m. —Image credit: Doug Farrow/contributor

It may be a holiday long-weekend but typically, the days surrounding B.C. Day in Kelowna are a fairly low-key affair.

Not this year promises Festivals Kelowna.

Prompted by its decision last month to move the traditional Canada Day fireworks show to the B.C. Day long-weekend because of flooding problems, a full evening of entertainment has been organized for this Saturday in Jim Stuart Park.

According to Renata Mills of Festivals Kelowna, in addition to live entertainment between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., there will also be dancing in the park, the “full arsenal” of the city’s Play In The Park program with fun activities for kids and plenty of food trucks on hand for those who get hungry.

The evening will be capped off with the firework show starting at 9:30 p.m., this year choreographed to music that will feature a coast-to-coast theme representing Canada’s 150 birthday.

“We’re putting in a lot of family friendly activities,” said Mills.

The decision to postpone the fireworks from July 1 was controversial but one Mills said could not be avoided at the time because of the flood-mitigation measures that were in place and which closed some downtown beaches where many of the thousands who regularly turn out to watch the fireworks regularly gather.

She said rather than pick a random day to put on the show, Aug. 5 was chosen because it is the Saturday night of of the B.C. Day long-weekend.

In addition to the events in Jim Stuart Park , Mills said speakers will be set up at numerous locations around the downtown core, including along the lakeshore in both Jim Stuart Park and Waterfront Park, so fireworks watchers can hear the music the pyrotechnic show will accompany.

She added plans are also in the works to broadcast the music over the radio so people farther away, or on boats on the lake, will be able to enjoy the musical accompaniment.

Details of how to tune in will be announced later in the week, said Mills.