Penticton launches the Christmas season this weekend

PENTICTON – The festive season launches in Penticton this weekend with the 19th annual Penticton Santa Claus Parade and Christmas Light Up.

The parade starts at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, travelling north on Main Street from White Avenue to Gyro Park. There will be time for a visit with Santa prior to the Christmas tree light up in Gyro Park at 4 p.m. Santa will be in the park from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Members of the cast of The Louisiana Hayride Show make an appearance in the Peach City on Dec. 5.

This unique show features popular hits from Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and others. It promises to be a special evening of Christmas songs and fun.The show has been performing for five years all over Western Canada. Doors open at the Cleland Theatre at 6:45 p.m. and the show runs from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Penticton Visitor Centre at 553 Vees Drive in Penticton, or online at the Ticket Seller website.

The Penticton Vees play back to back games this weekend, starting Friday night, Dec. 4 as they host the Vernon Vipers. Doors open at 6 p.m for the game, which gets underway at 7 p.m.

Saturday night, the Penticton Vees take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in BCHL hockey action at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Doors open at 5 p.m., face-off at 6 p.m. Cost is $13 adults, $11 seniors, students 13 to 16 get in free, as do children under 12 when accompanied by an adult. The free tickets must be picked up at the Valley First Box Office and do not include premium seating.

Tickets are available at Valley First Box Office at the South Okanagan Events Centre, the Wine Country Visitor Centre and online at ValleyFirstTix.com. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone at 1-877-763-2849.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.