Summerlude 2011
July 20-23, Invermere –
Summerlude is about having fun and celebrating summer in the Columbia Valley and for four days in July hundreds of locals and visitors do just that.
The festivities begin at Pynelogs Cultural Centre with 2 evenings of ‘Pynestock’, a totally refreshing youth concert in which a dozen or so very talented local twenty-somethings improvise to create never-before-heard compositions. The concerts are described as having “a smidgen of classical, two scoops of rock and three giant helpings of who-the-heck-knows-what genre” ( http://www.cvarts.com ) and are wildly successful.
Pynestock 2010 photo by Jami Scheffer, Columbia Valley Arts Council
Dates are Wednesday, July 20th and Thursday, July 21st. Doors open at 7:30pm and the show starts at 8:00pm. Tickets are $12 and may be obtained at Pynelogs (250-342-4423) and The Book Bar. Come early to get the best seats.
On Friday, July 22nd, come on down to ‘Bull Riding in the Rockies’, a crazy one-night rodeo at Invermere’s Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena, presented by the Columbia Valley Rockies hockey team. This is a true family affair and crowds pack the stands to watch world professional riders do their best to conquer the angry bulls. Meanwhile, the rodeo clowns are chased around the ring by the ferocious beasts and all is laughter and excitement at its best. There’s Mexican poker, a cowboy dinner of beef, beans and biscuits, live and silent auction and mutton bustin’ for the kids. The evening ends at the Invermere Curling Club with a family dance and the crowning of the bull-riding queen.
It all starts at 5:00pm. Cost is $27 for adults, $17 for seniors and students and the cowboy dinner is $8. Get your tickets at Home Hardware or The Source in Invermere, the Brisco General Store or the Mountainside Markets in Radium and Fairmont.
Click for full-size poster
Then, on Saturday, July 23rd, Valley Appreciation Day starts off downtown with a free pancake breakfast. There’s live music by local musicians, a logging show, a bounce castle and the Invermere Farmers Market with its stalls of fresh produce, fresh-baked breads, and goodies, arts and crafts. This event celebrates not only the Columbia Valley but also its people -– those who live here and those who come to visit. It’s a great time to say hello to old friends and make new ones and there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Summerlude winds up with the annual Lake Windermere Regatta from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. The Lake Windermere Ambassadors present an afternoon of sailing and swimming races, sand art contests, a ‘love your lake’ photo contest and lots of other beach activities. There are prizes to be won and all the events are free.
