“Four seasons of fun” is an ongoing collaboration between Castanet and Visit Penticton showcasing what Penticton has to offer all year round. Watch for it every Monday morning.
Escape the July heat by exploring some ‘cool’ indoor spaces summer, or if you’re looking for a unique outdoor sense of Penticton’s history, some special trees may pull you outside for a bit of an urban adventure.
Together with the Penticton & District Community Arts Council, the Penticton Museum and Archives is celebrating Historic Places Days until July 31, part of larger national event hosted by the National Trust of Canada. The theme is, ‘every place, a story.’
In Penticton, the two organizations are sharing stories about … trees!
“We have trees that are more than 100 years old,” explains Chandra Wong of the Penticton Museum. “They may not be big, but don’t judge a tree by its size.”
Examples? Camperdown trees that are “short, but have a unique structure” that can be found on Windsor Boulevard, first brought here in 1919, also the year Norway Spruce were planted in the Lakeview Cemetery. Or learn about the Coronation Oak sent by the Royal Gardens in London to the local Women’s Institute in Penticton to commemorate the coronation of King George the VI in 1937.
And many years ago, Pentictonites would head from the downtown area to camp on Skaha Lake, surrounded by pine trees.
Explore the city’s historical foliage by downloading a map, taking part in a scavenger hunt, ordownload a colouring book with artwork created by a number of local artists; all available online from the Arts Council.
“Our regular programming is going on, and the Museum is a great place to beat the heat,” adds Chandra.
As is the historic S.S. Sicamous Museum and Heritage Park, once again open after two years on hiatus due to Covid-19.
“We have lots of history to explore, guided tours, and if you’re a ‘ship’ person, me may be able to take you out on the tug boat,” explains Katie Pereira at the S.S. Sicamous.
The Sicamous is generally open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays), but will be closed on certain days for private events.
While not many events are in the works this summer, a jazz performance on board is planned for Aug. 14. The displays – including the famous Kettle Valley model railroad – have changed a bit, and there are many areas of the ship to see.
“We’d love to see more members join us this year,” adds Katie. Membership info is available online https://ss-sicamous-society.square.site/. And yes, the Sicamous does host weddings and special events, but be sure to check it out and start planning soon, as bookings fill up quickly.
Locals and visitors alike can drop by the Penticton Visitor Centre and grab a cruisin’ the strip guide to plan a historical walking tour of downtown Penticton, or look for these guides while you’re exploring the Downtown Penticton Community Market, held Saturday mornings until autumn.
Learn more at www.visitpenticton.com and on social @visitpenticton.