Hundreds of eager Okanagan locals gathered in the lobby of the Summerland Waterfront Resort on Saturday afternoon awaiting their chance to participate in the 6th annual Light Up the Vines event. Not only is this event a great way to explore the many flavours our stunning valley wineries have to offer, but it’s a great way to get into the swing of the holiday season.
This event has become a unique tradition for wine and holiday lovers alike over the past six years. With over 10 local Summerland wineries and cideries participating, attendees were given an incredible chance to taste some of the Okanagan’s best wines while wandering through festively lit and decorated vineyards.
Due to the event’s growing popularity over the years, organizers have added an additional weekend in order to make sure nobody missed out on this festively fun and wine-fueled event. Another unique addition to the event in recent years has been the inclusion of Dominion Cider Co., as well as Summerland Heritage Cider Company. These cideries offer attendees a taste of some of the other versatile tree fruit we grow here.
It wasn’t just the vineyards of Summerland that were aglow with holiday spirit, but the downtown core was as well! Friday evening marked the kick-off of the holiday season with the Summerland Festival of Lights and it was a sight to see!
Thousands flocked to Summerland’s quintessential downtown core and were entertained by music, caroling and a variety of local artisans and organizations who had tents lined alongside the cobbled street. The event also hosted a variety of food trucks, everything from vegetarian, Indian cuisine to classic fish and chips.
At 7pm, the mayor of Summerland thanked local residents and sponsors before announcing the 36th annual light up. With this announcement, the lanterns that scattered downtown Summerland lit up as the roofs of shops and homes were garnished with the twinkling of fairy lights.
One of the original creators and coordinators of the events, Lisa Jaager, summed up this fun, festive and exciting weekend filled with wonder in one perfect statement, “The entire Festival of lights weekend will set the tone for your holiday season.”
For more photos of the festive fun this weekend, head to our Facebook Page!
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