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PHOTOS: Canada Day at Gyro Park

Hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of people crowded into Gyro Park today for Canada Day 2022 celebrations.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

It was quite likely the busiest Gyro has been since Canada Day 2019. Get-togethers of any sort were prohibited in 2020 due to pandemic mandates, and Canada Day celebrations were severely muted -- and canceled in Penticton -- last year as the country came to grips with the residential schools tragedy.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

But this year it was full steam ahead and the park looked busy even before the crowds showed up.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

Taking over the event reins from the City for 2022 was the Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association, and they planned big-time.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

A gaggle of food trucks lined the south edge of the park and countless vendor and community group tents were situated across the eastern and northern flanks.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

The skies were sunny as the schedule kicked off at 10 am with a performance by local singer-songwriter Chayce Kennedy, and continued that way to the early afternoon.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

Threatening clouds loomed in the west as the afternoon wore on, but the thunderstorm many thought was coming never materialized.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

In the noon hour, Penticton Indian Band member and Syilx Okanagan Nation representative Serenity Baptiste performed the Okanagan Song, the Penticton Concert Band performed the national anthem, and pipers led a parade of dignitaries onto the bandshell stage. Several short speeches followed.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

Afternoon highlights included the always entertaining Ari Neufeld and the Bent Family of Indigenous dancers.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

The latter prompted a hundred or more adults to jump onto the concrete dance floor in front of the stage and go crazy like the kids had been doing all day.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

We can’t let the day go without mentioning the cupcakes. Some were iced in red frosting, some in white, and there was nearly 1,000 of them in total.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

And all were handed out, many by contestants for the Miss Penticton 2022 crown, free of charge to ravenous event-goers.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>



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