Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Vancouver Avenue was the place to be on Canada Day for those who like moving fast and getting wet.

A massive slide arrived in Penticton for the first time, courtesy of Slide the City.

"I think it's just a fun way to celebrate Canada Day," said Kerri Milton, executive director of the Downtown Penticton Association. "And what better way to cool off than a water slide."

The DPA partnered with Slide the City for the event, which also featured food, music, local vendors and street entertainers.

The highlight, of course, was speeding down the slide on inner tubes.

Melissa McLean who came from Lake Country with Dugie McLean for the event, arrived early for the festivities.

"I was looking for fun things to do in the Okanagan and this looked like fun," she said. "It's something different that is fast, wet and fun."

Greg Vinnish travelled up from Abbotsford to check out the giant slide.

"I didn't know what to expect, and it's a pretty sweet ride." he said. "It's the reason I came up here as well as to see my best friend."

His friend Rachel Telfer from Vernon described the event as something different and exciting for Canada Day.

"It's absolutely a good thing, and it brings a lot of people together," she said.

The sliding started at 9 a.m. and goes until 7 p.m.

Milton said it was her understanding they sold 900 tickets online and that the single sliders were sold out.

Other tickets were still selling, as of Friday morning, she said.

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer