Photo: Tourism Summerland

The weather looks perfect for the 37th annual Summerland Action Festival taking place May 31 to June 2.

The three-day festival is a popular Okanagan tradition that includes a musical festival in Summerland City Park, fireworks on Friday night, the Okanagan’s biggest slo-pitch tournament, the Giant’s Head Run and Man of Steel Triathlon, children’s fun zone, parade and more.

“It’s three days of fun with an excellent musical line-up this year,” said Action Fest entertainment director John Karrol.

More than 30,000 people will take in the festivities over the three days, he said.

“If you include all the slo-pitch teams, it can easily be even bigger numbers than that,” he added.

“Action Fest kicks off Friday night with the opening ceremony and three bands taking the stage at City Park including Slam Dogs which is made up musicians from Prism and the Headpins. Usually, more than 1,000 people head to the beverage gardens and take in the live music,” he said.

Once again Nesters has sponsored the fireworks that will light up the sky Friday night at 10:20 p.m.

This year, the organizers decided to add a new concert series taking place at Summerland Arena Saturday night, June 1.

The concert features legendary classic rock band Harlequin. They will be followed by song writing Hall of Famer Nick Glider and Sweeney Todd as well as Carleen Roth Band with special guests.

“People are in for a real treat with these legends of rock,” said Karrol.

“The Summerland arena is a 1,200 seat venue with great sound quality. Every seat is like having VIP seating.”

There is also an opportunity to get VIP seating in the first and second rows, he said. Those tickets come with swag bags and meet and greets with the bands.

“We are hoping the concert at the arena will be a new and exciting feature to Action Fest for years to come,” he said. “If it’s a success we can continue to draw big names to Summerland.”

You can buy tickets at www.sumerlandactionfestival.ca.

People also get to enjoy three days of free music and entertainment by a wide variety of bands. Performances are at the main stage at Summerland City Park include top tribute acts throughout the weekend.

On the main stage at Summerland City Park include top tribute acts like Def Leppard tribute band Hysteria,  Bad Moon Riders (CCR tribute) Moving In Stereo (tribute to the Cars) Strut - award winning guitarist Ray Roper, Slam Dogs, Classic Ronstadt (The Music of Linda), David And The Titans (country rock) plus Timbre Wolves (classic rock) and top local performances.

SATURDAY

Saturday’s events kick off with a pancake breakfast put on by the Kinsmen starting at 8 a.m. Then the 37th annual parade takes place at 10 a.m. in downtown Summerland.

It’s the biggest “little” parade in the Okanagan, said parade organizer Terry Hudson. While weather looks good so far, Hudson always says – “Nobody rains on our parade.”

The popular Family Fun Zone opens at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park.

Take in wrist wrestling at the beverage gardens at noon. Food vendors will be at the parks during the three days.

The Giant’s Head Run is celebrating the decade it started in, with an 80s theme run up the steep mountain. The run starts at 6 p.m.

Slo-pitch games will fill all 12 fields with more than 80 teams registered to play in the tournament this year.

At 7 p.m., the Action Festival Concert starts at the arena.

SUNDAY

At 11 a.m. there is a fishing derby at the Garnet Valley dam. At the same time, the Family Fun Zone and beer gardens open for the day. The Nakama Drum Ensemble take the stage.

Musical entertainment goes all day.

Slo-Pitch Tournament awards take place at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Park.