Kelowna

The crowds have been encouraging so far and the best is yet to come.

Wilbur Turner, Okanagan Pride Festival co-chair, says the crowds have been great as they hit the midway point of the week long festival.

"It has been very awesome actually. The number of people who have come out so far to the events total over 500 or 600 people so far," says Turner.

"That's really good because those weren't our big events. Those are still to come."

Turner says even more encouraging is the diversity of those attending the pride festival through the first four days.

"For our spiritual gathering on Sunday we had quite a number of people from the straight community out to celebrate with us so that was pretty cool."

One of the big events is Wednesday night's screening of the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show.'

The movie, a popular event each year during the festival, begins at 7 p.m. at the Mary Irwin Theatre.

Turner expects to come close to the 300 person capacity.

There will be prizes for best costume. 

"The dance on Saturday night at the Level will probably be the biggest event. It usually draws the most people," adds Turner.

"But, we are expecting to draw a lot of people for the barbecue on Friday."

The barbecue and Gay Kelowna Contest begins at 6 p.m. at the ORC Centre on water Street.

Turner says it's an exciting multiple show event.

"We have a drag contest, there is a comedian from New York, there's a burlesque show and some other things going on there as well."

Aside from those events there is also a golf tournament Thursday afternoon at 4:30 at Orchard Greens Golf Course, a Picnic in the Park Saturday at 11 a.m. in Mission Creek Park and a wind-up brunch and t-dance at the ORC Sunday at 11 a.m.