“For the past 33 years, the fourth week in January has provided Kelowna-area residents and visitors alike an opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of events aimed at helping shake the winter blahs. Although some Okanagan Valley winters can be a lot milder than others (there have been years when Snowfest organizers prayed for snow and below-freezing temperatures) we usually get enough of the white stuff to go around.

“Snowfest had its beginnings in 1973, when the first-ever world championships for hang-gliders (known then as delta-wing kites) were held at the Big White Ski Resort. The first schedule included a downtown torchlight parade, the Frostbite Fishing Derby, a dance, and the annual Schmockey game pitting the RCMP against a squad of local news media misfits.”

“The schedule has changed a lot over the years. Hang-gliders are only an occasional sight at Big White. The fishing derby is gone. So too is Snow Golf (purple balls, only, please). But they've been replaced by dozens of others -- from outrageous to almost-serious. And every year the fund-raising Snowfest buttons sell out quickly.”

This year, Snowfest is on the Jan. 27-28 weekend and one of the most popular Snowfest tournaments over the years has been the Co-ed Snowpitch Tournament. Although the tournament has not been able to be held the last couple years due to lack of snow at the Mission Softball Complex, it looks like a go this year and the registrations are once again rolling in at a fast and furious pace!

The Snowfest Co-ed Snowpitch Tournament uses modified Slo-Pitch rules to make this a fun event. Games will be 5 innings, base runners will have to run the opposite direction every other inning, official “soft” softballs will be used, and players can use anything they can carry out on the field to catch with! Costumes are encouraged however not required. There are lots of prizes up for grabs and the tournament is limited to the first 16 teams that register.

For more information and to register for this or any other of the many tournaments leagues and programs, contact Sport & Rec. at 469-8800 (Parkinson Rec. Centre) or online