Okanagan Military Tattoo moving to outdoor venue in Armstrong

Photo: Okanagan Military Tattoo

After being cancelled this year, the Okanagan Military Tattoo will be held at a new venue.

The event will be held outdoors at the Armstrong Fairgrounds on July 23 and 24, a significant shift from its usual home at Kal Tire Place in Vernon, which has hosted the Tattoo since it started in 2014.

"Due to the uncertain availability of Kal Tire Place resulting from the pandemic and the long term planning required for an event of this magnitude, the Tattoo’s Organizing Committee opted to move the 2021 show to the City of Armstrong," says Norm Crear, president of the Okanagan Military Tattoos. "The past few months haven’t been easy for anyone, however we are now looking forward to 2021 and we are committed to delivering a safe, thrilling and uplifting spectacle for our audiences."

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce hopes this event will have a positive impact on local businesses. While it is uncertain what the world will look like next summer, Tattoo organizers remain optimistic.

"The Armstrong Fairgrounds offers significantly more seating than Kal Tire Place," says Crear. "The organizing committee hopes the pandemic will be a thing of the past by the end of July, but the 2021 seating plan has been
considered to allow social distancing measures, should it be necessary."

Most of the performers will be staying at hotels in Vernon during the event due to the lack of available accommodations in Armstrong. There will be a number of performers and scheduling is already underway.

"While the cast of performers will not be confirmed until the Spring of 2021, invitations and discussions are ongoing with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Calgary Police Service Pipes & Drums, the Calgary Round-Up Band, the Mounted Troop of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), the British Columbia Dragoons, the Kelowna, Shuswap, Kamloops and Kalamalka Pipe Bands and the Okanagan Tattoo Dancers," says Crear. "We also hope to have a contingent of cadets from Camp Vernon."

Tickets will be sold on a 'festival' basis, which means no reserved seating, although there will be a large number of seats set aside for people with mobility issues.

Adult tickets will cost $35, and seniors and veterans will be able to purchase tickets for $30. Youth aged 18 and under will be free with the purchase of an adult, senior or veteran ticket. Individual youth tickets outside the 1:1 adult-youth ratio will be available for $20. A 10 per cent discount will also be available for groups paying for 10+ tickets.

You can get your tickets on the Ticket Seller website or by calling 250-549-7469.