Travel Penticton, the city’s tourism promotion organization, has allocated $150,000 for 25 local events in 2022.
“Travel Penticton, like so many others in our community, is excited to welcome back all of the amazing events and festivals that have become an iconic part of of our city and a huge economic driver for tourism,” reads a news release.
The funding will be used for marketing purposes, to ensure the returning festivals get back on their feet after two years of pandemic cancellations.
“The past couple of years have been extremely challenging for event organizers and we admire the resilience and effort it has taken to keep operations running in the face of such adversity,” said executive director Thom Tischik.
“Our Board were unanimous in their decision to re-establish our Event Funding Program for 2022 and provide much needed financial support to ensure events can continue to thrive, attract visitors to Penticton and generate overnight stays for our accommodators.”
Money has been distributed between the following events:
97 South Song Sessions
Okanagan Granfondo
Penticton Beer Week
The BC Bike Race & Gravel Explorer
Penticton Bridge Tournament
Okanagan Trestles Tour
Bighorn Bushwack Adventure Races
Expedition Canada
Okanagan Valley Throwdown
Penticton Beer Run
Okanagan Fest of Ale
CSSHL Championships
Meadowlark Nature Festival
Okanagan Fall Wine Festivals & Sensation
Pentastic Jazz & Music Festival
The Penti-Con
Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic
Penticton Dragon Boat Festival
Penticton Elvis Festival
Peach City Beach Cruise
Penticton Peach Festival Society
Penticton Scottish Festival Society
The goal of the Travel Penticton Event Funding Program is to leverage marketing funds collected from the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) to maximize the potential of festival and event organizers to increase visitation and over-night stays and contribute to the economic growth of the local tourism industry.
“This year we are all looking forward to our parks, hotels, restaurants, wineries, breweries and other attractions, being once again full of revellers, here to enjoy all of the amazing things Penticton has to offer,” said Tischik.