Christmas & New Year's in Vernon 2006

There's lots to do at Christmas time in Vernon, BC.  Our favorite things include walking in the snow with the doggies at Kalamalka Lake Park and ice skating at Silver Star ski resort.  The last time we were in Vernon was July 2006 when we were dragon boat racing with the GHFC dragon boat team.  But as if on cue… it started snowing on our late afternoon arrival on Dec. 26th.  The next morning awoke to 4 inches of the fluffy white powder snow that the Okanagan region is famous for.


Todd and Deb enjoy skating at Silver Star – photo T & D

Silver Star is a western mining town themed ski village.  Here there are some of the best runs in the BC Interior.  My parents used to bring our family here to ski when I was a wee tyke when I was in grades 5, 6, & 7.  It was many many years later in April 06, before I skiied Silver Star again.  This year we went ice skating on the man-made lake, around and around the “islands.”  We drank hot chocolate and ate poutine, before going to see the “Best of the Bamff Film Festival” being shown at the Silver Star Auditorium, as a benefit for the local Search & Rescue.

A favorite traditional seasonal activity is going to see Caravan Farm Theatre, North of Vernon, outside of Armstrong BC.  This is really cool.  All the stages and sets are outdoors, and you ride in a sleigh filled with hay bales from set to set.  We went on Dec 30th, before it closed on Dec. 31st.   This was so much fun… riding on a winter sleigh, pulled by Clydesdale horses, under the moonlight.

The show was East of the Sun, West of the Moon – based on an old Norwegian folk tale.  And we saw actor friend Billy Marchenski playing the role of The Prince.  Billy was surprised after the performance when we popped into the Actor's lounge and said hello.