Come Explore on this Festival Photo Tour!  The place to be is Vernon, B.C., because the dancing's fine in Two-OO-Nine! It's Festival 2009, July 16th to 18th, the 12th biennial convention of the British Columbia Square and Round Dance Federation.

Sponsored by the Okanagan Square and Round Dance Association, the dance community in B.C.'s North Okanagan Valley invites you to three days of discovering the excellent dance venues and fascinating area attractions. This sequence of pictures reveals the fascinating attractions in the area that will make your visit to the Festival most memorable.

Vernon is nestled between three lakes in the North Okanagan Valley: Okanagan Lake, Swan Lake and the breathtakingly beautiful blue-green-coloured Kalamalka Lake, seen here. Vernon is the oldest community in the B.C. Interior with a population of 36,000.

Chug along now with our dancers for a tour of area attractions in and around Vernon. This departure point is a mural depicting the "S & O" (Shuswap and Okanagan) rail line that once served the region, just one of over 20 fabulous murals in the downtown district. One of the murals is 300 feet long.

Like the hands on a clock, our dancers star promenade alongside this huge floral clock located at Polson Park in downtown Vernon. The famous clock not only tells the time but each day the month and date are changed.  Polson Park is the oldest park in the city.

At Davison Orchards Country Village you’ll find a 50 acre family-run farm complete with fresh fruit and vegetable sales, a gift shop and a tea house featuring delicious pies. See heritage displays, farm animals and take an orchard tour, riding in an actual apple bin! Plump, juicy cherries will be ripe and ready to eat when you’re in town for the Festival.

If you’re a golfer, be sure to take time to hit one of several courses in the area, including here at the Vernon Golf and Country Club, established in 1913. The nearby world-class Predator Ridge is one of the finest golf facilities in Canada, having three 9-hole courses.

Founded in 1867, O’Keefe Ranch takes you back in history to experience the adventure of pioneer days. The ranch features a re-creation of an old town, complete with a general store, church and blacksmith shop accessed along a wooden boardwalk.  Tour the O’Keefe mansion and see where Cornelius O’Keefe and his wife raised their family.

Just 15 minutes north of the dance Festival in Vernon is the town of Armstrong, a name made famous by the production of quality cheeses. While the Armstrong brand is no longer produced there, a micro-cheese plant called “Village Cheese” makes artisan cheeses handcrafted in small batches. Enjoy a sample! There’s a viewing area that lets you see the cheesemakers in action. Our Festival dancers are posing on one of many farm implements common to this agricultural area.

A little north of Armstrong, about 20 minutes away from the Festival action, is an attraction that you just can’t miss called “Chickadee Ridge Miniatures.” 
It’s the largest miniature horse farm in Canada with nearly 200 horses on 80 acres.

Chickadee Ridge includes a Ghost Town and a concession. As well as the cute horses, see big and small birds, pigs, miniature cattle, goats and sheep.

After you burn up the dance floor at the Festival, cool your feet at Vernon’s Atlantis World of Water. Featuring 7 waterslides, the complex includes a hot tub, mini-golf, a gift shop and concession. Parking is free!

Another option to cool off is the gorgeous beach at Kal Lake.  Walk the pier extending from a long expanse of sand. Gaze out on the beautiful blue-green colour of the water caused by limestone that forms crystals, reflecting the sunlight.