Bernard Avenue ready to host mid-summer party

It’s a family-friendly celebration of summer as the Downtown Kelowna Block Party is set for Saturday. Many parts of the main street will be closed to traffic, becoming a pedestrian-only zone for the day.

Bernard Avenue from The Sails statue up to St. Paul Street in the 500 block, including portions of the 1,400 and 1,500 blocks of Pandosy Street, will be filled with activity.

Local merchants, pop-up shops, sidewalk displays, a street market with over 70 vendors, plus live music will feature all day and into the evening. There will also be areas for kids to hang out.

“It brings community together,” Mark Burley with the Kelowna Downtown Association told Kelowna10. “Whether you’re a tourist or a visitor to town, or you live here, we want you to come downtown and experience this street. When it’s closed it’s a lot of fun and a great place to hang around.”

Burley said summer in the downtown has been busy so far with a bounce back from the quite pandemic years and he’s hoping it’ll be the same for the block party.

“I think we’re on the map; what we need is for people to come back, like they weren’t doing during the pandemic,” Burley said. “Kelowna is a great place to be and that’s why it’s the fastest growing downtown in the country right now.”

Here’s the full schedule:

Kerry Park

Inflatable bouncy castle, activities by YMCA and Sportball Okanagan

200 Block - Bernard

Live DJ from 1130 am - 330 pm, plus a “Mystery Event” at 12:15 pm

300 Block - Bernard

All-day dance lessons and demos by Kelowna Salsa Bachata Kizomba Society

400 Block - Bernard

Westcorp Stage with live music from 10 am - 4 pm

500 Block - Bernard

Family Fun & Science Zone, Bubbles & Balloons, Face Painting, and Splash Zone Dunk Tank Fundraiser

1400-1500 Blocks - Pandosy Street

“Chill Zone” presented by Lululemon & The Recovery Spa, Relaxation Massage by Rebalance Wellness, and Lime Scooter & E-Bike Ride Clinic 10 am - 4 pm