Did you hear bagpipes downtown? Here’s why

The iconic sound of bagpipes echoed through the streets of Kelowna.

It was part of the Kelowna Pipe Band’s 42nd annual Spring Fling competition Saturday, which brought together bagpipers from across the province for the first time since 2019.

The event featured impressive performances from each band, with expert judges on hand to adjudicate their efforts.

The highlight of the day came at the start, when ten bands individually marched down Bernard Avenue before marching together in unison.

“This event is a wonderful way for us to get back into the swing of playing and being together as a community once again,” Miriam Campbell, Kelowna Pipe Band Society Manager told Kelowna10.

For Campbell, having all the bands performing together again was particularly exciting.

“It's nice to reconnect with bands from across the province and see old friends and make new friends and just be able to share this with the greater Kelowna community and just have a great time showcasing our Scottish heritage,” she said.

This year's event also marked the Kelowna Pipe Band's 100th year. It was founded in 1923 with only a few players. The band became the Kelowna Legion Pipe Band in 1926, before renaming to the Kelowna Pipe Band Society in the early 2000s. Today, the society has grown to 20 talented members.