The kick-off First Saturday for 2015 celebrates summer, and many activities have been planned. You can start with a Rotary pancake breakfast in the Platzl and end with a symphony performance on top of Northstar Mountain. And in between, there is enough going on in downtown Kimberley to satisfy anyone.
The unique thing about First Saturdays is that they are free.
“We are proud that we can offer everything for free,” said Carol Fergus of the Kimberley Arts Council. “The workshops, the music in the Platzl, it’s all there for all to enjoy.”
First Saturdays operate on shoestring budget. Last year, the July First Saturday featured a silent auction and that proved successful (raising $3600) so there will be another this year.
“That $3600 helped First Saturdays to happen for the rest of the summer,” Fergus said. “We have a grant from the RDEK to help us put everything on for free. A successful auction means we won’t have to look elsewhere for funds.”
Silent auction items will be lined up in front of the Mark Creek Mall building.
The Rotary Pancake Breakfast begins at 9 a.m. All funds go to construction of the Kimberley Splash Park. Look for the trailer and tent just above the splash pools on Deer Park Ave.
Entertainment lined up for First Saturday includes Jim Marshall, Stacey and Bud Decosse, In Pursuit (The Armstrongs), Sheva (Shelagh and Van Redecopp) and the Kootenay Brass Quintet, all on the Platzl stage beginning at 11 a.m.
Up on the mountain, at 11 a.m. the Symphony of the Kootenays will run through a full final rehearsal, for which a few tickets are still available. At 4:30 p.m. it’s the Kootenay Haus gala, which features a performance from five cellists from the symphony. Symphony on the Mountain begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a performance from the Kootenay Brass Quintet at 8:30 p.m.
Meanwhile in the Platzl there are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained while you listen to music. There’s high tea at Chateau Kimberley, Frocks on Bikes, you can try on vintage hats at the Kimberley Heritage Museum, face painting and story time for kids, and a variety of workshops.
There are two bird house building workshops with Liz Connor and Ben Belland will help you build a planter. The Marysville Fly Fishers will be demonstrating fly tying and up at Centre 64 Ken Bibby will teach a keyboard workshop. While at Centre 64 check out the Creston Images exhibit in the gallery.
“We have a lot of different workshops this year,” Fergus said. “Lots of different people involved. Altogether it’s a really full day.”
Plein air artists will also be in the Platzl and there is an art market featuring Caprice Hogg and Liz Connor, as well as fibre artists, spinners and weavers.