Kimberley has its share of festivals, but always billed as the Best of the Fests is JulyFest; and it’s all set to go this weekend.
“We are looking good,” said this year’s Fest coordinator Darren Shaben. “We’ve got over 180 bocce teams, the bands are booked and the parade is looking good.”
There are also plenty of volunteers lined up, although more would never be turned away if you’re interested in helping out.
This year’s outdoor stage at the bocce pits will be a bigger, better, professional stage, supplied by local musician Fraser Armstrong. The lineup for music is:
Friday July 15th
4:15-5:30 pm: 145
5:45-7:00 Bison Brothers
7:15-8:30 The Oak Republic
8:45-10:00 Warden Tao’s Obedient Sheep
10:15-11:30 Crooked Line
Saturday July 16th
12:00-1:15 Lost Gypsy
!:30-2:45 Inpursuit
3:00-4:15 Jamie Neve
4:30-5:45 Gut’s
6:00-7:15 Easy Ruckus
7:30-8:45 Out on a Limb
And don’t forget the big Civic Centre evening beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday. This year offers a Reggae Fest with Taj Weekes & Adowa, Dubmatix and The Good ol’ Goats. Tickets 30 dollars available at Julyfest front gates.
There will be eight to ten food trucks available at the bocce pits, and Spirit Rock will be bringing their climbing wall to the Kids Fest, which takes place right next door to the bocce championships in Rotary Park.
While the Canadian Bocce Championships are one of the biggest draws for JulyFest — along with the huge soccer tournament which goes all weekend — there are lots of other activities available as well.
The annual JulyFest Parade will take its traditional route from Centennial Hall to the Civic Centre, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
The Kootenay Orienteering Club is hosting 5 and 10 K runs beginning at 9 a.m. Check in and late registration at 8:15 am – 8:50 am
Meet at Centennial Hall - 100 4th Ave, Kimberley, BC V1A 2E8
Join the Kimberley Rotary Club on Saturday before the parade for a pancake breakfast at the bocce area beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday is finals day for bocce and soccer — always exciting, and for amazing thrills, it’s the annual Sullivan Pub Extreme Longboard Downhill race from noon to 4 p.m. Racers will be coming down Selkirk Hill, across the highway and down to McKim School.
Lots to do this JulyFest weekend in Kimberley.