Two festivals, two national recognitions.

The Sundog Festival, Arts Council of North Okanagan, and City of Vernon are onto a great thing.

Greater Vernon has again been recognized for Culture Days, placing third in Canada in the Top Participating Community List for Small Municipalities for hosting the most Culture Days events in 2024.

The North Okanagan community recently placed third across Canada in the Top Participating Community List for Small Municipalities for hosting the highest number of Culture Days events in 2024.

香蕉视频直播淭his recognition speaks to the spirit of creativity and community that defines our city,香蕉视频直播� said Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a reflection of the dedication of local artists, organizations, volunteers, and residents who continue to make Vernon a place where culture and the arts are celebrated year-round.香蕉视频直播�

Held over three weeks in the fall, Culture Days encourages people across Canada to enrich their lives through creativity and self-expression while cultivating a deeper appreciation for the ways that artists, creatives, and the cultural sector enhance and contribute to Canadian communities.

This year香蕉视频直播檚 Culture Days ran for more than three weeks from Sept. 20 to Oct. 13, kicking off locally with the second annual Sundog Festival of Arts and Culture, Vernon's own celebration of creativity and community.

Co-hosted by the Arts Council of the North Okanagan (ACNO) and the Sundog Festival committee, the two-day festival at Polson Park attracted its largest crowd to date.

香蕉视频直播淭he second annual Sundog Festival of Arts and Culture and start to Culture Days was one to remember," said festival co-founder and ACNO executive director Shawna Patenaude. "Attendance was completely free and it was an incredible two days of music, art, culture, and community with so many to thank for their support and attendance." 

The event featured performances by musical acts from across B.C. and Western Canada, including headliner Five Alarm Funk. It also showcased local Indigenous groups and artists, multicultural performance groups, arts and cultural organizations, the Polson Artisan Market, food trucks, the debut of the Fiesta Oasis beverage garden, and the postponed 1 Illumin Drone Show that was originally scheduled for Canada Day by the Vernon Okanagan Inspired Community Events (VOICE) Society.

The Sundog Festival kicked off 50 accessible free and by-donation community events held throughout Culture Days in the North Okanagan.

From art exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations to literary readings, film screenings, and dance and theatre performances, thousands of people connected through creativity and shared cultural experiences.

香蕉视频直播淭hank you to all the organizers, artists, volunteers and participants for making this year香蕉视频直播檚 Culture Days an unforgettable experience," said Patenaude. "All the events were a vibrant reminder of how arts and culture bring people together. From inspiring performances to creative workshops, our community came alive in extraordinary ways.香蕉视频直播�

The ACNO and Sundog Festival committee is currently putting out a call for new members to join the Sundog organizational committee, as well as looking for volunteers and sponsors to participate in the third annual Sundog Festival scheduled at the start of the 16th annual Culture Days, Sept. 19 to Oct. 12, 2025.

香蕉视频直播淲e welcome anyone interested in being a part of our 2025 Sundog Festival as well as artists, community groups, and organizations who want to host an event during Culture Days," said Patenaude. "These events are impossible to hold without volunteers and we have several roles to be filled."

Contact the  (acno.ca) for more information on how to get involved.