Penticton will be bursting with pride today as there are plenty of activities for all ages to celebrate Canada Day.

Everyone is invited down to Gyro Park to enjoy the fun, food and festivities. Volunteers from Quota International of Penticton and the South Okanagan Women in Need Society are partnering up with their celebrity flippers. At 8 a.m. a pancake and sausage breakfast gets the day started right. The grill will be switched over to a lunch and dinner menu from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last year the event grossed over $4,400.

“The money they raise throughout the year is used to support the deaf and hard of hearing, the speech impaired and disadvantaged women and children,” said Maureen Taylor, Quota Penticton’s president. “Over the years they have been able to assist many South Okanagan residents through SOWINS and through projects like the Infant Hearing Testing program.”

For the second year in a row the Fraser Blues Formation Team will take to the skies delivering a 12-14 minute routine of some of the best aviation formations and manoeuvres that civilian pilots have to offer. The team will perform over Okanagan Lake at noon and 8:30 p.m. The resort also will be hosting musical entertainment from Joe’s Garage on the house boat before the grand finale fireworks show at 10 p.m.

In Gyro Park a public market opens at 9 a.m. with over 50 vendors as well as the Snowbird Flight Simulator where people can get a chance to see what it’s like to ride in the cockpit of a Snowbird (tudor) jet. At 10 a.m. free children’s activities begin and then at 10:30 a.m. a packed full day of entertainment gets underway. Canada Day birthday cake will be served free of charge at the opening ceremonies in Gyro Park at noon.

In other parts of the South Okanagan the day’s festivities kick off with the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Memorial Park in downtown Keremeos.

A kite flying contest will also take place in Memorial Park followed by opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. There will also be entertainment, face painting, a dance contest for youth and vendors and concessions will keep everyone busy until Canada’s birthday cake is served at noon.

An evening picnic is being hosted by the Grist Mill starting a 6 p.m with live entertainment. The free celebration also marks the re-opening of the Grist Mill heritage site. Those attending can enjoy concessions, vendors and some light food services on hand but organizers are encouraging families to pack a picnic supper and enjoy the Grist Mill grounds.

The Keremeos swimming pool is celebrating Canada Day with a free swim day from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Penticton artist Aiden Mayes and her band will be playing on Canada Day during the Cherry Fiesta from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m in downtown Osoyoos.