If you don’t have fun next week in Penticton, then you aren’t trying hard enough.

Those are words that the 62nd annual Penticton Peach Festival president Don Kendall stands by. Because along with the board of directors he believes they have put together one of the best Peach Festival lineups in history.

“It is probably the most exciting lineup Peachfest has ever had,” said Kendall. “In past years just having the Snowbirds would have been a big deal, and it still is, but when you take the Snowbirds and you add on the West Coast Logging Show and the Winter Games Dome, the Aboriginal Cultural Village and talent like Jessie Farrell we got just an unbelievable lineup.”

Originally started in 1947 as an annual way to celebrate the peach harvest in Penticton, Peachfest has become so much more than that. Peachfest is about family fun at an affordable price and there are a number of free entertainment and events packed into five days. Entertainment such as the West Coast Logging Show and Winter Games Dome which will run three times a day from Thursday to Saturday.

“These are the same loggers that travel across the world, perform at the PNE and are one of the top attractions there,” said Kendall. “People are asking ‘how much are the tickets?’ Well the great thing is they are free. The Winter Games Dome has made about five or six stops in other communities in B.C. so far and it has been a huge success. I heard in Cranbrook at times the lineups were two hours long. I think Nearly Neil is a huge draw. He has become one of the top tribute artists, if not in Canada, the world. After he performs in Penticton he leaves for a tour of Australia and again it is all free entertainment. I don’t know of any other free festivals anywhere that present this type of entertainment.”

The Aboriginal Cultural Village runs next Friday and Saturday and features Pow Wow dancing, a salmon barbecue, kids activities, Metis jiggers/fiddlers, entertainment from Nashville recording artist Mike Gouchie, hip hop group 7th Generation and a youth talent show hosted by the Ooknakane Friendship Centre.

The Grand Parade on Aug. 8 — one of the largest in British Columbia — will feature marching bands, floats and participants from B.C., Alberta, Washington state and beyond. The Kiddies Day parade will be held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 9 taking them down Main Street down to Okanagan Lake Park where they can settle in and watch international entertainers starting at 11:30 a.m.

“A lot of parades are experiencing difficulties with entries because of the economic downturn but we are in great shape. It looks like the parade will be bigger and better than ever,” said Kendall who expects over 100 entries this year.

“I think it is just a fun festival and that is why they keep coming back. It’s very family orientated, we try to book entertainment for people of all ages from Seniors Day on Wednesday to the Kiddies Day where we will have two of the top performers in Canada performing on Sunday back to back, and again its free.”

Well-known children’s performers Norman Foote and Marnie Grey headline Kiddies Day. Foote combines comedy and music for which he has received four Parents Choice awards, Juno nominations and Socan’s songwriter of the year. Foote has recorded songs for Disney Records, Shari Lewis and CBC’s Scoop & Doozie.

Those looking to put on their dancing shoes or just tap their toes will be in for a treat because fresh from recording her second album in Nashville, Vancouver country singer Jessie Farrell will be headlining the Okanagan Lake Park stage on Aug. 8 from 8:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. Farrell was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2009 Juno Awards and won three Canadian Country Music awards in 2008. The country artists 2007 release album Nothing Fancy earned four top 20 hits on Country Radio, including the popular Let’s Talk About Love.

The Tragically Hip is being brought to the public thanks to a partnership with the South Okanagan Events Centre to bring the Canadian rockers to the city during the Peach Festival. Tickets are available at www.valleyfirsttix.com, the SOEC box office or the Wine Country Tourism Centre starting at $69.50.

Kicking off this year’s edition of the Peach Festival on Wednesday will be the Snowbirds demonstration team presented by Peters Bros. Construction. At 6 p.m. the Snowbirds will fly over Okanagan Lake Park with a 40-minute performance to music, which will be followed by the annual festival’s opening ceremonies.

“The Snowbirds were so impressed at Peachfest last year and so impressed with the City of Penticton that they asked us to ask them back this year,” said Fred Trainor, committee chair. “With half the pilots new to the team this year, they are promising a completely brand new show.”

Spectators are encouraged to go to Okanagan Lake Park for the best view combined with the sound system set up, or, tune into 97.1 Sun FM or AM 800 EZ Rock to hear the performance.

A seniors day peach tea will take place at Okanagan Lake Park at 2 p.m. on the opening day followed with entertainment throughout the day finishing off with the headliner, Whiskey Jane Band — described as rock and roll in a cowboy hat. The following day, the Skaha Rotary Club Sandcastle Competition takes place at Skaha Beach park, starting with registration at 4 p.m. and sculpture time until 7:30 p.m. Entertainment at Okanagan Lake Park features the opening of the West Coast Lumberjack show at 1:10 p.m., Hypnotist William James and headliner evening act Ten Souljers. The Miss Penticton Queen Valvedette crowning will take place on Friday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Cleland Theatre and headliner Nearly Neil and Canada Eh! will be on stage at Okanagan Lake Park starting at 8:15 p.m.

For more information on events, entertainment and a complete time table find a copy of the Official Peach Festival Guide in today’s issue of the Penticton Western News. The Peach Festival is still looking for volunteers, if you want to help with the parade on Aug. 8 and garbage pick up in the park on all days of the festival. For more information on how to volunteer contact Teresa Kendall at 250-276-9459.