Sunfest, Castlegar’s annual kick off to summer, will be taking place this weekend, June 2, 3 and 4.
Two events will mark the festival’s second year — a tennis tournament and a fun run.
The Sunfest Fun Tennis Tournament will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4 from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. at the Castlegar Community Complex tennis courts.
The tournament will be played in a double knockout format and feature men’s singles, women’s singles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles.
The registration deadline for the tournament is Monday, May 29 and the cost is $20 per player. Prizes will be handed out at a Sunday wind-up event and the local Tim Horton’s will be donating sandwiches, donuts and drinks for all of the players. Registration forms are available at castlegarsunfest.ca.
The Zellstoff Celgar Fun Run will take place on Sunday at 9 a.m. and start at Millennium Park. Participants can choose a 5K or 10K run or a 5K walk. Ribbon categories are as follows: youth age 12 and under, junior ages 13-19, adult ages 20-49 and master age 50 plus.
The first 100 registrants will receive a free ticket to the Rotary Pancake Breakfast. Everyone preregistered by noon on Thursday, June 1 will be entered into a prize draw. Race day registrations are available at Millennium Park from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Registration is free. Forms are available on the Sunfest website.
The route meanders through the downtown neighbourhood, over to and around Zuckerburg Island and finishes back at the park.
Festival in the Park kicks off on Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. and continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event features vendors, food and live entertainment.
The main event Saturday morning will be the Sunfest Parade, which starts at 11 a.m. and will run down Columbia Avenue.
Tim Horton’s is sponsoring this year’s Fireworks Grand Finale on Saturday, June 3, which will be celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday. Organizers suggest going to the Selkirk College soccer field for the best viewing. Route 33 will be performing two sets starting at 7 p.m. The Lions Club will be running a concession stand on site. The fireworks will go off at 9:30 p.m.
Other highlights include the Miss Castlegar Pageant, Slo-Pitch ball tournament, West Kootenay Camera Club photo show, Rotary Club pancake breakfast, library book sale and the Kootenay Gem, Mineral and Fossil show.
For a complete schedule see the current edition of the Castlegar News or go to castlegarsunfest.ca.