Submitted by Carmel Robbins
Summer has returned to the beautiful Invermere Valley and residents and visitors delight in time-honoured traditions of Saturday morning at the Invermere Farmers Market, exploring the unique shops and galleries along 7th Avenue, enjoying an open air dining experience at one of the many restaurant patios, and catching up with friends and neighbours.
Set amidst the unparalleled beauty of majestic mountains and sparkling lakes, Invermere was meant for strolling. Impeccably manicured street corners, richly planted with colorful blossoms provide a feast for the eyes. Freshly painted storefronts are as inviting and colorful as the merchandise on their shelves. Drivers proceed slowly, pausing courteously for an ongoing flow of pedestrians.
This was the inspiration for revising the format of the Columbia Valley Arts Councils major annual fundraising event the Tour of the Arts. Held annually on the August holiday weekend, the Tour has grown in popularity, becoming the must-attend event of the summer.
The 6th Annual Tour of the Arts will be held on Sunday, August 4th and has been designed as a self-guided walking tour of Invermere. Thirty-five juried artists and artisans will be displaying their work through beautiful downtown Invermere. The Tour begins at scenic Pothole Park and continues to Market Square downtown, concluding at the picturesque Pynelogs Cultural Centre. The Tour route is 1.5 kilometres in length and should be an easy walk for most participants. Ample parking will be available at the Eddie Mountain Arena parking area and near Pynelogs. Limited parking is available at Pothole Park. There will be designated handicap and drop-off areas.
Entrance to the Tour sites is by Passport at a cost of $20 per person, with free entry for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. Passports went on sale June 29th at the Farmers Market and will continue to be sold at the Market every Saturday until Saturday, August 3rd. Passports are also available in Invermere at Village Arts, Essentials Department Store, Pynelogs Cultural Centre; in Radium at Meet on Higher Grounds Coffee House; and in Fairmont at La Galeria II. Passports will also be available for purchase on tour day at all three sites.
At each of the three Tour sites, volunteers will stamp your passport with a unique stamp designed to represent the site.
Enter the grand prize draw by presenting your stamped passport entry form for a chance to win an exquisitely crafted 10 x 16 natural rim yellow birch burl bowl valued at $2,500, created by renowned local artist Anders
Oseychuk.
The Tour concludes at historic Pynelogs Cultural Centre at 4 p.m. and will be followed immediately by the Invermere MusicFest from 4 to 10 p.m. on the Kinsman Beach green space. Juno Award nominee Shakura SAida headlines MusicFest. Entry to the festival requires a separate ticket purchase the earlybird price is $35 until July 25th. After that date, the regular ticket price will be $40.
For more information on Tour of the Arts 2013 and the Invermere MusicFest visit www.columbiavalleyarts.com or call 250-345-4423.