Well, I hope you're enjoying Spring Break. I am.
There's lots going on this week, especially with St. Paddy's Day coming up on the weekend. While the actual date is Sunday, don't be surprised to see green beer, green hats and Kiss Me I'm Irish T-shirts all weekend long.
* * *
One of the best ways I can think of to kick off St. Paddy's Day weekend is with the band Cod Gone Wild. They'll be playing at Creekside Theatre on Friday night.
Every time I catch this band I love them even more. Maybe it's the fiddle. Maybe it's their wild and contagious good energy. I'm not sure. What I do know for sure is, it's next to impossible to listen to them without wanting to dance and their Irish Pub nights have been a great success for them.
Everyone can have a little Irish in them when these guys start to play.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students, available at the door.
* * *
O'Flannigans is celebrating St. Paddy's Day all weekend. In addition to the green ale, they'll have Papa Wheeley on stage Friday and Saturday with guests Wild Son and the Kelowna Pipe band joining them as well. It's always one of the more popular places to celebrate the luck of the Irish, so I expect it will be packed all weekend.
Learn more about the festivities online at oflanniganspub.com
* * *
For those who are Scottish and prefer to forget all about their rollicking neighbours, the Scots will have their say this weekend as well with master guitarist, singer and songwriter Archie Fisher, Scotland's foremost troubadour.
Fisher was known as the host of BBC Radio Scotland's award winning Travelling Folk show. Fisher will be playing at the Creekside Theatre in Lake Country Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $23 general admission, $22 for students and seniors, or, for the truly frugal Scotsmen, a foursome can get in for $80.
* * *
The Okanagan Erotic Art Show has put out its final call for submissions for this year's event. The deadline to get your work in for jurying is Friday
Every year the show seems to grow a little more, with pieces that range from sensual to bordering on pornographic, and from awe inspiring to just kind of weird.
It's all in the eye of the artist who creates it and the eyes of the viewers who come out to see.
Interpretations are as varied as the works of art. To find out how you can get your work included
in this year's show, check out their website at
okanaganeroticartshow.com.
* * *
The Okanagan Military Museum has opened a new exhibit in honour of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. A Chance for Peace in Korea profiles the relationship between North and South Korea since the end of the Korean War
in 1953.
You can drop by the Okanagan Military Museum at 1424 Ellis St. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* * *
Ballet Kelowna will hold what might well be its final show ever in Kelowna this Friday night at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
You can bet the dancers will be dancing their hearts out in this performance that features some old favourites from the past decade as well as some classics, and a piece made famous by the Bolshoi Ballet.
Tickets are $40 for adults, $30
for seniors and $20 for youth, available at the Kelowna Actors Studio's box office or online at
balletkelowna.ca. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
As of Monday, there were not a lot of tickets left. This will
undoubtedly sell out.
Artistic Director David LaHay always said, the day they managed to sell out the KCT, he'd do cartwheels down Bernard Avenue.
Because Ballet Kelowna is only doing one show instead of the usual two or three, and quite possibly closing their doors for good after, I don't know if this will count or not.
But if you see a middle-aged man with a smile on his face doing cartwheels down Bernard, you'll know the final tickets have sold.
Ballet Kelowna's operating society will have held another meeting last night for members. Sorry, too far past my deadline for any details.
Watch the regular news section for any updates.
* * *
Today at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, you'll find a rather interesting show starting at noon, featuring Natalie Choquette, a.k.a La Diva Malbouffa.
I hope you saw the front page feature on her in last Sunday's eVent! magazine. It was hard to miss the photo of the lady wearing a gigantic bag of French fries on her head.
The playful, interactive opera show is designed for kids and also carries a message about healthy eating. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for kids, available at Select Your Tickets.
* * *
Sunday at Creekside Theatre, you'll find O'Fiddle. While I don't expect it to be quite swashbuckling, rowdy St. Paddy's affair that its name might imply, you will find the Sycamore String Quartet, playing pieces that range from Ravel and Mozart to Vivaldi's Spring.
They promise, however, to
include a foot-stomping tribute to the Irish and the grand finale will be Irish songs by Lake Country's Louise Boisvert. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students or get a group rate of $48 for four people. Tickets are available at the door.
You can call the theatre to reserve seats at 250-766-9309.
* * *
If you'd like to try drumming, but don't have a drum and have
no experience, this might interest you.
Trevor Salloum will be offering Afro-Cuban drumming classes on Tuesday evenings starting April 2, 7 - 8 p.m.
The studio is all set up with conga drums provided so all you need to do is show up with a desire to learn and either $15 in your pocket for the drop-in rate, or you can register in advance for a package.
Those with experience are welcome to join in as well.
Check trevorsalloum.com or call 250-763-3951.
* * *
Have you been wondering what happened to the Okanagan Jazz and Blues Society? I got curious last week as it's been a while since I've heard any news from them, so I sent them an email.
Thankfully there was a reply, noting that they took a few years off to have a break and re-group. They are now back at it and have some fresh blood on the board and new ideas.
I look forward to telling you more soon.

Glenna Turnbull is a freelance writer who has covered the Okanagan arts and entertainment scene for many years. Her column appears each Thursday in eVent. Email her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .