VERNON – Expect to see jesters Jopo and Jopette prancing around in their traditional white and blue and brightly coloured hot air balloons flying over Vernon.
The mascots and the balloon competition are both key parts of the annual Vernon Winter Carnival. This year’s carnival is set to kick off Friday with a Mardi Gras theme.
“All the events are highlighting Mardi Gras and they are spinning their events with the theme of Mardi Gras so it has been really a lot of fun to see everything put together. For instance our Jopo House luncheon has got a ten piece band coming in for lunch so that is going to be exciting,” says Winter Carnival Society chairperson Deb White.
If you just can’t wait for winter carnival to start, there is a pre-carnival event taking place Thursday. This year’s Queen Silver Star will be crowned tonight at the Performing Arts Centre from 7-10 p.m.
To help kick off carnival the hot air balloons will light up the night on Friday. This year instead of twinkling at Polson Park, the balloons will light up for the annual Hot Air Balloon Glow at the Kin Racetrack.