On hiatus since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the musical beat of the annual Okanagan Military Tattoo has returned to Vernon.
This weekend’s show features roughly 180 performers in more than a dozen acts, including the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Organizers and performers alike are happy to be back in person, as practicing over zoom during the pandemic doesn’t compare to experience of being able to march and perform in person, they say.
This year, the ninth annual event is looking forward to featuring some new sounds.
“The ukulele ensemble from Langley, that’s kind of unique,” said tattoo president Norm Crerar. “They are so good that people won’t believe it until they come here and see it.”
More information about the Okanagan Military Tattoo, including where to buy tickets for the shows at Kal Tire Place, can be found on its website.
As to why it’s called a Tattoo, the website offers this explanation.
“Musical tattoos actually started as a demonstration of military drumming, piping and other skills,” reads the website.
“It’s called a ‘tattoo’ because when the British Army was fighting in Belgium 300 years ago, drummers were sent into the town each night to call the soldiers in from the pubs. The drummers continued to play until the curfew at (10 p.m.).
“The (phrase), ‘doe den tap toe’ is Dutch for ‘Turn off the tap.’ Subsequently, the expression evolved to ‘tap-too’, after that ‘tattoo.’”