Salmon Arm may be on the small side in terms of size, but boasts a wide variety of exciting arts and entertainment options throughout the year.
For those on your gift list who don’t need more stuff, why not give them an experience instead?
A world of music – The 2016 lineup is already unfolding for the city’s hottest show of the summer – the Roots and Blues Festival.
This weekend extravaganza of first-class artists, boutique area and a world of food choices is an ideal gift for the whole family.
Already signed and excited to take part in the whole festival scene are Great Lake Swimmers and Whitehorse.
Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet have, over the past five years, established themselves as one of the most creative pairings of the new millennium in roots and roots-rock driven music in North America and Great Lake Swimmers have a league of ardent fans in North America and across Europe.
Children under 12 are admitted free with an adult, and during the Christmas season, Askew’s Foods is offering a special gift pack that includes two adults and two youths. Join the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society by purchasing a $15 membership and get discounts on festival passes and purchase up to four discounted tickets until March 31. Discounted tickets can save you up to $50 per pass by purchasing early. And check out the new Legacy Pass at www.rootsandblues.ca.
Tickets are available at all Askew’s Food stores, online at www.rootsandblues.ca or by calling the festival office at 250-833-4096.
Live Theatre – Give the gift of live theatre with a Shuswap Theatre Gift Card. You pick the amount and it can be used as partial or full payment for any Shuswap Theatre event. The gift cards have no expiry date and any unused portion is automatically carried forward for a future event.
The hilarious Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale celebrates the season with a traditional British-style pantomime that took the dedication and hard work of 55 people to put together, 36 of them behind the scenes. Rapunzel runs again this weekend and auditions are coming up next week for Welfarewell, the theatre’s next mainstage production, which runs Feb. 19 to March 5.
Tickets for all productions are available at Intwined Fibre Arts on Hudson Avenue or online at www.shuswaptheatre.com.
Silver screen – Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the board and general manager Daila Duford, the Salmar provides excellent first-run movies at the Salmar Grand and Classic theatres – at reduced prices compared to bigger centres. And all the profit goes back into the community.
A great idea for the movie fan is a Salmar Passbook that costs $45 for adults, $35 for seniors and $25 for children three to 12. Each passbook includes six tickets for the price of five. Passbooks can be purchased at Salmar Grand Cinemas, The Salmar Classic Theatre and Lucky’s in the Centenoka Mall.
Another great film gift is a pass to the Shuswap Film Society, whose mandate is “the encouragement and appreciation of motion pictures as a medium of art, information or education.”
A five-film pass is $30 and is available at Wearabouts on Alexander Street. For a one-year pass at $175, contact the society at mail@shuswapfilm.net.
Readers and writers – The annual celebration of writing, Word on the Lake for writers of all kinds, runs May 20 to 22 with an excellent slate of presenters and sessions that include both skill development workshops and open forums with authors. includes a youth writing contest, a fun and delicious banquet with entertainment and the opportunity to hear, learn from and meet with first-class presenters and other writing and reading fans.
Presenters at Word on the Lake 2016 include many best-selling authors in several genres, songwriters and other industry professionals. (See more about the event and presenters next week.)
Gift certificates are available until noon on Feb. 28 and include a variety of options and a possible saving of $65 over full registration price. Purchase them online at wordonthelakewritersfestival.com.
Another gift idea is a donation to any of the many local groups and events. And support ensures Salmon Arm’s arts scene will continue to flourish.