Dozens of kids wearing Halloween costumes and holding homemade lanterns formed a parade through downtown Vernon Saturday afternoon.
Okanagan College Foundation hosted a Glow Up fundraiser, inviting kids to dress up and come down to the Vernon Towne Theatre to watch a screening of the movie Trolls Oct. 28.
After the movie, the kids marched down 30th Avenue on their way to enjoy a hot chocolate and some spooky choir performances at the Vernon Museum.
The event raised funds for the Sunflower Childcare campaign, which is looking to raise money for the child care centre that will be built alongside student housing at Okanagan College. The daycare will have 44 spots available for students and staff to access affordable childcare.
“We know that for students who are coming back who have families, finding accessible and affordable childcare is a big barrier, so they want to come back to school but they simply can’t find anyone to look after their kids,” said Sasha Carter, fundraiser with the Okanagan College Foundation. “So having a daycare on site is just going to be life-changing for so many families.”
Carter said it was great to see all the excitement among kids at Saturday’s event.
“I’m a former elementary school teacher so I love it, I love the enthusiasm and then as a parent I love that there was another activity for your kids to wear their costumes instead of just on Halloween.”
A stilt walker (Kiki the Eco Elf) led the parade to the Vernon Museum, and there was also a silent auction to raise more money for the child care centre.
Prior to the event, kids and their parents were invited to Okanagan College for a lantern-making session, and the kids then brought their homemade lanterns to the Glow Up.
And kids weren’t just there for the movie.
“The smiles and looks on the kids’ faces today, not one person who went to the movie isn’t participating in the parade, so that alone is success,” Carter said.
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