Creekside Theatre鈥檚 2017-18 event season will go on even if renovations currently underway at the venue are not completed.
Ryan Donn, cultural development coordinator for the District of Lake Country, said backup theatre event sites at Winfield Memorial Hall, Oyama Community Hall and the George Elliott Secondary School gym have already been arranged if necessary.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to know with renovations and when everything will be completed, but I鈥檓 thinking right now the first two shows we have scheduled may be moved to alternative venues,鈥� Donn said.
Those two shows will be the Train Wreck Comedy show featuring Howie Miller on Sept. 22 and Roy Forbes presented by the 琉璃神社 Folk Club on Sept. 23.
The renovations became necessary after an incident this spring when the sprinkler system was accidentally activated during a school class and flooded out the theatre.
Donn said the 266-seat Creekside Theatre will host a variety of entertainment formats over the course of the September-June season.
He said choosing what acts are brought here depends on touring availability, how the acts are received in other communities and familiarity with local audiences.
He said past research indicates the ticket buyers are 60 per cent from 琉璃神社, 30 per cent from Lake Country and 10 per cent elsewhere with that largely being Vernon.
鈥淧eople come here from across the valley to see shows here. When you ask people why, surprisingly one of the things they point out is the parking is free and it鈥檚 just a more relaxed night out compared to the larger cities,鈥� Donn said.
鈥淭here is a laid-back vibe in Lake Country that different鈥檚 from everywhere else and people seem to enjoy that who are coming from out of town.鈥�
Donn also feels the paradigm is beginning to shift from local residents being notorious for buying tickets at the last minute for concerts.
鈥淚 think we saw last year with our Elvis tribute and Ron Sexsmith concerts that they were sold out in advance. Moving forward, I think people who wait until the last minute to buy tickets may end up disappointed,鈥� he said.
This year鈥檚 entertainment lineup will include The Ultimate Comedy Show featuring Roman Danylo (Oct. 6); Day Tripper, tribute to The Beatles (Oct. 13); Rock The Block, featuring Okanagan bands Icelandia, Static Says and Reason To Wake; comedian Anne Marie Scheffler; classic pianist Luke Welch (Nov. 26); Train Wreck Comedy featuring West Barker (Nov. 25); The Winter Blues Festival, with Jim Byrnes, Kenny 鈥淏lues Boss鈥� Wayne, Poppa Dawg and Sabrina Weeks (Jan. 20); and Lake Country Children鈥檚 Festival (March 3).
Creekside Theater is also running a ticket selling promotion, where if you buy four tickets to any show prior to Sept. 22 you will be entered into a draw for two flights with Pacific Coastal Airlines.
Tickets are now on sale online at or call 250-766-9309, ext. #1.
