Saturday was National Pickleball Day in Canada, and the Vernon Pickleball Association took its celebration to the streets. 

The 3300 block of 30th Avenue was closed to traffic Aug. 10 to make way for several pickleball courts drawn in chalk on the road surface, where a casual pickleball tournament was held with players young and old. 

Dozens of people could be seen taking part in the first ever Pickleball Day in downtown Vernon, which featured food trucks, a DJ, vendors, tournament courts, a demo court for inexperienced players and tents to keep cool under. 

"Today is national pickleball day, so Peter Kaz from the (Downtown Vernon Association) got a hold of us and said we should shut off the street," said Brent Bolin, president of the Vernon Pickleball Association. "It's to let people see what pickleball is all about if they don't know, and then they can come down and experience a mini tournament."

Pickleball Day ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Bolin said the courts were "super busy" in the morning before the heat of the day. 

Bolin said the event drew interest from members of the public about joining the association.

He said pickleball is a great way of staying fit while having a blast on the court. 

"There's actual fitness that does happen but you're having so much fun, you don't even really recognize it," Bolin said. "And it's super social."

For more information about the local pickleball scene or to become a member of the Vernon Pickleball Association, visit the association's