Sundog Festival of Arts & Culture
This is a vibrant community-driven festival that celebrates arts and culture on a local scale, offering opportunities for everyone in our community to participate in their own unique way. It all starts with a high-energy musical weekend, this family-friendly event guarantees a wide range of entertainment for all ages and is open to the public for free.
Aligned with BC Culture Days, the festival spans three weeks, packed with exciting opportunities for local artists, artisans, non-profits, tourism, business professionals and festival-goers who represent a broad range of artistic and cultural expressions.
The Goal
To provide the framework for a community-driven festival that celebrates arts and culture at a local level. Under the umbrella support of the Arts Council of the North Okanagan, Sundog Fest is supported and funded through local governments and programs and is in alignment with Culture Days in BC. The Sundog Festival is a not-for-profit endeavour that provides opportunities for our entire community to participate.
The Vision
The vision is to organize and coordinate an annual festival that celebrates the expression of local and regional arts and culture with events that educate, uplift, entertain and inspire.
What is a SunDog?
While Sundogs often hold spiritual significance, their origins are firmly rooted in science. This atmospheric phenomenon occurs when sunlight refracts through ice crystals suspended in the air, producing a halo effect and creating rainbow-like flares on either side of the sun. Sundogs are universally observed, transcending boundaries, borders, and affiliations with any specific race, culture, or religion.
Symbology
The appearance of a halo around the sun can hold various meanings based on different perspectives. Generally, Sundogs and the rainbow-like effect they create are seen as positive signs. Sundogs often symbolize a change or transition in life, while the coloured halos are believed to herald messages of unity and harmony.
Positive change & transformation • Taking action & becoming powerful • Good fortune • Balance, harmony, & stability • Abundance & prosperity • A sign that everything will be alright
Plan Your Event
Plan your own arts and culture event to coincide with the festival dates and let us know so we can include it in our event calendar. Whether your aim is to educate, entertain, uplift, or inspire, we encourage you to bring plenty of creative ideas to the table!
- Host a live band in your restaurant / cafe
- Display local art in your store Sponsor
- Co-sponsor a production
- Host poetry readings
- Create a fashion show
- Take-up busking
- Host an actors workshop
- Start an Air-band competition
- Singing / Talent contest
- Book launch and reading
- Food and beverage tasting
- Art tours / classes
- Script writing competition
- Foodie Cook-off
Event organizers are responsible for obtaining permits, securing insurance, and adhering to all by-law policies. Events can be free, donation-based, ticketed, or pay-at-the-door, but must be self-managed or coordinated through third-party online ticketing or event management platforms.
We Got You!
Sundog Fest offers a robust framework and support system designed to inspire our arts and culture community to actively and creatively participate in the festival. We provide:
- Festival branded graphics and sharable files
- Online event calendar
- Festival marketing and promotion
- Festival resources and support
- Epic kick-off event to launch the festival
- Potential funding opportunities
- Community and stakeholder engagement
- Sponsorship matching with events and organizations
- Venue matching for events, artists and organizations
