It was a summer night like any other summer night, about a century ago. And out in the middle of Okanagan Lake, an exciting new sternwheeler named SS Sicamous plied the warm water, chartered for the evening by a group of wealthy socialites from the American west.
Suddenly, the calm was shattered. And shockingly, one person aboard the Sicamous lay dead. His name? Drake Maverick.
So…whodunnnit?
That'll be the question on everyone's minds when the SS Sicamous Marine Heritage Society hosts its first-ever "Murder Mystery Gala" on the evening of Aug. 5th aboard the same ship where the counterfeit murder supposedly unfolded 100 years ago.
"It's a murder mystery party on a ship," said an upbeat Sicamous Society assistant manager Katie Pereira, who, through a series of innovative and ultimately popular fundraising events over the course of the past year has injected some added vitality into the iconic old boat.
"I have a volunteer named Kyla Daman-Willems," she continued. "She's a retired lady who spends her time writing. She came to the ship one day and told me about herself, and I found the perfect role for her -- creating this game."
According to Pereira, ticket-buyers to the 1920's-era evening are assigned roles beforehand. Those who buy early and/or want prime characters with substantial dialogue/clues are accommodated -- to a maximum of 22. After the first 22 and up to the event's cap of 50 or so, guests will play less complex roles, though everyone has an equal chance of victory.
"Guests should arrive in character, dressed in 1920's clothing, when they get here," she laughed. "The murder will happen during the event, once all the guests have arrived.
"The bigger characters will get more clues and statements to share with others. Basic characters will get one or two clues, slightly more complex four to six. And we'll have bystanders too for those who just want to watch."
The game itself should take 90 minutes to two hours to unfold, during which time participants can expect to move about the entire boat and interact with each other like crazy.
"It takes place all over the ship," said Pereira. "It'll get people moving and create an exciting atmosphere."
And there are added perks too. Perks like music from local songstress Yanti and local party disc jockey DJ Splendid Bastard. There'll also be a photo booth, a series of raffles and a costume contest as well, and one freebie adult beverage -- wine, beer and cider will be served -- per ticket.
More libation is available all evening long, as are enticing appies like goat cheese tarts, smoked salmon puffs and stuffed mushrooms.
Pereira says the event becomes a full-on "Gatsby-type gala" once the game has ended.
Funds raised from the night will go toward raising the historic SS Naramata tugboat. It sits adjacent to the Sicamous, its hull growing rustier by the day.
"The surface under the Naramata is little pea gravel and now the earth is coming down around it and the dirt is directly against it," said Society operations director Jim Rice. "So now we'll flood underneath it so it will raise up off the ground and then we'll put supports under it, pick a different type of gravel to go underneath it and put it back down again.
"We'll try to keep it up there higher than the rest of the surrounding area. Slope it away from the ship. We have 'til March to do it because that's when the City comes in and re-does the park. So if this isn’t done by March, it'll postpone everything else we want to do with the park."
Once raised, the Naramata will also be opened to the public.
Tickets to the Murder Mystery Gala, unfolding Aug. 5 starting at 6 pm at the SS Sicamous, 1099 Lakeshore Dr. W., in Penticton, are $75 per person.
For more info and to purchase tix online, head to the SS Sicamous' website here and select the Public Events tab. If online tickets are sold out, check with the Society office directly at 250-492-0403. They may extend the evening's cap.
