It’s been a while.
August of 2019, to be exact. That’s the last time the Royal Canadian Force Snowbirds, a crack squad of jet pilots who know aerobatics like the rest of us know TV surfing, last performed in Penticton.
But now they're back.
This Wednesday, the Snowbirds once again fly high over opening night of the Penticton Peach Festival.
Just like the old days, they'll be up there directly after the Canadian Armed Forces Skyhawks Parachute Team does their thing. And the combo will, undoubtedly, be as awesome as ever.
But if you were in Penticton Monday, particularly the north side over Okanagan Lake Beach, you got an early taste of what to expect.
Beginning just before 2:30 PM, the full nine-plane Snowbirds team appeared over the city and proceeded to roar back and forth across the valley, mostly single-file, for a solid eight minutes.
They then dropped speed and fell into a tight, impressive "Big Diamond" formation they held for at least a couple minutes while heading back to Penticton airport.
They certainly didn’t explore their full bag of tricks. And their colored smoke was most definitely switched off. But the last-minute practice session was otherwise a heck of a welcome surprise on BC Day.
The five-day 2025 Penticton Peach Festival runs Wednesday, Aug. 6 through Sunday, Aug. 10. The Snowbirds are scheduled to perform at 6 PM opening night, right after the Skyhawks and approximately three and a half hours before 80s synth-pop hitmakers Men Without Hats.
Safety Dance, anyone?
For more info on the 2025 Peach Festival, turn here.
