It's an end-of-summer Penticton tradition. And it's coming around again this weekend.
Except this year it’s moved across town.
We're referring to Okanagan Vinyl Fest, the massive record album and audio gear sell-off that doubles as a key fundraiser for local volunteer-driven radio station CFUZ 92.9 FM.
It's retro and it's fun, and each year it attracts hundreds of funky people of all ages to flip through LPs, check out old speakers and receivers and yap with others with the same passions.
It's a day to let down your hair, baby.
Except in 2023, the event has moved. No longer will you find all that vinyl on the south side of the city at the Penticton Seniors Drop-In Centre. This year, Vinyl Fest has relocated to the Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Okanagan College at the corner of Duncan Ave. West and Hwy. 97.
The move, said Peach City Community Radio Society president Claire Thompson, stemmed from a "really good partnership" with the school and the desire to be situated a bit more centrally.
"It's a big, open room with a lot of windows," said Thompson. "There's lots of light and the layout is different. We're hoping it’ll be a really neat vibe."
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What's more, there's an on-site food vendor this year. The college's Marmalade Cat Café will be open during the entirety of Vinyl Fest.
And as an extra special bonus, parking fees have been waived for the duration.
Proceeds from the 2023 event will, as usual, go toward CFUZ operating costs. But they're also earmarked for a station expansion we first learned about last year.
"Over the past year we’ve been working on the expansion," explained Thompson. "We have our same original spot, and we've also been able to expand more towards the centre of the building.
"When it’s done, our footprint will be almost twice as big. We'll have two studios, so someone can be on the air broadcasting live while in the other studio people can be doing production or training or gearing up for their show. It will allow us to welcome more volunteer community members into the station."
The 2023 Okanagan Vinyl Fest runs from 10 am to 3 pm this Sunday, Sept 24 at its new location at the Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Okanagan College, 583 Duncan Ave. W. Admission is a mere $3.
However, those who want dibs at the best stuff and are willing to pay for it can fork over five bucks for early bird admission between 9 am and 10 am. It's a route that's proven quite popular in the past.
For more info on CFUZ 92.9 FM, go here.
