The Kelowna Pride Society announced that they received $100,000 in federal funding and with that funding will come a brand new wine festival that will take place in the valley.
Society President, Blake Edwards calls it ‘Out in The Valley’.
“We are going to be the first queer wine festival happening in the country and it’s going to be a very unique and special event for the region. But we are definitely looking to promote down into the south, down into the U.S just because we know there's a lot of tourism that comes up from there are well,” said Edwards.
They partnered with BC Wine, Ciders and Spirits Festival to put on the event that will run November 21st to the 24th.
“We didn't know about the grant coming in and that we were going to get the funds a little while ago, and before we got the funds we started planning and having some sort of foundation that we could build upon.”
Funds will contribute to Kelowna's 2020 Pride Parade as well as next year's ‘Out in the Valley’ wine Festival.
“Anyone who wanted to put in a grant application for any of the funds in the Canadian Experiences Fund that focus on tourism, indigenous inclusivity, rural and remote communities or farm-to-table, specifically culinary tourism, could apply for the fund,” said Edwards.
They plan on continuing the event in the future, after their funding runs out next year.