The Okanagan Valley, very much including Penticton, is renowned the world over for it's longstanding history of growing some of the most scrumptious fruit, particularly stone fruit, you could ever hope to sink your teeth into. Perhaps no other fruit crop from this area is better known than the tremendously tasty peaches that can be found in abundance all through the area, in orchards and residents' backyards alike.
In fact, it was the widespread growth of peaches, and the agriculture economy that it bolstered significantly, which lead to the choice of names back in 1947 of the town's annual summer celebration called none other than the Penticton Peach Festival (or as most locals refer to it, Peach Fest). Though some of the particulars of Peach Fest have grown and changed over the years, variously elements remain the same, such as a fun parade down Main Street that includes a float with the Peach Festival Royalty and also, during the same few days, a great square dance festival.
{A picture postcard view of the Penticton Peach Festival parade making its way down Main Street, back in August 1958.}
Originally, though the two took place at, or around, the same time each August, the Penticton Square Dance Jamboree as it used to be known, was a separate event, however the two merged nine years ago and the the dancing side of things was renamed as the Peachfest Square Dance Festival (which, if you add up its time known under each of the two names, is in its 59th year now).
When I was a youngster, the Square Dance Jamboree used to be held in an outdoor sports park called King's Park that was just a few blocks over from the first house my family lived in here in Penticton and we would always, without fail, walk over and watch some of the events (the calling for which could be heard over the loudspeakers it was transmitted on all the way to our home) in the deliciously warm early evening air. None of us ever participated, though I did do my best to put together the most square dance inspired attire from my little wardrobe that I could as a young girl in the spirit of the event, but we all enjoyed the toe tapping, pulse racing, rhythmic energy of the country music and the South twang of the announcers almost poetic sounding calls.
In the spirit of this delightful annual event, I though it would be oodles of fun to share a selection of 25 terrific vintage square dancing images, spanning the 1930s on through to the 1960s, with you today (note: these images are not from past Penticton square dance festivals, they've been gathered from events, ads and other sources from around the world).
Though I've long watched this annual event, I don't profess to be an expert on it by and means and as such will make no attempts to describe these photos and illustrations (while putting together today's post, I came across this lovely, informative article on the history of square dancing which is well worth reading if you're interested in learning more on the topic). They all speak for themselves and having view this selection of charming vintage dance photos, I bet most of you will suddenly have an urge to don an especially wide pettiskirt, a gingham dress or patio set, plus a pair of sensible heels and hit the dance floor yourselves.
{To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}
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In recent years, the Peachfest Square Dance Festival has shifted from its longstanding King's Park location outside to the Penticton Senior's Centre on South Main Street. Though I feel it looses a bit of its endearing summertime magic by no longer being held in the open air, it still makes for a rollickingly terrific time and is something I aim to attend at least one evening of, as a spectator, each time Peach Fest rolls around.
With that rounding the bend soon, starting as it always does on the first Wednesday after the August Civic Holiday long weekend, on the 6th to be exact (which coincidentally, just happens to be Tony's 34th birthday), I'll definitely be trying take in a night of high paced, fabulously costumed, good, old-fashioned square dancing and round dancing at the Senior's Centre (now, as when I was a youngster, sporting attire that channels the spirit of the event).
Aside from just having fun as a youngster, both at school and home, I've never done any square or round dancing, and know that such is well beyond my the scope of my health these days. That doesn't faze me at all though, as I've got the better part of a lifetime of watching it each summer under my belt and can hardly wait to do so again in a few days.
I look forward to grabbing my partner (Tony) and do-si-doing our way downtown to pull up a seat, clap along to the music, and smile up a storm as the dancers, most of whom are fabulously attired seniors, sashay across the wooden dance floor into the wee hours of the night.
