Thousands of people attended the inaugural AltiTunes event at the Big White in April. The provincial government has released a list of the dozens of events it’s providing marketing funding for, providing a taste of some of the local festivals and events returning in 2023. After two years out of the pandemic, the BC government is once again providing Tourism Events Program funding for approximately 100 events across BC, at a cost of $4.8 million. Grant funding, for events running from October 2022 to September 2023, can be used to cover a range of marketing costs. Funding can be up to 10 percent of an event’s total budget, up to a maximum of $250,000. According to the province, a number of local events will return in 2023. In Kelowna, the Island Time Music Series will return for a second year after a successful launch last spring at Kelowna’s Island Stage at Waterfront Park. The event, which has secured $35,000 in TEP funding for 2023, was organized by Mitch Carefoot and Kurt Jory of Thick as Thieves Entertainment, the same team that hosts Denim on the Diamond since 2018 and the first AltiTunes Music Fest in Big White last April. Both events are also set to return in 2023, with Denim and AltiTunes securing $55,200 and $65,500 respectively. Big White’s Para Snowboard World Cup, which returns next month, received $11,664 in funding, while Kelowna’s Gonzo Okanagan Music Industry Golf Tournament and Festival also received $15,800. Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Society of West Kelowna received $10,000. “We are excited to welcome visitors from around the world to next year’s Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival,” said Jennifer Money, president of the Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Society. “Our festival showcases and honors Indigenous musicians, artists and knowledge bearers and revitalizes Indigenous culture in an immersive and inclusive environment. TEP’s support has elevated our ability to share our message and our invitation to celebrate with a international audience.” The Scotties Tournament of Hearts curling event and the CHL Memorial Cup, which will be held in Kamloops next year, both received $75,000 in TEP funding. Eight major events across the province are receiving $200,000 in TEP grants, including four inland – Merritt’s Bass Coast Festival and Merritt Rockin’ River Fest, Salmo’s Shambhala Music Festival and Revelstoke’s Natural Selection Ski and Snowboard Tour. The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival was also a big benefactor of TEP grants, receiving $99,800. While the province did not provide TEP funding through the pandemic, as all in-person events were largely cancelled, it distributed nearly $30 million in COVID-19 relief funding to 680 events across B.C. The province says BC’s tourism industry generated $8.6 billion in provincial revenue in 2019, before the impact of the pandemic. In 2020, the province’s tourism revenue dropped to $2.9 billion. The full list of domestic events receiving TEP funding is below: Big White

AltiTunes – $65,600 Para Snowboard World Cup – $11,664 Freeride Days – $15,150

Kamloops

Scotties Tournament of Hearts – $75,000 Special Olympics British Columbia Winter Games – $40,000 Memorial Cup – $75,000 BC International WC Tennis Tournament Tandem – $10,000

Kelowna

Island Time – $35,000 Gonzo Okanagan Music Industry Golf Tournament and Festival – $15,800 Jeans on the diamond – $55,200

Merritt

Bass Coast Festival – $200,000 Merritt Rockin’ River Fest – $200,000

Penticton

Ignite the Arts Festival – $10,000 Penticton Scottish Festival Society – $10,000

Revelstoke

Natural Selection Tour – $200,000

Salmo

Shambala Music Festival – $200,000

Salmon arm

Annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival & 6th Annual Super Crawl – $99,800

Silver star

Share the Magic of Silver Star – $10,225 SilverStar Bike Fest – $17,500

Sorrento

Nimble Fingers Bluegrass and Oldtime Workshop and Festival – $14,178

Okanagan

Expedition Canada 2023 – $10,220

Vernon

Vernon Winter Carnival 2023 – $15,000

West Kelowna

Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Society – $10,000