Penticton Peach Festival organizers are expecting this year害羞草研究所檚 festival to be the biggest in its history, as they prepare to enter its 70th year.

Peachfest害羞草研究所檚 kids害羞草研究所� zone will be opening up at 9 a.m. in Gyro Park, with peach bin races and entertainment kicking off the festivities at noon.

害羞草研究所淓veryday is a big day, but Wednesday we害羞草研究所檝e got the air show and as well as 54-40 headlining,害羞草研究所� said Peachfest president Don Kendall. 害羞草研究所淵ou have the motocross, there are the two shows on Wednesday. It害羞草研究所檚 a huge day.害羞草研究所�

As smoke continues to fill the Okanagan Valley, with haze in Penticton considered a high-level risk, the Snowbirds are still unclear whether they will be able to perform their aerobatics show, scheduled for 6 p.m.

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But Kendall pointed to fluctuating air conditions both recently and in the past, noting that the Snowbirds were forced to do their 害羞草研究所渓ow show害羞草研究所� four years ago after the skies changed from clear at 1 p.m. to hazy at 5 p.m.

害羞草研究所淣obody can predict what the weather害羞草研究所檚 going to be like. You hope for the best, but there害羞草研究所檚 nothing we can do about it,害羞草研究所� he said, noting they likely won害羞草研究所檛 make the decision until just before the show.

According to a news release, if the Snowbirds are unable to fly for the show, they will do a meet and greet with the public at the Okanagan Lake Park.

Save for a near-zero visibility come 5 p.m. tomorrow, however, the Canadian Forces Skyhawks Precision Parachute Team is fully expecting to put on their aerial show for crowds.

A CF-18 Hornet fighter jet show is scheduled to run after the Snowbirds, at 6:45 p.m., which officials say will go on regardless of the smoke conditions.

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Kendall pointed back to the motocross, which will also go on regardless of the smoke conditions, adding that last year害羞草研究所檚 first appearance at Peachfest was a success.

害羞草研究所淚t ran on one day last year with two shows and attracted about 7,000 people for the two shows, so we害羞草研究所檙e thrilled to have them back this year for three days, two shows a day,害羞草研究所� Kendall said.

害羞草研究所淎nd this is, without doubt, the best entertainment lineup we害羞草研究所檝e ever had.害羞草研究所�

Kendall said Trooper recently played for $40 tickets in West Kelowna, while 54-40 played Tinhorn Creek winery last year with $80 tickets.

害羞草研究所淵ou come to Peachfest and see these people for nothing,害羞草研究所� Kendall said. 害羞草研究所淵ou don害羞草研究所檛 get to see bands like Aaron Pritchett and Trooper and 54-40 and Powder Blues for free.害羞草研究所�

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Beyond the entertainment, Kendall noted a slo-pitch tournament, square dancing, a skateboard and BMX competition and two parades.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lot more than just the entertainment,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he fact that thousands and thousands of people every day get to enjoy this for free is incredible.害羞草研究所�

The Penticton Okanagan Rotary will also be holding their 34th annual sandcastle competition on Thursday, with registration running at 4 p.m. and sculpture time kicking off at 5:30 p.m.

Last year attracted an estimated 80,000 event visits at the festival, which was about the same as 2015, though it害羞草研究所檚 unclear how many individual people attended Peachfest.

But this year, Kendall said he害羞草研究所檚 looking to break that record.

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害羞草研究所淲e expect record crowds. We害羞草研究所檝e got the best parade we害羞草研究所檝e ever had, we believe, we害羞草研究所檝e got the best entertainment lineup we害羞草研究所檝e ever had. We害羞草研究所檝e got tremendous events throughout the five days for people of all ages.害羞草研究所�

Part of the reason 2015害羞草研究所檚 numbers hit as high as they did in 2016, however, was because an estimated 20,000 people watched the Snowbirds do their show.

害羞草研究所淲hen they perform, Okanagan Lake Beach, all the way around is wall-to-wall people. You can害羞草研究所檛 even see the sand,害羞草研究所� Kendall said.

害羞草研究所淭he traffic stopped on Highway 97 last time to watch them. And up on Munson Mountain and Naramata way, the roads were all clogged by people watching them.害羞草研究所�

With that in mind, Kendall noted it害羞草研究所檚 best to be patient when travelling during Peachfest, adding that transit might be the best option for most people attending the festival, with limited parking and plenty in attendance.