For those who think the Saturday fun stops after Valley Appreciation Day (VAD), it might be a good idea to check out Kinsmen Beach in Invermere to catch some lakeside action with the Lake Windermere Regatta.

Starting at 1 p.m. just after VAD wraps up, visitors and valley residents alike are urged to make their way down to Kinsmen Beach to catch a variety of swim and boat races and activities. Beginning with a sailboat race at 1:15 p.m., the event gains steam throughout the afternoon with canoe races, family volleyball tournaments and swim races for participants of all ages and skill levels. The winner of the “A Moment on Lake Windermere” will also be announced after all entries are judged by a professional photographer, and a whole host of hand-crafted medals will be up for grabs in the various water race events.

The regatta was once a summer mainstay in the Columbia Valley, and after a long hiatus the Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) decided to bring it back and are now running the event themselves for the third year. The LWA will have a booth set up near the beach to help educate people on Lake Windermere and how to conserve it for future generations.

“It kind of met dual objectives of bringing back a fun community event and meeting our objective of getting people to think about the beautiful place we live in,” LWA program co-ordinator Kirsten Harma said. “It’s definitely always growing and people really seem to remember it from last year.”

Last year saw over 100 featured participants in a variety of races and Harma hopes even more will sign up this year. To this effect, the LWA will also have a booth set up earlier in the day at Valley Appreciation Day where one can sign up for events ahead of time. Those interested in participating may also register by calling Harma at 250-341-6898 or by emailing info@lakeambassadors.com.