Post-holiday events continue in the valley in the coming weeks, when the Invermere and Panorama Snowflake festivals each look to make their marks. Beginning on Friday, January 20, both festivals kick off with a variety of activities.

Down in Invermere at Kinsmen Beach beginning at 6 p.m., festival-goers can enjoy live music from the band Late, while enjoying the Taste of the Valley, where a number of local restaurants hoping to impress with some suitably sized samples.

All of this happens while the annual curling bonspiel on the lake takes place, and finishes off with fireworks at 8 p.m.

“It’s a great community builder, and people have really enjoyed it in the past,” Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC) executive director Susan Smith said.

“Come down and enjoy the food and the camaraderie of the community.”

Meanwhile, up at Panorama, there will be free tobogganing from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday before the rest of the activities at Panorama kick off for the rest of the weekend.

On Saturday the fun begins in the morning with kids activities like balloon animal makers and free fake tattoos, before a barbecue and live music hit the stage at around noon.

For the rest of the day there will be free carnival games for kids, afternoon skiing, a Syndicate Rail Jam in the evening and a themed dinner, followed by a torchlight parade and a movie night on what should be an extremely full day at Panorama.

“Come up and bring the family, there will be tons of things to do around the resort that won’t cost anything,” Panorama marketing co-ordinator Brandi Schier said.

“We just want to see everyone having a really good time.”

Sunday morning the fun begins anew at Panorama with more live music as well as free family photos.

This will be the first year for the Panorama Snowflake Festival, and is the first of four such themed events that happen over the course of the winter. Panorama and the CVCC have also graciously agreed to co-promote in a sense, and as such both festivals are urging everyone that attends to make sure to check out their counterpart if they get a chance.

“We really want to heighten the family experience,” Schier said. “We really just wanted to have some weekends where we really have some exciting things going on.”