On Sunday, July 19, Brocklehurst Park will transform into a thriving celebration of community as the 11th Annual Overlander Days presented by Beem Credit Union welcomes thousands of visitors for a full day of entertainment, local businesses, delicious food, and family fun. Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the festival has grown into the North Shore Business Improvement Association’s biggest event of the year, headed by organizer Patty Phillips.
“So, the Overlander Days is our 11th year,” Phillips said. “It’s our biggest event on the North Shore and the biggest event that we put on in the year.”
While at the park, visitors will find something happening in every direction. The main stage will feature live music and dance performances throughout the day, while fan favourite activities take their space alongside new offerings for the public to enjoy.
“The people just come for the Corgi races because they love them so much,” Phillips laughed. “They’re so adorable.”
And it’s true, the corgi races are back. They will be joined by the return of the watermelon eating contest, complete with gold, silver, and bronze medals for both children and adults. Kids can also put their creativity to the test during the Kamloops Art Party Kids’ Showdown, where young artists will recreate mystery paintings based only on verbal clues.
Of course you can’t have a good festival without amazing food, and hungry visitors certainly won’t leave disappointed.
“We have so many food vendors this year. It’s nuts,” Phillips said. “We have like 14 food vendors, so people can come hungry. You’ll have such a good choice.”
Beyond the entertainment, Overlander Days offers a beautiful space for the incredible variety of businesses, organizations, and artists that call Kamloops home. Nearly 100 vendors will fill the park, creating opportunities for attendees to discover local services, shop for handmade goods, and make connections that extend well beyond the festival itself.
“That is all different kinds of local businesses wanting to share and build relationships with the community,” Phillips explained.
Animal lovers will naturally gravitate toward the ever-growing Paws and Claws Expo, featuring local rescue organizations, pet businesses, WildSafe BC, the SPCA, obedience demonstrations, and plenty of four-legged visitors.
“If anybody knows me, they know I’m a huge animal person,” Phillips said. “This grows every year.”
Families will also find a massive Kid Zone packed with inflatables, games, face painting, mascots, Sancho the Clown, Kamloops Fire Rescue’s fire truck, photo opportunities with local mascot, Sparky. Meanwhile, the ever-popular dunk tank will be on hand to raise money for charity, proving that even getting soaked can help make a difference.
And all the activities are free.
“Everything’s so expensive,” Phillips said. “It’s nice for people to come, bring their family, and it’s pet friendly too. People can do so many things and not have to pay for it.”
While the festival has evolved over the years, Phillips says that the core of it all remains the same.
“I keep trying to add to it,” she said. “But we’re to the point now where it’s already so full. Instead of adding more, we change things up and keep it fresh.”
After years of bringing the festival to the North Shore, that formula is clearly working. Overlander Days continues to grow because it focuses on bringing the community together.
“It’s a really, really busy day,” Phillips said. “There is just so much that goes on non-stop, so no one will ever be bored if there’s something there for everybody.”
For more information check them out on social media or just come on out and enjoy the celebrations on July 19.