May 3, 2021 

Funtastic A&W Music Festival and Slo Pitch tournament 2021 cancelled 

With the uncertainty of the COVID 19 situation at this time, the 2021 Funtastic A&W Music  Festival and Slo Pitch tournament to be held on July 1^st – 4^th, 2021 is being cancelled. 

President Darcy Sochan says, “It is a decision that no one wants to make. We tried to hold off  as long as we could, but under the current circumstances, it’s the right decision the Board had  to make for the safety of everyone and the community. We all look forward to hosting the event  next year and seeing everyone again.”  

The mission for the Funtastic Sports Society is to give back to the community through sport,  which is what has been done for the past 36 years, Funds raised at the Music Festival and Slo  Pitch tournament are given back to local non profit sports organizations and to sports related  projects. To ensure support for local sports groups continues the Funtastic Board of  Directors are selling raffle tickets http://funtasticsports.ca/raffle-tickets/. Funds from the  tickets sales will enable Funtastic to offer the Funtastic Community Grant program again  this year, where up to $30,000 will be given to local non profit sports organizations and to  enhancing the current ball fields located at DND.  

The raffle draw will take place on July 3^rd and the community grant program will be open  for applications in June.  

All teams registered in Vernon, will be contacted and have the opportunity to early register for  2022.  

The Funtastic Society satellite locations of Port Alberni and Enderby will also be cancelled. 

A huge thank you to all the sponsors, ball players, music enthusiasts, volunteers and community  for their support over the years. We look forward to coming back next year and see you all  again, which will be running June 30^th – July 3^rd, 2022.  Questions can be addressed to the office at office@funtastic.org or 250-558-7756

It is with sad hearts and concern for the community, that the 2020 Funtastic A&W Music Festival and Slo Pitch tournament to be held June 26 – 30^th, 2020 is being cancelled due to the COVID-19. 

President Ryan McGivern says, “In light of the growing concerns around COVID-19, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the funtastic slo pitch tournament and music festival. The unknown duration of the pandemic has the directors of Funtastic Sports Society concerned for the health and safety of the participants. We hope to see you in 2021.”

The Funtastic Society satellite locations of Port Alberni and Enderby will also be cancelled. 

All teams registered in Vernon, will be contacted and have the opportunity to early register for 2021. 

The A&W music festival line up is in the works for 2021 and tickets will be available online beginning July 1^st. 

A huge thank you to all the sponsors, ball players, music enthusiasts, volunteers and community for their support and we look forward to coming back even better in 2021 which will be running July 1 – 4^th, 2021 Questions can be addressed to the office at office@funtastic.org or 250-558-7756.

The President of The Vernon and District Funtastic Sports Society, Ryan McGiverin announces the Funtastic Community Grant program is now accepting applications for 2019. Our mission is “Building a Better Community through Sport,” and the Funtastic Sports Society proudly invites qualifying community groups to submit applications. This year marks the 34th year that Funtastic has contributed back to the community through its donations and grant program, since 1985 donations have totalled more than $1.7M. The purpose of the Funtastic Community Investment Grant is to provide financial support to non-profit sport, recreation, and community organizations of a sport nature serving the Greater Vernon region. Successful applicants will benefit from the Community Grant program with an emphasis on projects that will continue to support the growth of sport and recreation in the region. Funtastic is proud to be able to support local sports organizations through grants that cover such things as equipment and capital costs for sports related activities.

The applications and criteria are available on the Funtastic website of http://funtasticsports.ca/about/community-grant/ Deadline for applications is May 31, 2019.

“The Funtastic slo-pitch tournament and music festival showcase the community’s volunteer spirit” says President Ryan McGiverin. “Highlighting Vernon’s exceptional weather, recreation areas, sports fields, and top notch accommodations. This encourages participants to return each year to the benefit of local businesses. It is the #1 economic driver of the North Okanagan for the summer months and Canada’s largest Slow Pitch/music festival.” The 2019 Funtastic Event is from June 28th to July 1^st.

The Funtastic A&W Music tickets are available on the Funtastic website for a very low price of $30/night or $60/weekend. Friday night features a locals night with the Young’uns, Saturday country night features the 2019 Juno award winners The Washboard Union and a Sunday’s tribute night is headlined by Simply Queen.

For any additional information, please contact the office at 250 558 7756 or office@funtastic.org

Calling all Slo-Pitch Teams! Get a $700 discount on any boat rental from July 1 to 14, 2019 with promo code FUNTASTIC at Waterway Houseboats. PLUS, if you register your team by January 31st, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a Waterways Houseboat Vacation for your team.

It will be another rocking Funtastic in the North Okanagan.

The line up for the 2018 A&W Music Festival has been announced and features some familiar faces and major Canadian talent.

The music begins on Friday, June 29th at 7:30 with a great combination of local bands

(7:30 -8:30) Jon Bos and Linus
(8:30-9:30) Noble Crew
(9:30-10:30) Shawn Lightfoot Band
(10:30-12:00) The Young’uns
Saturday, we are bringing back country with:

(7:00-8:00) Dirt Road Kings
(8:00-9:00) Lost and Found
(9:00-10:30) Appaloosa
(10:45-12:15)The Roadhammers with their hits; Mud and I’ve Been Everywhere
On Sunday July 1 we are having our tribute to great Canadian acts with

(7:00-8:30) High Voltage
(9:00-10:30) Aerosmith Rocks
(11:00-12:30) The Hip Show
The 2018 line up was based on feedback provided through surveys sent out to the public.

Tickets are on sale now.

Board members Diana Williamson and Akbal Mund step down to become managers; Rob Ellis new president

Roster changes have been announced among the board of directors of the Funtastic Sports Society.

Stepping down from their board positions to share duties of managers for Canada’s largest slo-pitch tournament and music festival are Diana Williamson and Akbal Mund.

“The board has been meeting regularly making plans for the 34th annual Funtastic Slo-Pitch Tournament and Music Festival,” said Mund, who is also Vernon’s mayor. “In looking forward to a structural reorganization and solidification of not only the event but also the organization, the board of directors made some significant changes for 2018.”

Williamson is a long-time director with Funtastic, as well as past president. Mund was president of the board. The pair will oversee the duties previously held by an executive director.

With the vacancies on the board, elections were held to fill the openings.

Rob Ellis is now president with Ryan McGivern as first vice-president. Darcy Sochan steps in as second vice-president and Brad Steel remains as third vice.

Christine Bosworth is treasurer and newcomer Greg Wutzke is secretary. Rounding out the board are directors Tim Reardon, Jamie Austin, Corrine Buller and Devin Drader.

“This is an exciting year with much potential to reach out to many sponsors and involve the community in a large way,” said Ellis. “It’s an opportunity for the ball teams that travel from all over the province and elsewhere to meet Vernon and its community.

“We have the ability to thank those teams that have been coming for decades to years. We will be driven to introduce all businesses in Vernon to our guests. It’s time to showcase Vernon for all it has to offer.”

Another significant change was the moving of the timeline for the community grants.

Eligible local non-profit sports organizations will be encouraged to apply for the grants in late summer.

The Funtastic Sports Society gives back to the community through sport using the funds raised at its annual event.

Since 1984, the Vernon and District Funtastic Sports Society has been working to help make the community a great place to live, learn, work and play. As a result of hosting the annual fundraiser, Funtastic has been able to contribute more than $1.5 million back to the community.

Registration for the slo-pitch tournament – held the Canada Day long weekend in Vernon, Armstrong and Enderby – is picking up with slots filling up fast.

“Funtastic is unique in that there are three tournaments running simultaneously in Vernon,” said Ellis. The A Division, where top teams will receive cash prizes, the six-game tournaments and the four-game tournamentswith all skill levels available.”

The live entertainment line up is being compiled and will be announced in the spring. There will be three entertaining evenings with great lineups each night with tickets being available on line.

For anyone wanting to be part of Funtastic in Vernon on the July long weekend by volunteering, registering a team, or becoming a sponsor at all levels, please contact the Funtastic office at office@funtastic.org.

The Funtastic Sports Society AGM will be held:
Tuesday SEPT 19th 2017 at 7 pm
At
The Schubert Centre
3505 30th Ave, Vernon BC
V1T 2E6

Please email office@funtastic.org if you have any questions, comments or additional needs. If you know of anyone that wishes to be a new society member, please have them contact via this email address…as we are currently compiling a list of new members for the Board of Directors to Approve.

We have seen some great traction this year with the Societies attempts to bring the event back to the Players and accessible to the public. There’s still a long road ahead, our 2017 Board of Directors have created some amazing groundwork to ensure the society can keep itself going!

We love the Okanagan, and we know that one of the big reasons people live and visit here is our lakes! Please note, we are still experiencing higher than normal water levels, and as a result, many of our shorelines are still vulnerable to damage. Please adhere to the RDCO Wake Map and help us keep our shores beautiful for years to come!

We’d like to thank everyone who applied this year for our Community Grant program. Building a better community through sport starts with bringing funding to non-profit sport, recreation, and community organizations of a sport nature in and around Vernon. Last year, we proudly distributed nearly $30,000 in grants to 13 different organizations.

Successful applicants will be contacted.

We are happy to announce that we will be accepting applications for our Community Grant starting on January 30th, 2017 at 6:00am!

If your sports club or organization is in need of capital to help fund costs for equipment or operations, we invite you to apply for this year’s grant. On January 30th, you will be able to apply online by visiting the Community Grant page on our website.

Last year, we were happy to give back to the following organizations: Cherryville Community Club, European Football Club, NONA, Okanagan Stand-Up Paddle Board, Schubert Centre Society, Silver Star Freestyle Club, Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, Spinal Cord BC, Vernon Figure Skating Club, Vernon Lawn Bowling Club, Vernon Minor Football Association, Vernon Soccer Association, and Vernon Tennis Association.