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It was an event unlike any other on the Penticton holiday schedule. A Christmas get-together just two hours in length aboard the SS Sicamous, where Victorian-era carolers and a decorated interior competed for attention with the most celebrated model railroad in the south Okanagan.
That it was also the very first of its kind only added to the intrigue.
It was called the Victorian Christmas Party and Holiday Light Up, and if the organizing team had played their cards right and captured the city's imagination, it would likely become an annual holiday tradition.
They had their answers soon enough. By the 4 p.m. start time, a crowd a hundred deep had lined up outside the ship. By 4:30, the passenger and cargo decks were jammed.
Sicamous venue coordinator Arlana Tanner later estimated that 350 guests had ultimately come aboard. And while that all but guaranteed a second go 'round in 2020, Tanner added that the early crowding might force a slightly different approach going forward.
"We're very excited, very happy. We tried to keep it low-key this year because you don't know your numbers the first time around. But people are saying they absolutely loved it, and the train is always a big draw for the kids. The volunteers handled it all so well."
"But we may have to do tickets next year or maybe two different times. We had such a great turnout right at the beginning, so we were quite inundated by people, and it does get quite warm and very crowded quickly. We might even have people pre-register next year."
Penticton firefighter Ben Grantham brought his whole family along. "We got the invite from our in-laws," he said. "It's the first time I've been down here at Christmas. We wanted to show the little guy the railway. "
"I didn’t even realize they were putting it on. It's fantastic. This is something that would definitely be a yearly gathering for us for sure."
Darryl Jones and wife Debbie came dressed for the occasion - she with an illuminated Christmas sweater, he in his best Dickensian attire, including top hat.
"We came to experience some Christmas cheer," said Jones, known locally for decorating his home every year in a DIY Grinch-esque theme.
"And it's indoors! We often do the events outside, but this is nice and toasty warm and we're enjoying the Victorian Christmas carolers. I think this will go on for years and years. It's something that was needed."
Lynn Jones of Penticton is a regular volunteer at the Sicamous, often wearing holiday-appropriate costumes to events. "Any opportunity I get to dress up, I do. When I was a kid, I used to dress all my friends up and have parades. I've always loved costumes."
Jones handled kitchen duties last night, handing out hot drinks and goodies, but said she missed roaming about like she typically does. "I just love to be out with the people."
But our favourite interview of the afternoon was Ed Schimpl, who'd come to the event from Kelowna with members of his family.
Schimpl's been an Okanaganite for a lot longer than most of us. And he was, many years ago, the captain of a very important tugboat. It's called the SS Naramata, and it's currently docked right beside the Sicamous.
It was also the tug that pulled the Sicamous on its final journey, to Penticton, way back in 1951.
The last of the tugs that plied Okanagan Lake back in the day was pulled from service in 1973, but they played a crucial role in the valley's transportation and rail services before then. And Schimpl is a living connection to that time.
"We carried barges loaded with railroad cars," he told us. "We were the connecting rail link between Oliver and Osoyoos and Kelowna."
It was particularly riveting to hear him discuss the handful of times his crew was forced to "channel" through a frozen Okanagan Lake for the passenger boats of the time. "We'd push a barge onto the ice, and its weight would break though. It was the barge that did the breaking."
Schimpl looked right at home on the Sicamous, and when we asked him to grab one of the vintage steering wheels on the cargo deck for a photo, he quickly and happily obliged.
There were other VIPs on board Saturday afternoon, including at least three Penticton city council members and one mayor, who enthusiastically joined in on the caroling.
In the end, the first annual Victorian Christmas Party and Holiday Light Up simply worked. It was unique, it was engaging, it was nautical, and it was appropriately warm and fuzzy. We hope there'll be many more to come.