Party organizer defends plans

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 29, 2009 6:00 PM

The organizer of a large private party said Vernon RCMP concerns about his Halloween event are unwarranted. RCMP issued a one-page release Thursday about Saturday’s Old Souls Night - Dancing With Spirits event, an all-night party featuring music and dance at a farm located high in the hills above Westside Road. The event starts at 8 p.m. and “runs until daylight,” according to a poster. Police are concerned that the party, advertised online and, which police state, has pre-sold 600 tickets, is “open to all ages and you can bring your own booze.”

Not so, said event organizer Ed Walter Thursday. “We always have a BYOB policy, we don’t sell alcohol here, but police advised us that contravenes the Liquor Act, so we are shutting it down,” said Walter. “We’ve given them our word there will be no alcohol at the party.” Police stated in its release that “minimal planning had been made for safe transportation home from this site for any of their guests.” “We have a bus in place at all of our events that picks people up from the Civic Arena and returns there on the half-hour, so anybody looking for a ride can get one,” said Walter. “The only caveat for this weekend is we just got three inches of snow, so I have to talk to the bus company and see how prepared they are and what the road conditions will be like Saturday...We try to make sure everybody has a safe ride home, that everyone’s looked after. We’ve had no incidents in the past.”

Saturday’s event aims to raise money for the food bank. One dollar from every ticket sold, $10 fines for those not in costume, and a donation box set up at the gate all go to the local food bank.