It was worth the 4:30 a.m. start to my day.

Crawling out of bed last Sunday morning at that ungodly hour meant I was in Vancouver (along with some of my nearest and dearest) in time to participate in the five-kilometre Diva on the Run event at the Jericho Sailing Centre.

It was worth the drive down. The women (and girls) – only run took us through the urban trails of Jericho, while the small size of the event brought Pemberton to mind, what with the cheering for every runner as she came in, and getting to be on a first name basis with some of the runners and organizers before we left.

Much as we love life here in the Sea to Sky Corridor, it’s always fun to take advantage of the summer weather to get out there and be part of events further afield. But when you’re at home, you can always take advantage of what we have to offer right here.

Read on for all the goings-on right here in Pemberton.

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The Pemberton Flying Club is hosting its sixth annual Airport Appreciation Day this Saturday (July 28) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pemberton Airport. All are welcome to stop by to view the visiting aircraft and displays. You can even have lunch as the Pemberton Lions Club will be there to offer up a barbecue.

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A free, drop-in playgroup for families with children from newborn to six years old takes place on Tuesdays through the summer at Underhill Park (that’s the Park in amongst The Peak Townhomes, down the driveway across from McDonald’s).

Presented by the Child Care Resource and Referral Program of Sea to Sky Community Services, the play group runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and is facilitated by an Early Childhood Educator. Stop by to kick some balls around, hula hoop, play with trucks and shovels, blow bubbles and clamber around on the climbing equipment. Group time ends with a circle of stories and songs for everyone. Remaining play groups are on July 31, and Aug. 14 and 21. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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You can check out Tea and Tales at the Pemberton Museum Tuesdays until Aug. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. For $2 per person, visitors can enjoy tea, coffee or juice, and home baked treats, sitting at tables in the historic and shady museum grounds.

If they wish, on Tuesdays that include it, visitors may also listen to a tale presented by a Pemberton local at the museum on various themes connected to life in the Pemberton Valley.

Next Tuesday (July 31) is Tea, no tales. But the following Tuesday, on Aug. 7, local cowboy Bob Menzel will stop by the museum to hitch a horse to the priest wagon and let her roll around the museum grounds.

Check the museum’s events page www.pembertonmuseum.org/events for more information.

The Pemberton Museum, located at the corner of Prospect Street and the Meadows Road, is open Monday through Saturday. Also open Sundays in August.

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The Pemberton arts community is now displaying work at the Cottonwood Community Centre. Pieces will change every few months to display work by a different artist or group of artists.

The first artist to show his work is Wim Tewinkel, a long-time local. Working from his studio, The Mute Raven, Tewinkel works in several different media.

Several new photographs are on display. Some are printed on canvas, others on traditional photo paper mounted behind matte and glass. Some abstract works and paintings are also on display.

Separately, a show of Tewinkel’s work is on display at the Pemberton Public Library until Aug. 22. His art includes feather collages and works of mixed media – photographs overlaid with wax and enhanced with acrylic paint and pieces of the natural world.

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For local produce, crafts, baked goods and more, check out the Pemberton Farmer’s Market every Wednesday through to the fall. Vendors gather on Frontier Street across from the Centennial Café from 4 to 7 p.m. Live entertainment adds to the weekly atmosphere of good food and community, giving this home grown event a genuine Pemberton feel.

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After being closed for renovations for the month of July, St. David’s United Church is set to reopen on Sunday, Aug. 5, when regular programming and worship services will resume.

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Send comments and event listing ideas to itsmegrace@hotmail.com. The next Pemberton column will appear August 23.