Reptiles, Fire Trucks & Much More Coming to Carlin Country Market
By Jo Boxwell
Tegan, Zoe, Atlin and Call at Carlin Country Market in 2025 (photo contributed)
The 13th annual Carlin Country Market returns to Carlin Elementary Middle School on Saturday, May 23, 10 am - 3 pm. Organized by the school’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC), Carlin Country Market has something for everyone and typically attracts hundreds of people. As event co-organizer Ashley Jespersen explains, the market has been very successful at bringing people together from the school as well as the local area to create “a really fun event and to encourage that sense of community.”
The 2026 Market
Visitors to the 2026 market will get to experience a variety of activities for all ages, such as a car show and fire truck display, a barbecue and a vendor market with locally made food and crafts. Families with little ones and older children will have plenty to keep them busy, from bouncy castle fun to carnival games and laser tag. Ashley says adults will enjoy “our classroom basket raffles, which are always really popular,” as well as a silent auction, 50/50 draw and a meat draw.
Three very special activities are brand new for 2026. A reptile show hosted by the Little Reptile Queen will take place twice; at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Each show runs for about an hour and is free to watch.
Call and Zoe having fun at Carlin Country Market in 2025 (photo contributed)
“The Okanagan Science Centre reached out, and they are going to be setting up a table with hands-on science experiments for kids,” Ashley says. The Okanagan Science Centre team will be at the market throughout the day.
The newly formed Carlin Garden Club, comprised of students and parents, has been busy preparing for the market. They will be hosting a plant sale that green-thumbed visitors won’t want to miss.
Educational Impacts
Carlin Country Market is the most significant fundraiser of the year for the Carlin Elementary Middle School PAC. To support students’ educational experience, the PAC raises funds that go towards sports fees, sports equipment, food programs, literacy programs, field trips, bussing costs, school events, winter recreation programs, explorations equipment and classroom supports.
For 2026, the PAC’s fundraising focus is new playground equipment. Replacing the school’s existing, dated playground equipment will be an expensive undertaking. Every little helps, so mark your calendars for May 23 and have fun while supporting a local school!
