Festivals and Events
FEBRUARY
Discover winter in the Okanagan at the Vernon Winter Carnival. The first two weeks of February, Vernon hosts the largest Winter Carnival in Western Canada.
With events for all ages, Vernon Winter Carnival showcases the winter playground of Vernon, all while fostering community spirit for locals and visitors to the region. Look to the sky and behold the Hot Air Balloon Festival. Grab your cameras as you watch these gentle giants roll across the sky in a blaze of colour. You'll marvel at the skill of the carvers at the BC Championship Snow Sculpture Competition at Silver Star Mountain Resort. And bring the whole family out for the Winter Carnival Parade - the Okanagan's only winter parade!
With over 100 events happening during the 10 day festival there's no shortage of things to do. Live music, skiing, snowshoeing, curling, beer and wine tastings and amazing food are all just some of the features of the Festival.
Check out all carnival events and times at the Vernon Winter Carnival website.
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MAY
Welcome to one of Canada's oldest stampedes!
Mark your calendars for the May long weekend and be prepared to watch the excitement as professional cowboys compete for over $50,000 in prizes.
There's dancing on Saturday and Sunday nights, and there's even camping nearby. Grab your cowboy boots, put some hitch in your giddy-up and come on out.
This three-day event started in 1919, just after WWI, as a community picnic celebration. Today, the Falkland Stampede ranks in the top twelve rodeos in Canada.
For more information visit the Falkland Stampede website.
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JUNE
Downtown Vernon's Sunshine Festival is the Okanagan Valley's largest sidewalk sale and festival, and it's held on a Saturday near the end of June each year.
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Funtastic Slo Pitch Tournament and Music Festival
We look forward to seeing you!
Welcome to the Funtastic Sports Society.
We’re building a better community through sport.
Click here for the Funtastic Slo Pitch Tournament schedule
https://events.teamsnap.com/events/7130/results/division
Contact the office at office@funtastic.org as we do have some spaces available in the 4 game divisions.
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JULY
Join the VPAG as we celebrate the 36th year of Midsummer’s Eve of the Arts as we deliver another fantastic event with a variety of great artworks for sale! Enjoy a vibrant evening of art and celebration as we look towards the bright future of the VPAG and art in Greater Vernon.
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We are looking forward to hosting another great day of dragon boat racing at our 9th annual Festival.
Saturday July 23, 2022.
Teams will all race three 500m races on beautiful Swan Lake. We know many teams are rebuilding this season, our Festival is going to be relaxed and focused on fun. We are keeping it small this year and registration will be open to 9 teams, if you are looking for a Festival that gets your team back into racing, this one is for you!
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Come enjoy free live concerts downtown at the Civic Plaza on Thursday nights in the summer. These open-air concerts are great for dancing the night away. Stop by one of our local restaurants for an early meal and come on out. You can also get take-out or pack a picnic basket and bring it down for some great musical entertainment with your dinner.
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Saturday, July 23 & Sunday, July 24
The Okanagan Military Tattoo is a heart stirring musical extravaganza featuring pipers, drummers, musicians, military bands, marching troops, multicultural dancers, First Nations, and singers of all ages.
Each year we bring it all together in an action packed, non-stop choreographed two-hour event that features over 500 local, national and international performers, paying tribute to our military past and present. Each year’s Tattoo is different, with new performers, sights and sounds, a feast for the ears, hearts and soul.
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AUGUST
What do world-class music, awe-inspiring landscapes, and a relaxed, welcoming experience have in common? They’re all integral parts of the Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES Festival. For more than 30 years, the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society has brought generations of music lovers together in our small Shuswap city. Whether you’re a volunteer or a likeminded fan, we’re honoured to welcome you into our family
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The Festival is held at Grindrod Park by the Shuswap River on Hyw 97A, in Grindrod, BC
2022 will be a farmer's market with a focus on GARLIC! There will be vendors but no food court, workshops or competitions, or live music. Admission by donation.
Sunday August 21, 10 to 4.
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Kalamalka Classic SUP Festival
The festival usually runs over the long weekend in late August, early September and also includes a retro SUP Museum display, Hall of Fame and more.
There are events for beginners and intermediate paddles, and other that will challenge the most experienced of athletes. Bring the kids for a spectacular day filled with laughter and lots of cheering.
The event usually includes:
- Scenic 10-mile Kalamalka Crossing,
- Wikiholo (Short Sprint Course), Keikiholo (Kids Race)
- Rail Trail Recreational SUP Challenge
You don't need to SUP to enjoy the festival. The aloha spirit comes alive whether you are competing in, or watching the races. Come hang out and take it all in. Cheer on the suntanned athletes vying for the title of King or Queen of Kalamalka Lake, dance along to the live music on the beach, or find a spot to people watch. It's all good, clean, family-focused fun. There's no better way to celebrate as our summer comes to a close.
The Kalamalka Classic is a fundraiser for the Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake, which was formed to raise awareness of the delicate nature of this multi-coloured lake.
Visit the Kalamalka Classic website for more information.
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SEPTEMBER
Largest Agricultural Fair in Western Canada, August 31 to September 4, 2022. Animals, educational displays, midway, food vendors and of course, the evening rodeo!
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For two days every September, the Lake Country Community Complex transforms into a festival of creativity.
ArtWalk attracts over 7000+ attendees and features displays of visual and performing arts from 200+ Okanagan artists, hands-on children's activities, live artist demonstrations, workshops, a live art auction and a delicious menu of food and beverages.
Culture Days
Culture Days is the largest collective public participation campaign undertaken by the arts and cultural community in Canada. Every year, thousands of events are connected under the celebratory banner of Culture Days—communities large and small are united from coast to coast to coast to increase public engagement in cultural experiences through free, participatory arts and culture events.
