The surrounding mountain ridges and eco reserve provide a counterpoint of healthy hiking trails. People come to the Armstrong Spallumcheen district to visit farms and orchards, take circle drives through lush farm country, attend unusual farm-centred theatre productions and shop for country wares and antiques.
Drive in any direction from downtown Armstrong and it's two minutes to farm country. Stop by Wild Mountain Honey Farm and buy orchard-sweet honey, pick fresh apples from the tree at Maw's Orchard, find ripe tomatoes and cucumbers year round and pay on the honour system at Kristensen Greenhouse.
From April through October, the country comes to town at the Armstrong Farmers' Market where vendors proudly explain how they "make it, bake it or grow it."
Kid Fun
Turn the kids loose at Chickadee Ridge, the largest miniature horse farm in Canada. Let them hug the tiny horses in the pasture and meet the rest of the wildly eclectic menagerie. O'Keefe Ranch is another kid-friendly place with heritage cattle and sheep and interactive, historic ranch-life displays. In October, head to the Pumpkin Patch, where the little ones can pick their own Halloween jack-o'-lantern right in the field.
Theatre
Take in a production of the award-winning amateur Asparagus Community Theatre. For professional drama with an appropriately agricultural feel, dress down for the Caravan Farm Theatre. Depending on the season, expect a wagon ride or a sleigh ride or a walk through the fields to go with a musical, Shakespearean or new Canadian production staged by one of Canada's leading outdoor theater companies.
History & the Arts
The Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Art Gallery is a one-stop cultural attraction that provides insight on area heritage and features local artists. Ask the curator or volunteer on duty to run through the exploits of William Heaton-Armstrong, the merchant seaman, mercenary soldier and sea captain, banker and railway financier who never laid eyes on the Spallumcheen Valley, but gave his name to the City of Armstrong.
Country Drives
The rolling farmland, grassy benchlands and forested ridges around Armstrong invite motorists to get out and see the countryside on circle drives. Get the full-immersion country experience. See contented cows lazing in green fields, orchards in blossom or heavy with ripe fruit, bird nesting grounds, quiet ponds and a landscape tapestry that changes with each rotation of the seasons.
Rest & Relaxation
Browse around Armstrong's authentic western town centre. Poke into a quirky retro clothing boutique, antique and collectibles shops, quilter's heaven, handcrafted soap emporium and a real country general store.
Land Activities
Hike the Rose Swanson Trails for panoramic valley views and the opportunity to sight wildlife. Be sure of bird watching success on nature trails in urban Armstrong and surrounding the Thomas Hayes Ecological Reserve. A tougher climb yields rewarding views at Enderby Cliffs Provincial Park. For a walk with a different challenge, play the 9-hole, 3200-yard Royal York Golf Club course.
Festivals and Events
Not surprising for a small town in farm country, the people of Armstrong really get behind their community events.
- June 21-July 1: Celebrate Canada Countdown to Canada Day is an 11-day festival of country happenings from live music in Spirit Square to horse shows, theatre productions to Funtastic ball tournament, garden tours to art shows.
- September: The Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede is the largest fall fair in the BC Interior.
- September: Annual steam plowing and tractor pull competition.
- October: Annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival.
- November: Annual Christmas Light-up.
Stop by the Armstrong Spallumcheen Visitor Centre at 3550 Bridge Street, where staff will point out brochures and maps and provide information on area attractions and events.
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