Families, wine lovers, music fans and arts enthusiasts will find interesting festivals and events in the Thompson Okanagan region.
To showcase the area's more than 120 wineries, there is a wine festival for every season. Prefer craft beer over wine? Then check out the annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale.
In summer, the Salmon Art Roots and Blues Festival draws music-lovers to the Shuswap area, and the Penticton celebrates rock 'n' roll with the annual Penticton Elvis Festival.
Budding and experienced naturalists will enjoy the Meadowlark Festival and the Adams River sockeye salmon run. This region is also home to the Kamloopa Pow Wow, which is one of Western Canada's largest celebrations of Aboriginal culture.
Summer Festivals and Events (June - August)
Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival (August): In Salmon Arm, more than 60 performers from across the globe perform a mix of roots, blues, jazz, soul and funk to 30,000 music fans over three days. Past performers have included K'naan, Bedouin Soundclash and Gord Downie.
Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede (August/September): Want to milk a goat, watch a rodeo or race a zucchini? Then head to Armstrong for this five-day fair (the largest fair in BC's interior) and watch live entertainment, play on a huge midway and learn about (and taste!) local agricultural products.
Kamloopa Pow Wow (July/August): More than 1,000 performers gather in Kamloops to celebrate Aboriginal culture and heritage. Traditional dances, music, attire and storytelling are highlights of this three-day festival.
Okanagan Summer Wine Festival (July): The Summer Wine Festival features wine pairings from local wineries, along with tastings and seminars across the region.
Penticton Elvis Festival (June): Elvis has not left the building – or at least not in Penticton. Experience the King of Rock and Roll's legacy with three days of tribute shows, competitions and performances.
Fall Festivals and Events (September - November)
Okanagan Fall Wine Festival (September/October): Celebrate harvest season with more than 165 events during the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival. This is the largest of the region's four wine festivals and offers vineyard tours, food and wine pairings from award-winning chefs, and educational seminars.
Adams River Sockeye Run (October): Watch the Adams River turn red as sockeye salmon return to spawn. Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park has prime viewing areas, a seasonal interpretive centre and displays. There are salmon each year, but every fourth year is a dominant run with millions of sockeye (2014 is the next dominant run).
Winter Festivals and Events (December - February)
Okanagan Winter Wine Festival (January): Cap off a powder day at Sun Peaks Resort with a wine tasting or seminar during the Okanagan Winter Wine Festival. More than 20 events are held over nine days, including a wine tasting that involves strolling through the village.
Hot air Balloon at Vernon Winter Carnival (February): The Vernon Winter Carnival is a 50-year-old tradition and 10 days of family fun. Watch glowing hot air balloons fill the night sky, see artists carving ice sculptures, take the kids to a masquerade skating party, and much more.
Wildlights at BC Wildlife Park (December/January): In winter, Kamloops' BC Wildlife Park shines with 600,000 Christmas lights and 360 "light sculptures". Gaze at the lights, take a ride on the miniature train or gather around the bonfire and sip hot cocoa or apple cider.
Spring Festivals and Events (March - May)
Okanagan Spring Wine Festival (April/May): As warm weather returns to the region, grapevines begin to bud. The Spring Wine Festival has more than 100 events, many of which offer first tastes of young/new wines.
Okanagan Fest-of-Ale (April): More than 25 (mostly local) microbreweries pour traditional and experimental beers to thirsty beer enthusiasts at the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale in Penticton. Live music adds to the celebratory atmosphere.
Meadowlark Festival (May): Voted "Best Annual Community Event in the South Okanagan" by readers of Okanagan Life Magazine, the environment-themed Meadowlark Festival offers more than 80 outdoor tours and events. Learn about the unique species found in the South Okanagan and Similkameen.
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