With the Penticton Peach Festival just around the corner, I got to thinking about all the outstanding events we have here in the South Okanagan. Festivals, car shows, concerts… even through the winter, there always seems to be something fun happening every weekend. I swear they keep adding more every year. Even though it’s getting hard to keep track of them all, here are five of my personal favourites.
Peach City Beach Cruise
Even if you’re not into cars, it’s hard not to be impressed by this event and the passion of the people who take part. Usually held in late June, the Peach City Beach Cruise sees hundreds of glistening, gleaming, and painstakingly restored classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles line up along Lakeshore Drive for the interior’s biggest auto show. Wear your comfy shoes because there’s a lot to explore, including a ton of vendors, food trucks, and concerts. Who knows, you might even spot an Elvis or two because that weekend is also the…
Penticton Elvis Festival
Yep. You read that right. We have an Elvis Festival. A big one in fact! People travel here from around the world to celebrate The King and his music. This event usually happens in late June at the same time as the Peach City Beach Cruise because is there any better match than Elvis Presley and classic cars? For a couple days the city is filled with Elvis impersonators and to be honest, most are pretty convincing. This one’s a unique event and a lot of fun.
Peach City Beach Cruise
Much like we celebrate our juicy peaches here in Penticton, Osoyoos holds a yearly festival for the fruit they’re best known for. Taking place on Canada Day weekend, the highlights of the Osoyoos Cherry Fiesta include great bands, fun events for kids, and a delicious assortment of cherry themed foods. Seriously, you have to try the homemade pies. And since it takes place on our nation’s birthday, the festival puts on an incredible fireworks show too. I’ve heard it’s the second largest in Canada after Ottawa and it doesn’t disappoint.
The Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival
Dubbed “The Best Jazz Party in the Pacific Northwest”, this annual three day festival takes place the weekend after Labour Day. Featuring live music from more than a dozen world class jazz bands, the Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival is guaranteed to get your toes tapping no matter what kind of music you’re into.
Okanagan Fest of Ale
Our region is famous for world class wines but did you know we’ve also got a heck of a selection of excellent craft beers too? Every April since 1996, dozens of the best breweries from BC and beyond have gathered in Penticton for the Fest of Ale, making it one of the biggest and longest running events of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. This two day festival is your chance to sample some of the top beers in the world and celebrate the almighty ale with friends, food, and music!
Obviously this is just a small sample of what goes on here. I haven’t even touched down on all the bands the play at the South Okanagan Events Centre, The Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic hockey tournament, the Spring, Fall, or Winter Wine Festivals, or any of the other smaller, local events in Penticton and the surrounding area.
If the idea of living in an area where the summers are long, the winters are mild, and there’s always something happening that interests you, contact me today!
