Plan your year ahead with this list of major Penticton festivals and events

We’re still buzzing from the energy that Valley First Frost Fest Winter Carnival blasted into downtown Penticton. Those three action-packed days drew thousands for free outdoor entertainment including snowboarding, hockey, family-friendly activities, hot air balloons and a polar bear swim.

And this is just the start to what will be an exciting year ahead of festivals and events.

This list below provides an overview of the major events taking place in Penticton in 2025. For a full list of events, view the City's Events Calendar and also don't forget to check the upcoming events at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC), the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre (PTCC) and the Cleland Theatre.

February

Snakebite Film Fest (until Feb. 2): Laugh, cry and be entertained with this event centred at Landmark Cinemas and other Penticton venues.
Family Day (Feb. 17): Round up the kids for a day of activities including swimming, hockey, arts and crafts, a bouncy castle and more.
OneWorld Multicultural Festival (Feb. 22): With international cuisine, multicultural performances and merchandise tables selling specialty items, this festival at the Lakeside Resort is an annual highlight.

March

Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) (March 2-6): Hockey fans unite! More than 5,000 visitors from throughout North America travel to Penticton for this championship event.
Ignite the Arts Festival (March 28-30): An art-filled extravaganza kicking off with Community Week (March 21-27) and featuring 60+ musical acts, theatre, dance, workshops and activities for the whole family.

Ignite the Arts Festival: Balkan Shmalkan leads the Parade for No Reason to kick off the Festival Weekend. Photo by Gord Goble.

April

Okanagan Fest of Ale (April 11-12): This hugely popular event brings together craft beer lovers and brewers for a two-day festival with fun entertainment, food trucks and a vast selection of brewery samples.
Penticton Farmers’ Market (Saturdays from April 19-Oct. 25): Hurray! The much-loved market reopens for the season, selling veggies, fruits, food products, crafts and other specialty items.

May

Duel in the Desert (May 9-11): Organized by Penticton Paddle Sports, this boat race attracts teams from throughout B.C. and Alberta.
Meadowlark Nature Festival (May 15-19): Join an outdoor adventure to explore our landscape with an ecological and cultural focus.
Downtown Community Market (Saturdays from May 17-Sept. 6): Also situated downtown, this vibrant market showcases handcrafted goods, arts, artisan foods, live music and entertainment.
MegaVolt – BC Bike Race (May 30-June 1): A three-day festival in Penticton and Naramata featuring multiple events, group rides and entertainment.

June

Ha Ha Ha Kidz Festival (June 5-7): Get ready to laugh, play, create and be amazed. This year's event has a new location at Okanagan Lake Park and some extra-large surprises!
Okanagan Super Sprints (June 6-7): Fun, fast sprints on Skaha Lake, with teams travelling from all over to compete.
Penticton Beer Run (June 7): With costumes, 11 breweries and at least 4 local eateries, this 7 km walk/run is always a blast and growing in popularity each year.
Peach City Beach Cruise (June 20-22): Hundreds of show cars including hot rods, antiques and classics stage themselves along the Okanagan lakefront for this display, also including food, live entertainment and more.
Elvis Festival (June 27-29): Celebrate the king of rock ‘n’ roll at this tribute artist competition deemed to be the largest Elvis festival in Canada. This is a ticketed event, with affordable entry to watch Elvis take to the outdoor stage.

July

Canada Day (Details TBC, July 1): Oh Canada! Let’s celebrate with a full day of activities and entertainment, with free transit available.
Penticton Scottish Festival (July 4-5): Crowd favourites include Highland dancing, bagpiping, drumming and caber toss. Enjoy pipe band competitions, a beer garden and other live entertainment.
Okanagan Trestle Tour (July 6): This epic bike ride along the historic Kettle Valley Rail Trail ends in Penticton with an outdoor celebration.
Okanagan Granfondo (July 12-13): Thousands of riders will take part in this mass cycling event, which ranks among the best in North America. Kids also get their kicks in the Kids’ Piccolofondo.
Art in the Park (Details TBC, July 19): An exhibition and sale of art under the trees at the park, featuring South Okanagan artists. More details coming soon.
Peach Classic (July 20): Ranked among the oldest triathlons in Canada, this event is growing fast, attracting everyone from beginners to professional triathletes and Olympians.
Rib Fest (Details TBC, July 25-27): More details coming soon.
Ultraman Canada (July 26-27): Split up over three days, this race totals 515 km. There are four Ultraman events contested around the world, with Ultraman Canada being held in Penticton since 1993.

August

Peach Festival (Aug. 6-10): This must-do event of summer is one of the largest free family festivals in Canada, dating back to 1947. The Snowbirds return this year with their aerial display to kick off this event, also featuring live outdoor concerts, parades, sport and dance competitions, the Shooting Star Amusements and more.

September

Pentastic Hot Jazz & Music Festival (Sept. 5-7): Live music spanning multiple venues, with opportunities to dance and listen to a variety of talented performers.
Dragon Boat Festival (Sept. 6-7): Cheer on the 80+ teams as boats take to the water off Skaha Lake Park. The festival will have a vendor’s market, food trucks and a beverage garden, attracting participants in the thousands.
Expedition Canada (Sept. 22-Oct. 6): Watch this promo video!

October / November

Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic (Dates and details TBC)

December

'Magic on Main Street' - Santa Claus Parade & Light Up (Nov. 30): Ho, ho, ho! Ring in the festive season with this magical event featuring a Santa Claus Parade down Main Street, capping off with the official Light Up at Gyro Park.