Celebrations, Festivals, Events… Plenty of Ways to Play
There are always new and special events popping up in the Similkameen, so be sure to check with the local Visitor Centres that have the latest information about events for their areas located in Keremeos, Hedley, Princeton, Manning Park.
Check out these event calendars Similkameen Country, the Old Grist Mill and Gardens, Manning Park Resort.
Key Annual Events for the Keremeos/Cawston Area
- May Long Weekend – Keremeos Rodeo
- Pocket Park Market – weekly May-June to end of August, early Sept
- Mid June & Sept – Keremeos Bluegrass Jamboree
- Multiple winery-held dinners and events throughout the Summer
- July – Chopaka Rodeo
- August – Kars under the K
- Sept – Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival
- Sept – Similkameen Pow Wow
- Dec – Keremeos Light Up
- Dec – Enjoy the warmth of our wineries one weekend each December at the annual Holiday Open Houses
Key Annual Events for the Princeton Area
- February – Family Day Fun
- May – Crimson Tine Players Small Town Theatre Production
- May – Meadowlark Nature Festival
- June – Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo
- July – Rotary Parade, Princeton Ambassador Coronation, Auto Show & Shine, Ball Buster Tournament, pancake breakfast & duck race, dance, and more!
- July – Canada Day
- July – A&W Show & Shine
- August Long Weekend – Tulameen Family Fun Days
- August – Princeton Traditional Music Festival
- September – Princeton Agricultural Fall Fair
- October – Halloween Family Festival
- November 11 – Remembrance Day at Veteran’s Square
- November – Crimson Tine Players Small Town Theatre Production
- November – Christmas Light-up at Veteran’s Square
Special Events in Similkameen Valley
- Aug – Fat Dog 150 Beginning near the town of Keremeos, in Cathedral Provincial Park and finishing in iconic E.C. Manning Provincial Park
Spring Celebration HIGHLIGHTS
Since 1998, the annual Meadowlark Nature Festival held in May has presented interactive, multi-disciplinary events that explore and celebrate the spectacular natural environment of the Okanagan Similkameen. It is a divine celebration of nature and wildlife that is sure to pique your interest.
You can tell spring is in the air when you can smell the scent of the new blossoms mixed with the musk of bulls and the aroma of freshly kicked-up dirt. Spring is rodeo season in the Similkameen. Kicking things off right in May is the Elk’s Rodeo in Keremeos and in June Princeton’s Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo.
Oh! We can’t forget to mention that spring is the start of the wine season as tasting rooms start to open, which is a reason to celebrate unto itself. Sip your way through the valley and be among the first tasters of the Similkameen’s terroir. Winemakers dinners, vertical tastings in a cave, roaming expansive vineyards – horseback wine tours, bike riding through the valley, a new wine season is always a time to behold.
Summer EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
A Similkameen summer…there are few places in this province that can match it.
Rodeo season continues with the Chopaka Rodeo in July. If you are into fitness, why not sign up for the Fat Dog 120, Aug 9 &10th? If you don’t want to race but are still looking to be active, grab your partner and your best two-stepping shoes and check out Princeton’s Traditional Music Fest also in August. After grooving to songs and dancing the night away, stick around for the Princeton Agricultural Fair!
In Keremeos, there’s are summer events at the Old Grist Mill and Gardens including a Garden Tea Party, Wedding Fair, Sunday Dinners, and Concerts, Gardeners Gatherings, the popular Teddy Bear Picnic, Day Camps, Summer Night Market, and farewell to Summer special event Heritage Fall Fair.
In the Cawston and Keremeos agriculture belt – wineries, cideries and our only distillery offer special tours and events, many with music, art and farm-to-table food experiences.
Fall Harvest Celebration HIGHLIGHTS
If you haven’t gotten the idea yet, the fall harvest is kind of a big deal around these parts. As such, the locals know how to throw quite the fall celebrations! Some of the staples include getting spicy at the Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival in September, a Canadian celebration dedicated to the pepper harvest, and check out fall events at the Old Grist Mill and Gardens. Find yourself dancing in the streets at the annual Princeton Traditional Music Festival.
Winter Holiday Event HIGHLIGHTS
Yes, winter does get a little chilly. Manning Park Resort hosts winter events. We don’t necessarily think you should huddle inside, but if you’re not a fan of the cold, make sure you’re getting out to check out the annual Winery Open Houses held each December in concert with the annual Light up the Night parade. Also, we have junior hockey! Cheer on the Princeton Posse in an adrenaline-filled night of family fun!
