Celebrations, Festivals, Events…
There are always new and special events popping up in the Similkameen, so be sure to contact the local Visitor Centres; they will have the latest information on events in their areas, located in Keremeos, Hedley, Princeton, and Manning Park.
Also check these event calendars: Similkameen Country, Grist Mill & Gardens and Manning Park Resort.
Here are the highlights from across the Similkameen Valley from Manning Park to Cawston.
Upcoming Events
Grist Mill & Gardens – Keremeos
Annual Teddy Bear Picnic July 18: Join us for an afternoon picnic in the gardens with music, story-time, scavenger hunt, games, craft tables and prize draws. Volunteer nurses will be on-site and available for teddy bear repairs at the Teddy Bear Hospital stand. High Tea July 25 & Aug 23. Heritage Fall Fair Sept 12.
Hedley Teddy Bear Picnic July 18:
The Hedley Teddy Bear Picnic is a free family afternoon at Woodlie Park in Hedley. Join in on July 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a picnic lunch, games, storytime, and the Sheila Collier Teddy Bear Hospital.
All About Charcuterie at Orofino Winery in Cawston & Corcelettes Winery in Keremeos
Fridays at Corcelettes Estate Winery, 1–5 PM, the lineup includes Oysters & Caviar (July 17), a Build-a-Board/Cup/Cone Charcuterie Cart (July 3), Seafood Cocktail (July 31), and Sushi (August 14). Both locations run while quantities last.
Find All About Charcuterie at two valley wineries this summer. Thursdays at Orofino Winery, 3–7 p.m., weekly food features on now until August 20, rotating through hand-crafted pizzas, nachos, tacos, lamb pops, shawarma, and Vietnamese subs, with homemade hot sauce on taco nights.
Manning Park Resort – Lantern Festival at Lightning Lake
Manning Park Resort’s annual Lantern Festival Aug 1 at Lightning Lake is one of the park’s most beloved summer traditions. Spend the day crafting your own lantern at the Lightning Lake Day Use Area (10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) guided by friendly instructors, then gather at Spruce Bay Beach at 9:30 p.m. to set your glowing creation adrift across the still waters at dusk. A magical, memory-making evening for all ages. Lanterns $25–$55; debit and credit available at the Boathouse.
Kars under the K– Keremeos
Kars Under the K rolls into Memorial Park – Sun Aug 2 for a free, family-friendly day of classic vehicles set against the Similkameen’s mountain backdrop. Around 130 entries fill the park with antique cars, trucks, tractors, muscle cars, and street rods. At the same time, a pancake breakfast, live music, Vendors Alley, free pool swim, bouncy castle, and a 3 p.m. awards ceremony keep everyone entertained from morning to afternoon. Entry is free; the event is run by a local nonprofit that raises funds for community causes.
Cawston Cool Down Music Fest – Cawston
The Cawston Cool Down Music Fest returns Sat Aug 8 at Cawston Community Hall (2119 Main Street) for a full day of live music, vendors, food trucks, and a kids’ play area — all kids free. The lineup runs from 1:00 p.m. through the evening, featuring Stef Laramie, Nightgirl & Ur Love, Joel Browne, The Redding, Vuya Kaya, Wheelhouse, Organic Humans, Oakes, and Cat Wells Blues Band.
Copper Valley Music Festival – Princeton
The Copper Valley Music Festival at Bridge Street Plaza Aug 21–23, with three days of live music spanning folk, roots, rock, blues, jazz, and funk — entry by donation. Presented by the Princeton Community Arts Council, highlights include Bushmen, Outlaws & Lace, SØURDØPE, and Bruce Coughlan, with family programming on Sunday.
Revv’D Up and Rockin’ – Princeton
Revv’d Up and Rockin’ kicks off Princeton’s Show and Shine weekend with a high-energy Friday night concert at Bridge Street Plaza (231 Bridge Street) on Fri, Sept 4, from 6:30–10:00 p.m. Headliners BC/DC are joined by local Princeton openers The Contractors, with vendors, an auto parts swap meet, and loud music all night. Bring your lawn chairs and dancing shoes — and leave the dogs at home for this one.
Show & Shine – Princeton
Princeton’s premier annual car show rolls into Bridge Street Plaza on Sat, Sept 5 — the day after Revv’d Up and Rockin’. Presented by the Princeton Show and Shine, the event draws up to 300 classic cars and trucks from across the region for a full day of automotive eye candy, vendors, and a swap meet in the heart of downtown Princeton. Swap Meet Vendor marketplace. Sept 4 & 5
Keremeos Bluegrass Jamboree – Keremeos
The Keremeos Country & Bluegrass Jamboree is a community-run music event held at the Keremeos Rodeo Grounds. Running Sept 4–6, the gathering brings together bluegrass and country musicians for a relaxed, family-friendly weekend that includes a Sunday morning gospel session. On-site camping is available, and the jamboree runs on donations rather than paid performers, keeping the event affordable and rooted in community spirit. Locals and visitors alike are welcome to drop in and enjoy live music any day of the event.
Similkameen Pow Wow of Champions – Keremeos
The Similkameen Pow Wow of Champions is one of BC’s largest pow wows, hosted annually over Labour Day weekend by the Lower Similkameen Indian Band — the Sməlqmix People — at the Ashnola Campground near Keremeos. The 2026 event runs Sept 4–6, drawing world-class dancers, drummers, and singers from across Western Canada and the United States.
Princeton Harvest Festival – Princeton
The Princeton Harvest Festival at the Princeton Exhibition Grounds (315 Laurie Currie Way) on Sat, Sept 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — free to attend. Expect children’s games, animal exhibits, local vendors, crafts, food, and live entertainment, including magician Leif David and henna artist Believe Party Entertainment, all running alongside the Princeton Rodeo Club’s High School Rodeo.
Similkameen Sizzle – Keremeos
The Similkameen Sizzle — Canada’s only hot pepper festival — lights up Memorial Park in Keremeos on Sat, Sept 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free to attend. The day runs from a Hixzee’s Gourmet breakfast through an artisan market, Food Truck Alley, beer garden, hot sauce competitions, and the legendary Sear Factor pepper-eating contest, with live music from Vuya Kaya and The Contractors rounding out the afternoon.
Live Music at Thomasina’s Cafe, Princeton
Check Facebook for the schedule. 279 Bridge Street.
Key Annual Events Keremeos / Cawston Area
- March – Work Party at the Ntamqen Community Garden & Food Hub, Cawston
- April – Celebration of Traditions Pow Wow
- April 5 – Chopaka Rodeo
- April 18 – Third Annual Similkameen 5K Walk/Run
- May Long Weekend – Elk’s Rodeo, Keremeos
- June 21 – Father’s Day Pancake breakfast at the Grist Mill & Gardens
- July 1 – Canada Day Celebrations – Memorial Park, Keremeos and at the Grist Mill & Gardens
- July – Big Daddy’s Hot Rod Round Up & Charity Car Show 2026 10th Anniversary Returns in 2028 – held every two years
- July 10, 11, 12- Keremeos Bluegrass Jamboree
- July 18 – Teddy Bear Picnic – Grist Mill & Gardens
- Memorial Park Market, Keremeos (Kool Beans, Keremeos) – July 24, Aug 7, 21, Sept 4 Harvest Market
- August 2- Kars under the K
- August 15 – Heritage Skills Festival – Grist Mill & Gardens
- Sept 4, 5, 6 – Labour Day Long weekend – Similkameen Pow Wow
- Sept 4, 5, 6 – Labour Day Long weekend – Keremeos Bluegrass Jamboree
- Sept 19 – Heritage Fall Fair – Grist Mill & Gardens
- Sept 26- Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival
- Dec – Keremeos Light Up, Craft Fair & Parade
- Dec – Enjoy the warmth of our wineries one weekend each December at the annual Holiday Open Houses: Orofino, Hugging Tree
- Dec- Orofino Winery Open House – Keremeos
Key Annual Events Princeton Area & MANNING PARK
- Save the Date – May 20-24, 2027 – Meadowlark Nature Festival
- May-Sept – Community Market every Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Veterans Square
- June – Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo – Princeton
- July 1 – Canada Day Festivities – Princeton
- August 1 – Lantern Festival at Lightning Lake, Manning Park Resort – Events
- August Long Weekend-Tulameen Family Fun Days – Tulameen
- August 21, 22, 23 – Copper Valley Music Festival – Princeton
- September 4 – Revv’D Up and Rockin’ – Princeton
- September 5 – Princeton Show & Shine – Princeton
- September 5 – Kite Festival & Workshop – Manning Park Resort
- September 19 – Princeton Harvest Festival – Princeton
- September – BC High School Rodeo & Harvest Festival
- October – Halloween Family Festival & Fireworks
- November 11 – Remembrance Day at Veterans’ Square – Princeton
- November – Christmas Light-Up Community Party, Bridge Street Plaza, with a parade to Christmas Light-Up at Veterans Square – Princeton
- Dec – Dates to come – Winter Lantern Workshop– Manning Park Resort
- Dec – Details to come – Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade – Manning Park Resort
- December – March – Guided Snowshoe & S’mores – Manning Park Resort
- Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve Fireworks – Manning Park Resort
- March – Manning Park Resort – Patrol Like a Girl, Spring Fest, 2 Can Tango – Nordic Race
- Princeton Chamber of Commerce Events Schedule
Special ANNUAL Events in the Similkameen Valley
August 7 &8, 2026 – Fat Dog 120 – Registration Full
120-mile event starts Friday, August 7, and
100 km and 40-mile events start Saturday, August 8. The 120-mile route begins near the town of Keremeos, British Columbia, in Cathedral Provincial Park and finishes in iconic E.C. Manning Provincial Park. The course is approximately. 124 Miles long, incorporating a point-to-point style route with cumulative elevation gain over 26,240 feet or roughly 8000 meters.
May 14-18, 2026 – Meadowlark Nature Festival
A must for nature lovers, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the Meadowlark Nature Festival is a deep dive into the incredible biodiversity of the Similkameen and South Okanagan. Through guided nature walks, birdwatching excursions, Indigenous cultural experiences, and hands-on workshops, this festival connects people with the land in meaningful ways. Whether you’re learning about local ecosystems from expert naturalists or spotting rare bird species in their natural habitat, this festival is a celebration of the beauty that surrounds us.
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
A Similkameen summer…hot temperatures, cooling river, breezy valley… yep, sounds like summer.
In Manning Park, annual events include BC Parks Day, Lantern Festival, and the Kite Festival. In the Princeton area, check out the annual Princeton Show & Shine, and enjoy an evening of live music and community fun at the Princeton Street Plaza. The Copper Valley Music Festival (Princeton) and Tulameen Family Fun Days are held in August. If you’re into fitness, sign up for the Fat Dog 120 held throughout the valley in August.
In Keremeos, historically, there are summer events at the Old Grist Mill and Gardens, including a Garden Tea Party, Sunday Dinners, Concerts, Gardeners’ Gatherings, the popular Teddy Bear Picnic, Day Camps, and Summer Night Markets.
The annual Similkameen Pow Wow is hosted at the Ashnola campground. For music fans, the Keremeos Country Bluegrass Jamboree held in July and Sept. Car fans will enjoy Kars under the K Aug for a full day of family fun.
In the Cawston and Keremeos area, wineries, cideries, and our only distillery offer special tours and events, many featuring music, art, and farm-to-table food experiences. Tasting Rooms and Patios are Open, many are pet-friendly.
FALL HIGHLIGHTS
The fall harvest is a big deal around these parts. As such, the locals know how to throw quite a fall celebration! Some of the staples include getting spicy at the annual Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival in September, Canada’s only celebration dedicated to the pepper harvest.
Check out a variety of fall events at the Old Grist Mill and Gardens in Keremeos, including Sunday Dinners, Concerts, and the annual Heritage Fall Fair. For farm-to-table dining or tasting at wine, cider, and distillery Tasting Rooms, come for the harvest.
Canada’s only Pepper Festival, the Similkameen Sizzle, mid-morning until early evening on one hot day in September at Memorial Park, Hwy 3, Keremeos. Start your day with a pancake breakfast by the Keremeos Rodeo Association, then browse our market packed with amazing vendors. The hot sauce competition kicks things off mid-morning, and bouncy castles open around noon for the kids (and the kids-at-heart) until late afternoon. In the early afternoon, the Similkameen Independent Winegrowers open the popular beverage garden, just in time to cool off before the legendary hot pepper eating contest and an evening of live music in the park, where pool access is free.
WINTER HIGHLIGHTS
Yes, winter does get a little chilly. Manning Park Resort hosts winter events, including Winter Lantern Workshop, Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade, Guided Snowshoe & S’mores, New Year’s Eve Fireworks, Cascade Cup XC Ski Race, Spring Fest, and 2 Can Tango, with more to come. Join the locals for their annual Light Up The Night and parades in Keremeos and Princeton.
We don’t necessarily think you should huddle inside, but if you’re not a fan of the cold, be sure to check out the annual Christmas Craft Fair at the Grist Mill o in Keremeos or winery open houses. Cheer on the Princeton Posse Junior hockey team for adrenaline-filled family fun!
SPRING HIGHLIGHTS
You can tell spring is in the air when you can smell the scent of the new blossoms, and wildlife is abundant throughout the Valley.
Check out the Third Annual Similkameen 5K Walk/Run, and 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.
Spring is when more tasting rooms reopen, which is a reason to celebrate in 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, farm-to-table events, roaming expansive vineyards, bike riding through the valley, and discovering what’s new this season.
Spring is rodeo season in the Similkameen. The Elk’s Rodeo during the May Long weekend in Keremeos, and June 13 & 14th Princeton’s Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo. From heart-pounding bronc riding to family-friendly festivities, these authentic, small-town rodeos are more than just competitions—they celebrate tradition, community, and the Western spirit.
- See you next Year! Stan Thompson Memorial, Princeton | A long-standing tradition honoring the legacy of rodeo in Princeton, complete with barrel racing, bull riding, and good old-fashioned cowboy competition.Princeton Exhibition Grounds, located just off Highway 5a at 315 Laurie Currie Way, Princeton.
- See you next year! May long weekend – 85th Annual Elk’s Rodeo, Keremeos| One of the region’s most anticipated rodeos, bringing together local cowboys, families, and visitors for a weekend of action-packed events and classic rodeo fun. Cowboy Breakfast at the Rodeo Grounds
