Current Travel Info

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 about events for their areas located in Keremeos, Hedley, Princeton and Manning Park.

Check out these event calendars: Similkameen Country, the Old Grist Mill and Gardens, and Manning Park Resort.

Here are the highlights from across the Similkameen Valley from Manning Park to Cawston.

Upcoming Events

KEREMEOS & CAWSTON Area

Pocket Park Downtown Keremeos – Friday, Oct 24th – 5-9 p.m.

Keremeos Street Krawl – Music, Food, Shopping, Pumpkin Carving Contest, 615 7th Avenue, Keremeos

Old Grist Mill & Gardens – Keremeos

Tea & Tunes Nov 16, Dec 21, Jan 18, Feb 15. Join Glen O’Neil and other acoustic music enthusiasts from 2-4 p.m. for an open circle jam (all genres). The kettle will be on with lots of delicious tea choices available. 2691 Upper Bench Road, Keremeos

Princeton, HEDLEY & MANNING PARK Area

Thomasina's Restaurant, Princeton

Live Music at Thomasina’s Cafe, Princeton

Nov 6 – The Hippie & the Biker.

Check Facebook for the schedule. 279 Bridge Street.

Manning Park Resort – Snowshoe & S’mores

December 16-March 28, 2026 – Guided Snowshoe & S’mores – Experience the magic of winter on a guided 2-hour snowshoe adventure beneath a starry sky. After exploring snow-laden trails, gather around the fire at Strawberry Flats to enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores. Meet at the Nordic Centre by 6:30 pm; tours run from 7 pm to 9:30 pm.

Manning Park Resort – Cascade Cup

Calling all Nordic enthusiasts! Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled race, as the Cascade Cup returns on January 31st, 2026. This race promises heart-pounding XC skiing along the North Gibson Trail to Lightning Lake.

Key Annual Events Keremeos / Cawston Area

Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival, Keremeos
Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival, Keremeos – Held Annually in September

Key Annual Events Princeton Area & MANNING PARK

Princeton Annual Show & Shine
Princeton Show & Shine – Held Annually in August

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 yearly 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, 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 is held in July and early Sept. Car fans will enjoy Kars under the K 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 of which feature music, art, and farm-to-table food experiences. Tasting Rooms and Patios are Open, many are pet-friendly.

Check out our Summer blog for more trip ideas.

Grist Mill & Gardens, Keremeos – Check out all Events – Celebrating 40 years.

Special ANNUAL Events in the Similkameen Valley

Meadowlark Nature Festival

May – 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.

August – Fat Dog 120

Beginning in the community of Keremeos, and finishing in iconic E.C. Manning Provincial Park, the course is 124 Miles long, incorporating a point-to-point style route. The cumulative elevation gain is approximately 26,000 feet or just under 8000 meters. Travel from valley bottoms, through forests, and up into high sub-alpine terrain.  The course offers incredibly stunning alpine views, including mountain vistas, wildflower meadows, and sub-alpine forests.

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.

Check out our Fall blog for more trip ideas.

Fall Pumpkin Harvest Keremeos
Fall Pumpkin Harvest, Keremeos

WINTER HIGHLIGHTS

Yes, winter does get a little chilly. Manning Park Resort hosts winter events such as Guided Snowshoe & S’Mores Dec 26-March 28 and the Cascade Cup Jan 31, 2026, with more to come. We don’t necessarily think you should huddle inside, but if you’re not a fan of the cold, be sure to get out and check out the annual Winery Open Houses, held each December in conjunction 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!

Winter at Manning Park Resort, E.C. Manning Park

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.

There are annual 5Km walk runs, MacKenzie Rd Art & Wine Crawl, and the Similkameen Cider & Music Festival at Klippers Market & Cafe & Row Fourteen.

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.

Tastings Rooms Open in Spring, choose from wineries, cideries, and a distillery.

Spring is when tasting rooms 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, farm-to-table events, roaming expansive vineyards, bike riding through the valley, and discovering what’s new this season.

Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo Princeton BC
Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo, Princeton – Last held June 7th & 8th, 2025

Spring is rodeo season in the Similkameen. Kicking things off in April is the Chopaka Rodeo, followed by the the Elk’s Rodeo in May in Keremeos and in June 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.

Check out multiple events, including the start of the seasonal Concert Series at The Old Grist Mill & Gardens, Keremeos