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.
Check out these event calendars: Similkameen Country and Manning Park Resort.
Here are the highlights from across the Similkameen Valley from Manning Park to Cawston.
Upcoming Events
Similkameen 5K Fun Run/Walk
April 18 – Keremeos. Lace up and join the Similkameen 5K Fun Run & Walk—a relaxed community event celebrating movement, connection, and the beauty of the Lower Similkameen. This flat, mixed trail is accessible for all ages and fitness levels, whether you’re running, walking, or bringing the family. Spaces are limited to 125 participants
Spring Rodeo Season – Keremeos
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.
Live Music at Thomasina’s Cafe, Princeton
Check Facebook for the schedule. 279 Bridge Street.
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.
- 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.
- June 13 & 14th, 2026 – 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.
Key Annual Events Keremeos / Cawston Area
- March – Work Party Ntamtqen 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
- July 1 – Canada Day Celebrations – Memorial Park – Keremeos
- July 3, 4 ,5 – Big Daddy’s Hot Rod Round Up & Charity Car Show 10th Anniversary returns in 2026 – held every two years
- July 10, 11, 12- Keremeos Bluegrass Jamboree (see 2026 poster)
- Memorial Park Market, Keremeos (Kool Beans, Keremeos)
- August 2- Kars under the K
- Aug – Labour Day Longweekend – Similkameen Pow Wow
- Sept 4, 5 6 – Keremeos Bluegrass Jamboree (see 2026 poster)
- Sept 26- Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival – More info to come
- 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
- May 14-18 – Meadowlark Nature Festival
- May-Sept – Community Market every Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Veterans Square
- June 13, 14 – Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo
- July 1 – Canada Day Festivities – More Info to Come
- July – To be confirmed – BC Parks Day, Lightning Lake at Manning Park Resort- Events
- August 1 – Lantern Festival at Lightning Lake, Manning Park Resort – Events
- August Long Weekend- To be confirmed-Tulameen Family Fun Days
- August 21, 22, 23 – Copper Valley Music Festival
- August – To be confirmed – Rise Wellness Festival, Hedley
- September 5 – Princeton Show & Shine
- September 5 – Kite Festival & Workshop – Manning Park Resort
- September – BC High School Rodeo & Harvest Festival
- October – Halloween Family Festival & Fireworks
- November 11 – Remembrance Day at Veterans’ Square
- November – Christmas Light-Up Community Party, Bridge Street Plaza, with a parade to Christmas Light-up at Veterans Square
- Dec – Dates to come – Winter Lantern Workshop– Manning Park Resort
- Dec – Details to come – Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade – Manning Park Resort
- December 26, 2025 -March 28, 2026 – Guided Snowshoe & S’mores – Manning Park Resort
- Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve Fireworks – Manning Park Resort
- February – Family Day Fun
- 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
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.
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.
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, 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 will be held July 10, 11 & 12 in 2026 and Sept. 4, 5 & 6th. Car fans will enjoy Kars under the K Aug 2 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!
