Canada Day revellers in Kelowna can make a wish upon a tree, get their name written in different languages, and choose from two dozen types of food.
The July 1st festivities at Waterfront Park will also mark the 50th anniversary of Folkfest, an all-volunteer show featuring the singers and dancers from a variety of ethnic groups.
鈥淐ome out and show off your Canadian pride this July 1st,鈥 says Renata Mills of Festivals Kelowna. 鈥淲ear your wildest, brightest, white and reddest Canadian outfit, or your finest regalia reflecting your family鈥檚 heritage, and show the rest of the country and the world just what proud Canadians we are in Kelowna.鈥
Tens of thousands of people typically attend part of the daylong celebration. The Folkfest program inside Prospera Place begins at 10 a.m. with a First Nations performance, and the day concludes with a fireworks show over Okanagan Lake at 10 p.m.
There are four performance stages, an artisan marketplace, kids activity zones, and recruiting tables set up by various non-profits. The official Canada Day ceremony inside Prospera Place runs from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
At the 鈥榃hat is my Canada鈥 display people can write their wish for the country on a maple leaf to be posted on a tree. They can also have their name rendered in different languages, and the Taste of Canada food fair features 25 booths.
The detailed line-up of Canada Day activities and times is available at
For a schedule of performers at Folkfest, see
Here鈥檚 a partial list of other places in the Okanagan with celebrations:
PEACHLAND
Schedule:
8:00鈥11:00 a.m. 鈥 Pancake breakfast at the 50+ Activity Centre
1:00鈥4:30 p.m. 鈥 Family games in Heritage Park with the Boys and Girls Club (bouncy castle, face painting, tattoos)
1:30 p.m. 鈥 Magician Leif David performance
4:30 p.m. 鈥 Canada Day Parade along Beach Avenue (13th Street to Heritage Park)
6:00 p.m. 鈥 Mayor鈥檚 welcome and cake-cutting
6:30鈥10:00 p.m. 鈥 Live concerts featuring Papa Thom, The Elderly Brothers, and The Part-Timers
10:00 p.m. 鈥 Fireworks over Heritage Park (visible from most of Peachland)
WEST KELOWNA
Opening ceremonies at 10 a.m.
- Entertainment by Westsiders 11-noon
- Kids Fare from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Food & vendors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Foam parties, time to be determined
The event is put on by the all-volunteer group Westside Celebration Society, so it鈥檚 a more down-home and less jam-packed affair than the July 1st celebration in Kelowna
(Westside Daze, a long-running community celebration, takes place from July 10-13)
The City of West Kelowna suggests various Canada Day activities including climbing the Boucherie Rush Trail, paddle boarding on Gellatly Bay, playing pickleball, and using the skateboard park.
LAKE COUNTRY
Location: Swalwell Park
Schedule:
8:00鈥8:45 a.m. 鈥 Entertainment by Ally Harris (GESS student)
9:00鈥9:45 a.m. 鈥 Magician Leif David
10:00鈥11:00 a.m. 鈥 Magic in the crowd with Leif David
10:00鈥10:30 a.m. 鈥 Jumping Agility Mutts performance
10:30鈥11:15 a.m. 鈥 Lake Country Big Band
11:15鈥11:30 a.m. 鈥 Speeches and the playing of O Canada
11:30 a.m.鈥12:30 p.m. 鈥 Letters to a Lost Cause (GESS students)
Participants & Sponsors:
Citizens on Patrol, Donna鈥檚 Crafts, Lake Country Lions, Kathy鈥檚 Crafts, Healthy Essential Clinics, Lake Country Farmers Institute, Lake Country Art Gallery, Lake Country Garden Club, Mona Vision, Pixie and Dot.
OKANAGAN FALLS
Location: Centennial Park
Market in the Park:
3:00鈥8:00 p.m. 鈥 Local market featuring pottery, jewelry, wood crafts, self-pampering items, Lions Club cookies
5:00鈥8:00 p.m. 鈥 Live music by Memory Lanes
Food Service: Provided by Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 227
OSOYOOS
Event: 75th Annual Osoyoos Cherry Fiesta & Canada Day Celebration
8:30鈥10:30 a.m. 鈥 Rotary Pancake Breakfast
11:00 a.m. 鈥 Main Street Parade
Gyro Park Activities:
12:00 p.m. 鈥 Revel Love
1:15 p.m. 鈥 Opening Ceremony
1:45 p.m. 鈥 Gift of Dance Canada
2:30 p.m. 鈥 Pie eating contest, potato sack races, three-legged races
4:00 p.m. 鈥 Uncorked
5:30 p.m. 鈥 The Blueshounds Band
7:00 p.m. 鈥 Sister Soul Band
8:30 p.m. 鈥 Alive N Kiss鈥橬
10:00 p.m. 鈥 Fireworks presented by ReMax Realty Solutions (one of the largest displaysin B.C.)
PENTICTON
Location: Gyro Park
Time: 11:00 a.m.鈥3:00 p.m.
Activities: Face painting, live music, market, food trucks, inflatable activities, arts & crafts, goat petting area, free cupcakes (while supplies last)
Fireworks: Begin at 10:00 p.m. on Okanagan Lake near the Lakeside Resort
