Tourism Kelowna
Kelowna at night
Story & photos by Perry Mack
One of the joys of living in, or visiting, a waterfront city is the endless variety of activities and events available either on your boat or a short walk from your moorage. From watersports and fireworks, to arts and alcohol, there’s something to tempt every palate.
Kelowna is exceptional in this regard and here is an eclectic mix of some of our favourites.
Pianos in the Parks - mid-June to September
Songs in the key of life float across the water as people strolling along the waterfront parks stop to play one of the piano’s to create an impromptu recital. Pianos in the Park
Perry Mack photo
Pirate Day
Pirate Day – June 18, 2016
Every sailor has a dark side, and members of the Kelowna Yacht Club are no exception. Except that these dark sides are just in the flags and eye patches as kids, pirates and sea mates take to Okanagan Lake for the annual Variety Boat for Hope.
Special-needs children and their families gather at the downtown marina Saturday and escort the young buccaneers to treasure station boats on the lake in a quest for loot. “The Boat for Hope event is a unique experience for families with children who have special needs, made possible because an entire community comes together to make it happen,” says Bernice Scholten, Variety’s executive director.
Skippers from the boating community along with local businesses come together to make the annual event entertaining for the families – as well as help Variety raise funds to help more sick children.
The Kelowna Yacht Club and Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs teamed up to host the day.
Perry Mack photos
Canada Day Celebrations – July 1, 2016
"Celebrate Canada Day" is Kelowna’s annual, free community festival held in Waterfront Park, Jim Stuart Park and Kerry Park, as well as Prospera Place. In 2015, there were over 50 activities and performances to entertain festival goers. Over 60,000 people attended and events included Canada Day birthday cake, a folk festival, food fair, artisanal showcase, live music on multiple stages (including an orchestra), a Bazaar, and Kids Zone.
The fireworks launched from a barge moored off Waterfront Park surrounded by as many boats as there are stars in the sky, eyes tilted to the heavens from the best seats in the city for a choral symphony of light. www.festivalskelowna.com
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Arts on the Avenue
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Arts on the Avenue
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Arts on the Avenue
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Arts on the Avenue
Arts on the Avenue - July 2016
The Arts Alive! Program from Festivals Kelowna morphed into Arts on the Avenue last year. This one-day celebration in July closed Bernard Avenue between Water and Pandosy streets to vehicular traffic and became a pedestrian only outdoor art exhibition.
The festival featured artists from a variety of disciplines selling handcrafted products alongside performing artists, live demonstrations and presentations by valley artists. There were also be two interactive “community art” projects in which visitors could participate in creating a giant art piece.
Visit with vendors, listen to the music, and people-watch from shaded outdoor cafes and restaurant patios just steps from your moorage. www.festivalskelowna.com
Kelowna Dragon Boat Club
Annual Dragon Boat Festival - August 27th - 28th, 2016
The eighth annual festival is gearing up to be one of the best Dragon Boat festivals of the year. It will attract hundreds of families and individuals from all over to participate or cheer on the teams. This year, Kelowna Dragon Boat Club has six boats to make the races even more thrilling. www.kelownadragonboatclub.com