From chrome and classic cars to blue suede shoes, kilts and Canadian flags, Penticton is gearing up to welcome thousands of visitors for a week of major summer events.
In the days ahead, the community will be buzzing with the Peach City Beach Cruise, Penticton Elvis Festival, Canada Day celebrations and the Penticton Scottish Festival. Residents are advised that several events will require temporary road closures, resulting in increased traffic and limited parking in the downtown core.
Peach City Beach Cruise
Hundreds of classic cars, hot rods and antiques will roll into Penticton for the Peach City Beach Cruise, beginning Friday, June 26, with vehicles lining up along the Okanagan Lake waterfront.
The weekend includes live entertainment, vendors and a beverage garden at Gyro Park, as well as the signature cruise event on Friday evening. The cruise begins at 6 p.m. from Skaha Lake Park, travelling along Skaha Lake Road, Main Street and Lakeshore Drive. They will follow the rules of the road, with no road closures along the route.
Drivers should expect multiple road closures and parking restrictions throughout the weekend, which coincides with the Penticton Elvis Festival. Key impacts include:
- Full closure of Lakeshore Drive (Veterans Way to Riverside Drive) from early Friday morning to midnight Saturday.
- The 100 block of Main Street (in front of City Hall) will be closed Friday.
- Sections of Martin, Winnipeg, Power and Churchill streets will have local access only.
- Additional closures on Saturday for the markets along Main Street, Front Street and Backstreet Boulevard until 3 p.m.
Access to the Lakeside Hotel remains available via Veterans Way. Visitors heading to Pier Watersports can access the site through the hotel parking lot. For full event details, visit peachcitybeachcruise.ca.
Elvis Festival
It’s time to shake, rattle and roll as the Penticton Elvis Festival takes over the lakeshore from June 26-28. Known as Canada’s largest Elvis tribute artist competition, the festival features outdoor performances at Okanagan Lake Park celebrating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Tickets are available at the gate. Visit pentictonelvisfestival.ca for details.
Canada Day
Canada Day celebrations will fill downtown Penticton on Wednesday, July 1, with free, family-friendly fun, capped off by a fireworks display over Okanagan Lake.
Festivities run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gyro Park and include a market, food trucks, face painting, a bouncy castle, reptile zoo and goat petting area. The event is presented by the City of Penticton and organized by the Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association, with details at downtownpenticton.org.
A fireworks display, provided by the Penticton Lakeside Resort and supported by the City, will light up the lake at approximately 10 p.m. (weather permitting). Spectators are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the show. Boaters should note that a safety zone will be in place around the fireworks barge on Okanagan Lake. Event details are available at pentictonlakesideresort.com.
Free transit will be available throughout the day (see Getting Around below for details).
Penticton Scottish Festival
The celebrations continue July 3-4 at King’s Park with the Penticton Scottish Festival, featuring Highland dancing, massed pipe bands, drumming and traditional heavy events, including the crowd-favourite caber toss. With live entertainment and plenty of tartan on display, the festival offers a vibrant celebration of Scottish culture and heritage. For more details, visit pentictonscottishfestival.ca.
Getting Around
With multiple events taking place, residents and visitors should plan ahead and expect heavier traffic, road closures and limited parking in the downtown area.
Free transit will be available on Canada Day across all BC Transit routes, including handyDART, operating on a regular weekday schedule. Visit bctransit.com for schedules and route information.
A free bike valet service, also provided to scooters and skateboards, will be offered by the City’s Environmental Outreach Ambassadors at the following events:
- Every Saturday afternoon at the Farmers’ Market / downtown: Saturdays (until Sept. 5), 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Canada Day: July 1 at Gyro Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Penticton Scottish Festival (King’s Park): Saturday, July 4, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
For more Penticton events, visit penticton.ca/events.