Major Events

Penticton is home to some of the longest-running and most iconic events in the province. Many of these are led entirely by volunteers and require hundreds of hours of planning, and their passion for our community shines through. Penticton is also known as the endurance sports capital of B.C., attracting athletes from around the world for events such as IRONMAN Canada and the Okanagan Granfondo.

Featured Events 2024

This list provides an overview of the major events taking place in Penticton this year. For a full list of events, view the City's Events Calendar and also don't forget to check the upcoming events at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC) and the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre (PTCC).

Jan. 19-20: BCHL All-Star Weekend
Jan. 20: Frost Fest - Penticton's Winter Carnival
March 4-17: Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL)
March 22-31: Ignite the Arts Festival
April 12-13: Okanagan Fest of Ale
April 20-Oct. 26: Penticton Farmers’ Market
May 11-12: Duel in the Desert – Penticton Paddle Sports
May 18-Sept. 7: Downtown Community Market
May 16-20: Meadowlark Nature Festival
June 2: MegaVolt – BC Bike Race
June 6-8: Ha Ha Ha Kidz Festival
June 7-8: Okanagan Super Sprints
June 20-23: Peach City Beach Cruise
June 27-30: Elvis Festival
July 1: Canada Day
July 5-6: Penticton Scottish Festival
July 7: Peach Classic
July 7: Okanagan Trestle Tour
July 13-14: Okanagan Granfondo
Aug. 7-11: Peach Festival
Aug. 24-25: IRONMAN Canada
Sept. 6-8: Pentastic Hot Jazz & Music Festival
Sept. 7-8: Dragon Boat Festival
Sept. 13-14: Kettle Mettle Gravel Fondo
Sept. 13-15: SummerCamp Rib & Music Fest
Sept. 13-16: Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic
Sept. 19-22: Canucks Training Camp
Sept. 28-29: Canadian Outrigger Distance Championships
Oct. 4-14: Penticton Beer Week
Oct. 5: Penticton Beer Run
Oct. 25-28: Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic
Dec. 1: 'Magic on Main Street' - Santa Claus Parade & Light Up

Premier Events

Here is a snapshot of Penticton's premier events so you can plan your action-packed year ahead.

In 1983, the first North American IRONMAN event was hosted right here in Penticton. With the herculean effort from local volunteers and community leaders, unmatched hospitality of local residents, and overwhelming support from businesses, individuals, and the City, the event quickly grew into an iconic IRONMAN experience. Penticton is now recognized as one of the world’s premier triathlon host communities – and a bucket list destination for IRONMAN Canada athletes all over the world.

Visit the City's IRONMAN webpage
Penticton is home to premier cycling routes and terrain, and few events showcase its beauty as well as the Okanagan Granfondo event. With four different race distances, there’s something for everyone, from the recreational to the elite and pro cyclists, and even a Piccolo Fondo race for the kids. All races start and finish along Okanagan Lake, with routes through the beautiful Okanagan wine country.

Visit the event website
Frost Fest Winter Carnival is set to be the next big outdoor event of the season. We have partnered with some major players to present this high-energy festival in the heart of downtown Penticton.

Get ready for this
- BCHL hockey on the outdoor ice rink
- Downtown Throwdown Ski & Board Rail Jam
- Kids activities and stations presented by HaHaHa Kidzfest
- Snow sledding hill (with snow courtesy of Apex Mountain Resort)
- DJ
- Food trucks
- Beverage garden
- Warming stations
It takes place the same weekend as the BCHL All-Star Weekend, which attracts hockey players and NHL alumni to the Activate Penticton outdoor rink at Gyro Park. All the events are free to watch on the Saturday. Spectators can walk between each of the activities and events throughout the day.

Visit the Frost Fest webpage
An iconic event in Penticton, we challenge you to find one local who doesn’t have a favourite memory of this five-day festival. Since it first began in 1947, a volunteer organization has grown Peach Festival to one of the largest, FREE, family festivals in Canada – and certainly one of the most fun weeks of the summer in Penticton.

From the annual downtown Peach Bin races, to the Shooting Star Amusements midway, to sport and dance competitions and shows, to the iconic Peters Brothers Grand Parade – this festival gets bigger and better every year. Peach Festival is a signature event in Penticton and a family-friendly activity for all.

Visit the event website
The Peach City Beach Cruise is Canada's premier Rod, Antique and Classic Car Show. For three days, hundreds of beautiful show cars line up along Penticton’s prime beachfront street, Lakeshore Drive, and activities for the whole family surround the event. Live entertainment, an outdoor beverage garden, food and retail vendors, and novelty souvenirs add to the festival atmosphere, transforming the entire downtown core. The Peach City Beach Cruise began in 2001 and has become a signature event in Penticton, attracting thousands of visitors from across North America each year.

Visit the event website
“Thank you, thank you very much” to the Penticton Elvis Festival, a three-day festival where dozens of Elvis Tribute Artists perform and compete to celebrate the life and music of Elvis Presley. As the only Elvis Presley Enterprises (E.P.E)-sanctioned Canadian festival west of Ontario, and a qualifier for the world-wide E.P.E. Ultimate Festival in Memphis, this event attracts artists and true fans from all over the world. A food and beverage garden, and of course, room for dancing, creates a lively and vibrant festival atmosphere where attendees can show off their blue suede shoes.

Visit the event website
The Penticton Dragon Boat Festival is a highlight of our Septembers and the perfect way to cap off major events season. From its beginnings on Okanagan Lake in 2000, the festival has since found its home at Skaha Lake Park, which not only offers the perfect beach site for racers, but also features plenty of space for the most vibrant beverage garden in town. More than 2,500 racers and teams from across North America meet in Penticton for a weekend of racing on the water, and soaking up the sun on the sandy beach.

Visit the event website
As one of the biggest markets in the Okanagan, the Downtown Community Market showcases local vendors and artisans while creating a fun atmosphere for tourists and locals alike. The market features vendors of homemade goods, such as clothing and jewelry, and antiques and furniture, as well as live music and entertainment to get the whole family excited about supporting local. Located on Penticton’s Main Street and adjacent to the Penticton Farmers’ Market, together these two events transform Penticton’s downtown core on Saturday mornings.

Visit the event website
Penticton Farmers’ Market has come a long way from its humble beginnings in Gyro Park in 1991. It sets up on Main Street on Saturday mornings, and together with the Downtown Community Market takes over the downtown core of Penticton and creates a social, vibrant atmosphere for locals and tourists. Widely known as one of the largest and best markets in the Okanagan and B.C., the Penticton Farmers’ Market provides an excellent opportunity for local agricultural producers and craftspeople to sell their products directly to public.

Visit the event website
Sláinte Mhath, ye Scots!

What began as the Highland Games is now the Penticton Scottish Festival, a tribute to Scottish and Celtic culture, sport, and entertainment – and a heck of a party! The Scottish Festival features bagpipers, drummers, and pipe bands, heavy events (such as caber toss and hammer throw), Highland Dancing, and of course, a site-wide beer garden and cèilidh.

Visit the event website
The Vancouver Canucks will return to Penticton this year for the Young Stars Classic. Witness the future of the NHL at the 10th annual Young Stars Classic, hosted by the Vancouver Canucks and the City of Penticton. Immerse yourself in a thrilling four-team tournament featuring the top prospects from the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets organizations.

Visit the City's Young Stars webpage
The Peach Classic Triathlon is said to be the longest held triathlon event in the province of B.C. Showcasing Okanagan Lake, the renowned Kettle Valley Rail Trail, and the best of Penticton and Naramata, this event is Penticton’s premier short-course triathlon event. It features sprint and standard triathlon races, an aqua-bike event, and in some years has offered qualifiers for world championship slots for age group winners. The history of triathlon is strong in Penticton, and the Peach Classic Triathlon is an important part of that history.

Visit the event website

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