What are you in the mood to do in Penticton today? Whether it’s sand and sunshine, wine and craft beer tasting, hockey games and concerts, cycling or ski slopes, locals have plenty of ways to keep busy year-round.
For more great things to do, places to stay, travel packages and more, go to Visit Penticton.
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Chatelaine magazine in 2018 named Skaha Beach as one of the top 20 beaches in Canada. But that’s not all. Penticton is home to seven public beaches stretching 5 km along both Okanagan and Skaha lakes. Visit our Beaches page for more.
TripAdvisor Canada ranks Munson Mountain among the top things to do in Penticton. Famous for its giant PENTICTON sign, you can climb to the top for panoramic views. For a list of other great parks, splash pads and adventure playgrounds, visit the Parks & Recreation page.
Floating down the channel in summer is another activity to add to your must-do bucket list! Find out more in the Outdoor Adventures drop-down option below.
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Home to award-winning wineries, several craft breweries, and many highly revered restaurants all within 15 kilometres, Penticton is the place for fine dining and some of the best wine B.C. has to offer.
If simple is your style and you’re looking for great fish and chips or a family friendly restaurant with a menu the kids already know, we've got those too – with some right on the beach as well.
For further information about the local tasting rooms, and your many touring options, go to Visit Penticton.
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Penticton also has a long history of hosting large events that draw crowds from far and wide, whether it’s the famous Peach Festival, IRONMAN Canada or the Granfondo Axel Merckx race. Scope out classic cars during the Peach City Beach Cruise or take part in Elvis Festival, wine or craft beer tasting events, children’s events, sporting competitions or the Meadowlark Nature Festival.
Saturday mornings between May and October are the time for hitting the markets. Take a stroll through Penticton Farmers’ Market and the Downtown Community Market, packed with hundreds of vendors. Considered one of B.C.’s biggest and best, it’s a great place to pick up fresh local farm produce, specialty food products, artwork and crafts and so much more.
Want more? Go to our What's Happening page!
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Activities include everything from paddle boarding, boating and wakeboarding to rock climbing, skiing or biking the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) Trail. The KVR is a decommissioned railroad, which is now an easy-riding gravel trail with incredible views of lakes and vineyards. For something off the beaten path, you’ll find more than 100 trails to choose from. Read more about biking on the cycling page.
Floating down the channel is another popular activity during summer. Kick back for a leisurely 7 km ride down the channel linking Okanagan and Skaha Lakes.
Skaha Bluffs is best known for its world-class rock climbing. Visit this provincial park at the edge of town for numerous hiking, climbing and wildlife viewing opportunities.
You can go golfing at the scenic Penticton Golf and Country Club, which is nestled against the River Channel with mountain views all around. For a nine-hole course right on the outskirts of Penticton, Skaha Meadows offers a range of league play at different times to different groups young and old.
Trails and tracks around the local hills are also popular for 4x4s, ATV and dirt biking, with forest roads and challenging trails to suit every taste.
Downhill skiing is available during winter at Apex Mountain Resort or try cross-country skiing at Nickel Plate Nordic Centre. The local terrain lends itself to scenic snowshoeing and backcountry skiing for all levels of ability.
For more, go to Visit Penticton.
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Whether it’s a concert at the South Okanagan Events Centre or a Penticton Vees hockey game, you won’t be short of things to do. Peruse the local art galleries, explore the Penticton Museum, enjoy international cuisines or sample craft beverages.
Penticton also has a modern public pool and recreation centre, with three pools, a lazy river and waterslide, and a full recreation facility.
Explore the S.S. Sicamous, Canada’s largest surviving stern wheeler. The inside hosts a museum and the lower deck has an original steam boiler, steam engines and a model of the Kettle Valley Railway with working miniature trains. It sits at the far end of Okanagan Lake.
The Penticton Art Gallery brings world-class exhibitions to the community, as well as specialty events. In addition, you'll find more than a dozen art galleries located within the downtown Penticton area.
The Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Society (PSDICS) is a valuable community resource that plays a vital role in serving the social, intellectual and physical needs of individuals aged 50 and older who live in Penticton and the surrounding communities.
Find out more about these and other activities, on Visit Penticton.
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From a renowned hockey school to professional soccer training academy, we are a sporting community. You’ll also find teams spanning multiple sports as well as competitive swimming and dance schools. For more information, visit the Sports page.
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Whether you like rock, country, pop, jazz, techno, easy listening or the best of the '80s, Penticton brings the best to town – and you can listen live in casual settings or concert arenas.
Penticton's 5,000+ seat South Okanagan Event Centre features state-of-the-art acoustics and concert-arena capacity that has attracted major touring music acts. At the north end of town is The Dream Café, which draws international touring acts in an intimate 200-seat dinner theatre venue. Other cultural venues include the Shatford Centre and the Cleland Theatre.
Many Hats Theatre Co. provides year-round theatre in its own 120-seat theatre, and throughout the year, Tempest Theatre and Film Society opens the doors to its 80-seat black box theatre space for a peek into professional acting training showcases and special viewings of theatrical performances.
Looking for the latest Hollywood blockbuster? Check out what's playing at Landmark Cinemas Penticton, which has seven cinema screens and 3D capability.