Penticton is more than just amazing wine, craft beer, peaches and beaches. It’s an outdoor playground with year-round sporting activities across the sand, water, turf, ice and snow. Some of our most popular public spaces – including City parks, gardens and sports fields are available to rent.
Please review the steps and permits required to get approval for holding a special event in a Penticton park. Our Event Planning Guidelines page contains resources to assist with planning your upcoming event.
Step 1: Determine the type of event
Before submitting an Event Application, please review the steps below.
City parks are available on a first-come, first-served basis unless you wish to book the exclusive use of a park.
An Outdoor Event Application is required to host events when:
- Exclusive use of park space is required
- Access to city services is requested (Ex. Water or electrical)
- Rental of city equipment is requested (Ex. Picnic tables, garbage cans etc.)
- Your event is held on city roadways
- A liquor permit is applied for on city property
Are you planning an outdoor wedding? If yes, please visit our Plan an Outdoor Wedding page.
Are you looking to book a sports field for a game? If yes, please visit our Sports Fields page.
Are you looking for an indoor facility? If yes, please visit our Facility Rentals page.
Are you planning a reunion, birthday party, picnic or private gathering in a public park?
Will your event be one-day or multiple days?
Step 2: Choose your location
- What is the size of your event (number of participants, area required)?
- Is there parking available?
- Do you require access to power and/or water?
- Will you be serving alcohol or food?
- Are you including tents or inflatable play structures in your event set-up?
- Will you or vendors at the event be selling merchandise?
- Do you require city rentals (Ex. picnic tables, garbage cans, etc…)?
- Will you require access to the beach?
- Do you need washrooms available?
- Will you require a stage?
- Have you considered event safety and security?
- Will you work with a traffic control company?
Parks at a GlanceThis helpful chart will give you an idea of the amenities available at each location. For further information, please visit City Parks and Gardens.
Major Event Parks
Some of our most popular parks for festivals and events include:- Gyro Park – 55 Main Street (at Lakeshore Drive)
- Okanagan Lake Park – Lakeshore Drive
- Rotary Park – Lakeshore Drive W (at Martin Street)
- Skaha Lake Park – At Skaha Lake Road and Parkview Street
Minor Event Parks
- Riverside Park / Penticton Youth Park (Skatepark) – 135 Riverside Drive
- Lakawanna Park – 796 Lakeshore Drive West
- Marina Way Park – 201 Marina Way
The City of Penticton does not book events or weddings on beaches, however, beaches are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Outdoor Wedding Venues
Below is a list of the most popular outdoor locations for weddings in Penticton.
- Skaha Pavilion - 147 South Beach Drive
- Rose Garden - 69 Riverside Drive
- Munson Mountain - 650 Lower Bench Road
If you are looking for general wedding information, the booking process and fees, visit our Plan an Outdoor Wedding page.
Penticton is home to many top quality sports fields. Soccer, baseball, slo-pitch, fastball, rugby and field lacrosse all use these fields from April 1 until roughly Oct. 31. Visit our Sports Fields page for further information.
Step 3: Review event planning guidelines
If you are new to event planning or need a refresher on our current process, our event planning guidelines page will answer any questions you may have.
We are excited to help you host your event. Our detailed Outdoor Events Guide will take you step-by-step in helping you plan and execute your event.
Step 4: Review available resources
If you are planning an event in Penticton you may qualify for grants and discounted park and equipment rental fees to help offset the costs of running an event.
- Event funding
The City of Penticton encourages event organizers to seek diverse funding to support their events. Here are some of the available event funding options.
- Promote your community event
Submit your event information to be displayed on both the City of Penticton and Visit Penticton's websites.
- Non-profit organization
If you are a non-profit organization, you can receive discounted park rental and equipment rental fees.
- Event funding
Step 5: Gather information and documents
Prior to the granting of a License to Use contract, the Applicant shall obtain and maintain comprehensive general liability on terms satisfactory to the City.
Insurance Requirements:
- The City of Penticton shall be included as an “Additional Insured” on any event organizer or event host Commercial General Liability policy.
- Such policy shall be written on a comprehensive basis with inclusive limits of not less than $3 million per occurrence and $5 million aggregate.
- The policy shall contain a clause providing that the insurer will give the City thirty (30) days prior written notice in the event of cancellation or material change.
- The event organizer or event host shall provide the City with evidence of such insurance coverage in the form of an executed copy of a Certificate of Insurance to the City ten (10) days prior to the granting of a License to Use contract.
More information on Insurance Requirements.
Forms and Permits When is this required? Insurance All park bookings require insurance. Site Map All events are required to submit a site map. Request for Staking Tents If you plan on staking tents or play structures into the ground. Electrical Use Agreement Form If you require access to power or will be using a generator. Electrical Operating Permit If you require access to a 50 amp plugin, 6 or more plugins, the main electrical room, breaker panels or hook up temporary distribution panels. Special Event Business License If you are selling food, beverages or merchandise. Road Closure Application If you require a partial or full road closure. Roadside Work Preparation - Hazard Assessment To be submitted with your Road Closure Application Form. Road Closure Advertising Guidelines To be reviewed with a copy of your advertising template submitted. Sidewalk Closure and Parking Meter Rental If you require the rental of a parking lot or parking stalls. Mobile Vendor List If vendors will be present at your event. Special Event Safety Plan For events with fencing and/or road closures. Special Event Permit (Liquor License) If you are serving alcohol at your event. Resident Notification Letter Template If your event has a road closure, amplified sound, a large parking impact in a residential area or an extended park closure.
Step 6: Review fees and deposits
EFFECTIVE APRIL 2023* Major Event Park Minor Event Park Sports Fields Kings Park Passive Parks Play Courts Non-Profit Local Youth/Child $6.62 $5.89 $4.14 $5.42 $3.59 $1.87 Non-Profit Local Adult $19.84 $17.67 $12.40 $13.91 $10.76 $5.62 Local Private $26.46 $23.55 $16.53 $20.89 $14.32 $13.10 Commercial $46.28 $41.22 $28.93 $36.55 $25.05 $14.99 Non-Resident $66.13 $58.89 $41.31 $52.24 $35.81 $18.72 NEW SPORT TOURISM INCENTIVE - 25% reduction in rates for a duplicate event in the shoulder season (Before June 15 or AFTER September 15). *2023 rates are not effective until April 2023 and are pending review by City Council.
EFFECTIVE APRIL 2023* Park Rental Fee** $243.80 Processing Fee $30 Security Damage Deposit $100 Electrical Key Deposit (optional) $100 Insurance (purchased separately) $20-$50 *2023 rates are not effective until April 2023 and are pending review by City Council.
**The Park Rental Fee includes four hours of park rental time, including set-up and take-down time. Additional hours are available at $48.50 per hour.
EFFECTIVE APRIL 2023 (Excludes GST)* PER DAY FEES PER EVENT FEES PICNIC TABLES Rental Fee (per table) $9.14 Delivery and Removal (per table) $35.85 GARBAGE AND RECYCLING CONTAINERS Rental Fee (pair) $9.14 Delivery and Removal (pair) $35.85 BARRICADES Delivery and Removal of 1-10 Barricades/Signs $100.81 Delivery and Removal of 11-20 Barricades/Signs $148.57 Delivery and Removal of 21-40 Barricades/Signs $196.32 Delivery and Removal of 41+ Barricades/Signs Actual Cost MOBILE STAGE Moving and Set-Up (One-Time Fee) $217.55 Non-Profit Local $169.79 Local Private/Commercial $360.81 MOBILE STAGE (With Awning) Moving and Set-Up (One-Time Fee) $1199.17 Non-Profit Local $196.32 Local Private/Commercial $456.32 MOBILE WASHROOMS (Available at Okanagan Lake Park and Skaha Lake Park) Delivery, connect, disconnect, and return (One-Time Fee) $537.78 THREE-FIVE TIERED BLEACHERS Moving and Set-Up (One-Time Fee) $212.24 Non-Profit Local (per bleacher) $11.67 Local Private/Commercial (per bleacher) $26.53 REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE STATION $51 $500 deposit *2023 rates are not effective until April 2023 and are pending review by City Council.
Step 7: Submit an outdoor event application
The Outdoor Events Application and supporting documents are available to fill out online or to download. It's a good idea to save your application because some computers may not accept the fillable online forms. You can then save the document and send it to events@penticton.ca.
- Appendix 4 Event Insurance Requirements
- Appendix 5 Site Map Requirements
- Appendix 6 Request for Staking Tents
- Appendix 6A Temporary Structures
- Appendix 7 Electrical Use Agreement
- Appendix 7A Electrical Operating Permit
- Appendix 7B Electrical Cord Information
- Appendix 8 Business Licence
- Appendix 9 Road Closure Application
- Appendix 9A Road Closure Permit Procedure
- Appendix 9B Road Closure Advertising Guidelines
- Appendix 9C Roadside Work Preparation Hazard Assessment
- Appendix 10 Sidewalk Closure and Parking Meter Rental
- Appendix 11 Mobile Vendors Bulletin
- Appendix 11A Mobile Vendor Checklist
- Appendix 11B Mobile Vendor Setup Instructions
- Appendix 11C Interior Health: Temporary Event Coordinator's Planning Guide
- Appendix 12 Emergency Management Plan Template
- Appendix 13 Special Event Permit (Liquor Licence)
- Appendix 14 Resident Notification Letter Template
Have Questions?
Recreation Coordinator – Events & Film
Phone: 250-490-2591
Email: events@penticton.ca