Looking for things to do over Spring Break in Penticton? With hockey games, an arts festival and plenty of outdoor activities including skiing, biking or hiking, this month is the perfect time for a staycation.
This year, the last day of school is Friday, March 14 and the kids return on Monday, March 31, 2025. Here are some ideas to keep the whole family entertained.
Ignite the Arts Festival
This 10-day celebration of arts and culture is separated into two parts: Community Week, which offers some free activities, and Arts Festival Weekend, with ticketed events. Here are some highlights.
- Community Week (March 21-27) features events, exhibitions and workshops. Get the full list on the festival website.
- Art Walk (March 22): Join in this free event showcasing the work of hundreds of artists at multiple venues across the city. In addition to the 21+ locations, watch for buskers and artistic performances at select venues.
- Parade For No Reason! (March 28): All are welcome to join in this free parade, which meets at the Elks Hall at 6 p.m. This non-motorized walk kicks off with drummers and a brass band, who lead the crowd through downtown Penticton, passing by the festival venues. Bring your noisemakers and dress up!
- Festival Weekend (March 28-30) features a lineup of more than 50 musical and performing acts, with live theatre, dance, exhibitions and a range of family-friendly programming. This is a ticketed event, with details at ignitethearts.ca.
Watch the Good Old Hockey Game
CSSHL Western Championships (Until March 16): Cheer on the hockey at the South Okanagan Events Centre as 104 teams from all over North America compete in the Canadian Sport Hockey League (CSSHL) Western Championships (pictured below). For more details and ticket information, visit the SOEC website.
Also ongoing this month are Penticton Vees home games at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Feel the energy of thousands of fans cheering on the home team.
Get Outdoors
With snow still on the mountains and dry streets throughout the city, there are plenty of options to get outdoors for recreational outdoor adventures.
- Do some downhill skiing and boarding at Apex Mountain Ski Resort or cross-country skiing / snowshoeing at Nickel Plate Nordic Centre.
- Need to get outdoors? Play a round of disc golf.
- Hop on your bikes and explore the trails.
- Visit the skate park, which is one of the largest of its kind in B.C.
Have some Indoor Fun
Here’s a few more suggestions to burn off steam and keep the little ones busy.
- Go for a swim in the pools, the lazy river or slide down the waterslides at the Community Centre (view the Spring Break pool schedule).
- Round up the family for a game of bowling, billiards and darts at Roll ‘n Stones Fun Centre.
- Try a Virtual reality experience.
- Beat the clocks to escape from Exit Escape Room.
- Visit Penticton Art Gallery and do a self-guided tour of the many other art galleries throughout the city.
- Go to the movies. See what's playing at Landmark Cinema .
Play Tourist
Travelling is expensive, so why not play tourist in our own town? Explore Penticton's cute and cozy cafes, wander through the shops of Downtown Penticton and find some hidden gems in our local thrift shops. And let's not forget the curious shops to explore at the Cannery Trade Centre, plus the many shopping plazas and shopping centres throughout Penticton, including Cherry Lane.
Learn, Explore, Read and Play
If you haven't paid the Penticton Museum & Archives a visit lately, now's the perfect time. It's an affordable outing (entrance by donation), always with lots to explore and view. Kids love the interactive exhibits, from the animals and drawers filled with insects to historical displays portraying times gone by. Round up the kids on March 15 for a DIY Lava Lamp Experiment (2-3 p.m. in the auditorium). They'll create a lava lamp-like reaction using easy-to-find chemicals. Contact the museum via email or phone to register in advance. Cost is by donation.
Kids who love Lego will be itching to build something special during the Spring Break Lego Club at Penticton Library (March 15 & 22). This is a free program from 11 a.m. until 12 noon, geared toward age 5-12, available for drop-in. Visit the Library's website for more details about this and other programs.
Look for a New Job
Are you looking for a new job? Or do you have a teen who's interested in a summer job or future career? Don't miss the Start Here Penticton Job Fair on Wednesday, March 19, featuring 50+ employers all in one room. It's at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and it's free to attend.
Celebrate Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month with African cuisine, Reggae and African music at the Elk's Lodge on Saturday, March 22. They have a lineup of speakers and activities planned.
Did we miss something? Tell us about it! Email communications@penticton.ca
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