It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Our annual Christmas in Kelowna family activity guide is back by popular demand and I cannot wait to share all the festive fun with you! This year’s guide includes everything from Christmas tree farms, to Christmas brunches, to LIVE (YES, LIVE!) plays and performances, to craft fairs! This page will be updated regularly as more information regarding 2021 Christmas events and activities becomes available. If you don’t see it yet, it’s coming! Please check back often. Thank you as always for your support of this fun and free local activity guide. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Light Ups & Parades

Rutland Christmas Light Up
When: November 28, 12 pm – 5 pm
What:  Impact Event’s annual Christmas Tree Light Up Market in Rutland at Roxby Plaza. Come down for great lights, hot chocolate and chili from the Salvation Army’s truck, and more food trucks. The fun begins at 12:00pm and the light up will be taking place at 4:30pm at Centennial Park.

Downtown Kelowna Winter Street Market 
When: December 4, 11 am to 6 pm
What: A festive outdoor celebration featuring local Okanagan artisans and holiday cheer. This is a free community event geared towards all ages, that celebrates the magic of the holiday season with authentic local products, delicious food and drink, family activities, music, ice skating, entertainment, and of course, a visit with Santa!

Light UP Summerland
When: December 4, 11 & 18
What: A three-day event held over 3 weekends including local shopping and a self-guided light tour. Shop Local Saturdays events will feature family entertainment, Letter’s to Santa, carolers and of course, shopping, wine tasting and much more! The Drive-By Light Up is a self-guided, COVID safe, drive-by event complete with a map of Summerland’s best light displays at the core of it.

Light Up the Park Gellatly Nut Farm
When: Friday December 10, 5 pm
What: Plan your visit to Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park in December when we light up the park. For ten days, the orchard and heritage buildings will be lit up and park hours will be extended to 8 p.m. for self-guided evening visits. Free, Drop-in, registration not required.

The Santa Clause Parade
When: December 11, 5 pm
What: This year’s Kettle Valley Christmas Parade will be the MACY’S parade of Kettle Valley! Be sure to stop by Kettle Valley Pub on Main to get your photos with Santa by donation. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Phase II of the Okanagan Youth Recovery House – together we will build a place of solace, healing and recovery for young people struggling with addiction. Text SANTA to 888 960 7807 to make a donation today or learn more by visiting https://youthrecoveryhouse.ca/ Organizers will also be collecting food donations for the Central Okanagan Food Bank. Visit the link to find the parade route map!

Kettle Valley Neighbourhood Light Up 
When: December 12, 5 pm
What: Join Richard James Deacon of Engel & Volkers Okanagan and celebrity judge Casey Clarke from New Country 100.7 as they tour the neighborhood and announce their favorite homes that are lit up for the holidays.

Santa Visits

Orchard Park Santa Visit & Photo 
When: November 2 – December 25
Where: Orchard Park Mall
What: Three Santa’s to book socially distanced visits with, must pre-book a time. $35/session.

Image Studios Santa Photos
When: December 2 – 23
Where: Image Studios, Village Green Center, Vernon
What: In-studio or center court options, priced from $25 – $99 (includes 2 – 5 images). Pre-book your time online.

MontanaRae Digital Santa Photos
When: November & December
Where: Online! Email your photo choice to MontanaRaePhoto@gmail.com
What: A great option for those worried about or unable to accommodate in-person Santa visits! Six different photo layouts to choose from with Santa holding a framed photo of your children. $10.00 per digital file or $25.00 for 3.

SantaPaws Kelowna
When: November 28, 10 am – 3pm
Where: 1590 Pioneer Road, Kelowna
What: Have your pet’s photo taken with Santa! Funds raised will support Taco Dog Rescue Society, which has helped save and rehome over 400 dogs in the Okanagan in the last 8 years.

Selfies with Santa
When: December 3, 4, 10 & 11
Where: Meadow Vista, 3975 June Springs Road. Kelowna
What: Santa will be set up in his festive holiday cabin for you to snap a socially distanced photo! Enjoy mulled wine, hot chocolate and treats as you sing carols with Ria around the fire. Don’t forget to check out the Holiday Snack Shack and stop by the wine shop for a tasting! As you’re enjoying each activity, check off items on your activity sheet to enter a prize draw. Pre-book your tickets online.

Kelowna Christmas Tree Farms

Get into the Christmas spirit with a visit to a local tree farm! Unfortunately, due to the summer heat wave, many farms have very limited stock and are open for limited dates. Make sure you check the opening times and dates for each of the tree farms, as well as their COVID-19 protocols and regulations.

• Coldstream Creek Farm (Oyama) ** open December 4 & 5, 10 am to 4 pm.
• Grumpy’s Christmas Tree Farm ** open November 27, 9 am
• K & J Pacific Peaches ** open November 20, every day except Tuesdays
• Turner Family Tree Farm (Oyama) ** open October 22 – November 22, Fridays – 10am-4pm and  Saturdays & Sundays – 10am-2pm

Skating

Is there anything more Canadian than skating outdoors? Check out these local skating rinks!

•  Stuart Park The outdoor skating rink downtown Kelowna will open in December! Check back soon for details.
• Kelowna Public Skating: Lace up the skates for public skating at Rutland Arena, Memorial Arena and Capital News Centre.
  Pre-booking your time is recommended, however drop-ins are also available (with sign in).
• Vernon Public Skating 
• Penticton Public Skating 
• Big White Ice Skating

Christmas Plays & Performances

The Tenor’s Santa’s Wish Tour
When: November 23, 8:00 pm
What: JUNO Award-winning and multi-platinum selling vocal group The Tenors are returning to the stage this holiday season with their Santa’s Wish tour. The Tenors will perform holiday hits in the spirit of the season.
Where: Prospera Place, 1223 Water St. Kelowna

Santa Breakfasts

Breakfast with Santa
When: December 4, 9:00- 11:30 am
What: Pancake breakfast followed by crafts, entertainment and a visit with Santa! Bring your own camera for a photo opp.
Where: Peachland Community Centre. Advance registration required via phone @ 250-767-2133. Adults $12; Kids 1-3 $5; 4-9 $10.

Santa Brunch at the El 
When: December 5, 12, 19
What: A a full chef-curated breakfast buffet complete with omelette and waffle station, holiday features like turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes, a salad bar, cheese and charcuterie, and much more. Plus a dessert buffet and a holiday drinks buffet! $42 per adult, $22 per child (6 – 12 yrs). Free for children 5 and under.
Where: Lakeside Dining Room, El Dorado Hotel

Santa Brunch at Gulfstream
When: December 19, 10 am – 1 pm
What: Enjoy a la carte brunch at Gulfstream and visit Santa in the Four Points lobby for photos.
Where: Gulstream at Four Points by Sheraton 5505 Airport Way, Kelowna

Sleigh Rides

Big White Sleigh Rides
When: Opening November 25! Check the website for schedule and ticket information. 1/2 hour, 1 hour and dining tours are available, as well as private tours and group rates.
What: Take a step back in time with a ride on an old fashioned horse drawn sleigh in the winter wonderland of Big White. Enjoy hot chocolate while gliding through snow covered forest trails during your sleigh ride, a fantastic experience with the horses. This is the perfect family activity as all ages are welcome.
Where: Big White Ski Resort

Silver Star Sleigh Rides
When: 2021 season information coming soon! Check website for specific dates & times.
What: This spectacular 45-minute tour meanders through SilverStar’s pristine wilderness trails to the Wild Horseman’s Cabin. Enjoy the magic with either the Hot Chocolate Ride or the Wild Horseman Dinner Tour.
Where: Silver Star Mountain Resort

Carvan Farm Theatre: Joyride 
When: December 3 – January 2
What: This winter sleigh ride theatre production features a cast of eight dazzling theatre performers, storytellers, and wise crackers from across the country. A beloved holiday text. A rambunctious parlour game. A handful of classic Canadian pop songs arranged for a stellar choir, sixteen teamsters and sixteen horses and one beautiful winter forest… throw it all into the hat and what do you get? A JOYRIDE, that’s what.
Where: 4886 Salmon River Road, Armstrong BC

Christmas Train

Summerland Christmas Express Train
**The 2021 Summerland Christmas Express Train schedule has not yet been set.

Experience the magic of Christmas at the Kettle Valley Steam Railway!  The Summerland Christmas Express heralds the magic of the season with twinkling lights, music and jolly old Santa who has a treat for every good little boy and girl. You’ll be enchanted by the Christmas lights on homes along the rail line and on the 3716 locomotive. Coaches and Station will also be decked with season sparkle setting the stage for your family to enjoy Santa, our colourful Coach hosts and Christmas carols.

Christmas Markets

November Markets

A Merry Little Christmas Home Decor Show
November 5, 6 & 7
Sunset Ranch Golf Course, 5101 Upper Booth Road South, Kelowna

Yuletide Fire at PTCC
November 5, 6, 7
Artisan Market at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre

Christmas Bazaar 
November 5, 1 pm – 8 pm & November 6, 9 am – 3 pm
St Pius X Catholic Church, 1077 Fuller Ave, Kelowna 

Winfield’s 32nd Annual Christmas Craft Sale
November 7, 10 am – 3 pm
Winfield Memorial Hall
10130 Bottom Wood Lake Rd, Lake Country

Craft Culture Holiday Magic at the RCA
November 13 & 14
Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave, Kelowna

Immaculata Christmas Craft Fair
November 13, 10 am – 3 pm
1493 KLO Rd, Kelowna

Vernon Presents A Festival Of Crafts & Gifts
Friday November 19, 10am-7pm
Kal Tire Place, Vernon
Admission is $4 per person, kids 12 and under are free. Part of the proceeds go to North Okanagan Hospice House.

It’s Christmas at the Red Barn
November 19, 20, 21
4409 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna
Free entry & family friendly

East Kelowna’s Country Christmas Markets 
November 24, 10 am – 3 pm
East Kelowna Hall 2704 East Kelowna Road Kelowna

Christmas Craft Fair at the Cultural Center
November 27th 9am-2pm
702 Bernard Ave, Kelowna

Touch of Christmas Crafters and Vendors Fair 
November 27, 9:30 – 3:30
2041 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna

Peachland Craft Fair 
November 27
Peachland Wellness Centre, 4426 5th Street, Peachland

12th Annual Christmas Extravaganza
November 27, 9:00 a.m.
Rutland Centennial Hall, 215 Shepherd Rd, Kelowna

International Holiday Market
November 27 & 28
IPE Grounds, 3315 Pleasant Valley Rd, Armstrong

A Reel Christmas Market 
November 27 & 28
Rustic Reel, 760 Vaughan Ave, Kelowna

Tables Holiday Market 
November 27, 5 pm – 10:30 pm & 28 10 am – 4 pm
Barn Owl Brewing Parking Lot, 4629 Lakeshore Rd

East Kelowna’s Country Christmas Markets 
November 28, 10 am – 3 pm
East Kelowna Hall 2704 East Kelowna Road Kelowna

December Markets

Craft Culture Holiday Market
December 3, 4 & 5
Prospera Place, 1223 Water St. Kelowna

Beacon & Friends WinterFest and Holiday Market
December 4 – 19
2550 Boucherie Rd, West Kelowna

Armstrong Farmers Christmas Market 
December 4, 9 am, –  2pm, Hassen Arena, 3315 Pleasant Valley Rd, Armstrong

Magical Christmas Market 
December 4 & 5, 10 am – 4:00 pm
Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave, Kelowna

Tree of Dreams Holiday Market
December 7 -9, 5 pm – 8 pm
Featuring local vendors and a variety of delectable food and beverage options. Proceeds from ticket event sales will be donated to a local charity. $10/adult; $5/child or $20/family.
Hotel Eldorado, 500 Cook Road, Kelowna V1W 3G9

Last Chance Holiday Market
December 11 & 12
273 Power St, Penticton, BC

East Kelowna’s Country Christmas Market 
December 12, 10 am – 3 pm
East Kelowna Hall 2704 East Kelowna Road Kelowna

Winery Events

Holiday Fire Pits at Ex Nihilo 
When: Saturdays and Sundays in November and December
What: A casual and rustic outdoor experience. Book your outdoor fire pit complete with hay bales for sitting (groups of no larger than 6 guests) for up to one hour (maximum). Add on a bucket of s’mores, Italian smokie and a glass of Ex Nihilo wine to enjoy fireside $5–$14 required add-ons
Where: 1525 Camp Road, Lake Country

Mission Hill Winery Festival of Trees
When: November 28 – December 3
What: Festival of Trees Kelowna is a major fundraiser for BC Children’s Hospital. Get into the holiday spirit with Mission Hill Winery on a special behind-the-scenes tour of the underground barrel cellar. The seated wine tasting that follows pairs new release wines with delicious festive bites. You will also enjoy a brilliant forest of sparkling, sponsor-decorated trees, set outdoors on the covered Terrace and Loggia. When you book a Season of Trees tasting on the first three Sundays in December it includes our Evergreen Market pop-up mini event on the Loggia, featuring a curated selection of  local vendors each week.
Where: 1730 Mission Hill Road, West Kelowna

Westside Wine Trail Sip into the Season
When: December 1 – 15
What: Discover the magic of winter along the Westside Wine Trail with the Sip into the Season Passport event. Visit participating member tasting rooms for a tasting, enjoy holiday shopping and enter to win a great prize along the way with a stamp in your holiday passport. More details coming soon!
Where: Members of the Westside Wine Trail

Grizzli Winery WinterFest and Holiday Market
When: December 4 – 19
What: A multi-day holiday event with a Tree Lighting Ceremony, artisan vendors, food and drink, carollers, lighting and entertainment to launch all that attend fully into the spirit of the holidays with a visit to the North Pole. A lively atmosphere of music, entertainment, glittering lights and family fun will be created.  This inclusive event will host vendors selling holiday themed wares and gifts under the cover of lighted huts and indoor tables. There will be performers in costume and carollers, live music, a sponsored Light Tunnel, mulled wine tastings, hot chocolate building station, hot apple cider station, multiple food vendors, Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, Beacon the Elf Toy Workshop and of course Santa!
Where: 2550 Boucherie Rd, West Kelowna

Vibrant Vines December Concerts
When: December 3, 4, 10, 12, 17, 18
What: A line-up of holiday concerts featuring Andrew Allen, Karen Wieseman, Sista B & the Boyz & Ben Klick
Where: 3240 Pooley Road, Kelowna

Summerhill Bistro Jack Frost High Tea 
When: Every Friday and Saturday in December at 12 pm, 1 pm or 2 pm
What: Enjoy a complimentary glass of Cipes Brut alongside a menu featuring assorted organic savory bites, house-made scones and croissants with seasonal preserve & clotted cream, and assorted mini pastries. Served with artisanal TWG Tea, from a Singaporean luxury teahouse. Adults $49, kids $39.
Where: 4870 Chute Lake Road, Kelowna

Meadow Vista Honey Wines Selfies with Santa 
When: December 3, 4, 10 & 11
Where: Meadow Vista, 3975 June Springs Road. Kelowna
What: Santa will be set up in his festive holiday cabin for you to snap a socially distanced photo! Enjoy mulled wine, hot chocolate and treats as you sing carols with Ria around the fire. Don’t forget to check out the Holiday Snack Shack in the mini village and stop by the wine shop for a tasting! As you’re enjoying each activity, check off items on your activity sheet to enter a prize draw. Pre-book your tickets online.

Give & Share

There are many wonderful community organizations that provide Christmas hampers and donations to those in need in our communities. Please consider donating to one of the following Christmas campaigns to spread joy and help make someone’s Christmas a little brighter.

The Village Give. Get. Gather. Event
This campaign is all about coming together to share this holiday season! Use The Village App to share your wish list, make offers and create events with people in your neighbourhood. Give what you can and get what you need. We all need a little help sometimes—especially during the holidays so go ahead and just ask! Participate November 30 – January 1, 2022 by downloading the app here. 

Kelowna Santas
Kelowna Santas is back and ready to spread some cheer for another holiday season! This grassroots, volunteer initiative strives to provide a better Christmas for less fortunate children that live in the areas of Lake Country, Kelowna and West Kelowna. Drop Locations will be collecting new, unwrapped toys until December 16th at 4pm, which will be delivered to families in need on December 19th.

Mamas for Mamas 
You and your family or business can join together to provide a customized holiday spirit package and become an Elf of Mamas Christmas Cheer! Mamas for Mamas is calling on you for your support to make this holiday season magical for the children and their care providers through sponsoring a family. Please ensure all items to families are new, wrapped, and labelled! Please include a grocery gift card with your hamper if you want to support the family’s nourishment needs and Christmas dinner.

Kelowna and District SHARE Society 
The Adopt-a-Family Hamper Program runs every year around the holidays to help families in our community ensure that financial stress doesn’t interfere with this special time. To sponsor a hamper, or to donate to the program, please request a sign-up form. Sponsors will be notified if they have been matched by the week of November 16th-20th. Hamper pickups and delivery will be December 14th-18th.

Stocking Stuffers for Seniors
For the fifth year in a row, Stocking Stuffers for Seniors partners with local care homes and charities with a mission to bring more holiday cheer to seniors, in all the communities we serve. Your donated items don’t need to be purchased from a London Drugs store — any new, non-gift wrapped item is accepted. Please be sure to check the signage beside the Christmas Tree in your local London Drugs store, to see exactly where your gifts are going. We will also have information on the signage from the care home on how they would like to manage the gifts to keep their seniors safe.

Merry Christmas!

This blog is a compilation of local events & activities to help you enjoy the holidays and create family memories. We love to celebrate the holidays and we love sharing a guide for our hometown. This post is not sponsored by any of the listed events or companies, nor are we responsible for any of the events or activities listed here. Check back soon, events and activities will be added  as information becomes available! If you have events to add to this list, please contact me!  From our family to yours, happy holidays! xo