Okanagan May Events

Festivals & May Celebrations

The calendar of May events in the Okanagan is full of fun festivals, celebrations and all kinds of events to kick off summer.

May is a wonderful time of year in the Okanagan as the landscapes begin to turn beautiful and colorful.

If you're here during one of our May celebrations, you can enjoy the beautiful weather early, and before the summer heat hits.

Most Okanagan wineries are busy with early visitors enjoying tours and tastings, outdoor dining, and the spring wine festival.

The month of May is also when we watch in anticipation as the first cherries begin to turn red and are almost ready for picking. The farmer's markets are in full swing and the beaches are being prepared for summer visitors.

Although the evenings are still cool, Okanagan BC camping is wonderful this time of year. Most campgrounds and RV parks are full for the long weekend, so if you plan to be here you should book well ahead.

Some May events and festivals take place during a long weekend holiday. Victoria Day, a Canadian public holiday is observed on the Monday before May 25th and is a busy weekend in the Okanagan.

And with the spring wine festival on early in the month, hotel and motel and other accommodations are also quickly filled for that period, and booking well in advance is highly recommended.

There's something on the Okanagan May calendar of events for everyone to enjoy. We hope you can be here to take in some of these wonderful festivals and celebrations.

Okanagan Spring Wine Festival
There are four Okanagan Wine Festivals throughout the year, and the spring wine festival takes place annually for 10 days at the beginning of May (or end of April and into the first days of May).

There are over 100 events to enjoy at different venues throughout the region, and many local Okanagan wineries have opened their doors for the season. Wine lovers and visitor's celebrate the arrival of spring at one of the many spring wine festival May events.

Rutland May Days
Another great May events is Rutland May Days; a family centered annual spring fair that takes place at the Rutland Centennial Park (north Kelowna). It is said to be Kelowna's longest running festival.

The fair runs over 5 days on the Victoria Day - May Long Weekend. There's always great performances, including some talented Okanagan based groups. And there's all the delicious foods (mini donuts, kettle corn...), kid's favorite amusement rides, games for kids and adults, a parade and pancake breakfast to celebrate spring. Centennial Park is located at 180 Rutland Road North in Kelowna. [More info...]

Rotary Okanagan International Children's Festival

At Okanagan Lake Park in Penticton, the Rotary Okanagan International Childrens Festival is a fantastic festival and a favorite of May events for families with children.

There's music, theatre, dance, storytelling, circus arts & lots of hands-on fun for kids. Food concessions and picnic tables are available on site. Pets are not allowed here and all venues are wheelchair accessible. Website: www.okchildrensfest.com

Okanagan Meadowlark Festival

The Meadowlark is one of the best known and best loved birds in western Canada. The Okanagan Meadowlark festival was initiated by the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA) to encourage people of all ages to experience, discover and explore our natural environment.

Many events and tours take place during this event including guided walks, bus tours and bicycle tours. You can learn about from bird watching and botany, geology and xeriscape gardening, or attend cultural events, literary events and family and children's events during the five day festival. Tickets Contact

Falkland Stampede
The Falkland Stampede has been running since 1913 in the rural communnity of Falkland, which is located in the Shuswap region between Vernon & Kamloops.

The town is recognized for having Canada's largest Canadian flags, which is located on Gyp Mountain and can be seen several kilometres away. The Falkland Rodeo takes place over three days in May and is a very popular event. There's also a parade and a dance. [More info...]

Kettle Valley Train Robbery & BBQ

Another one of the best Okanagan May events is in the town of Summerland. The Great Train Robbery at the Kettle Valley Train is a favorite event takes place in May (and a couple of other times during the year).

It's a fun spring event to attend in the Okanagan, and includes an 'Old West' fashion train robbery, barbecue dinner & musical entertainment. Reservations are strongly recommended. The outing runs through September on specific dates. Mother's Day, Father's Day and Christmas events also take place. [More info...]

Western Grebe Festival
The annual Grebe Festival is held annually in May at the Marine Park and Wharf in the city of Salmon Arm.

The Western Grebe, a large waterbird that breeds in the interior of British Columbia and is considered at risk by the province.

The elaborate series of courting rituals of the Western Grebe bird is among the most complex of all birds. These rituals begin soon after the Grebes reach their nesting colonies in late April or early May. Soon after, young chicks can be seen riding on their parents backs. Just like the amazing Adams River Salmon Run, this is well worth seeing if you can be there in early May.

Shuswap Lake International Writers Festival
More on the May events calendar... The Shuswap Writer's Festival brings together writers, readers, published authors, editors and publishers together for a two to three day festival.

There are workshops and interactive discussions, lunches and a night of music, food and beverages, and readings and stories from authors and storytellers. There is even workshops for beginner writer's, all set in the magestic Shuswap region. [More information...]

Are you in the Okanagan for (of course, my favorite of all May events) Mother's Day May celebrations?

Mothers Day in Canada is celebrated in the second Sunday in the month of May.

The O'Keefe Ranch Mother's Day Opening is a family day with kids activities, bouncy play, coloring, hay rides, model railroad, mural painting and lots of things for kids & moms to do. Admission is $20 per family or $6 per person and is lots of fun!

We're always adding new pages. Please do visit often for Okanagan British Columbia travel and tourism information, including Okanagan accommodation guide, great attractions, guide to the Okanagan wineries and Okanagan BC golf vacations, all the fun Okanagan festivals, fairs and events, ideas for winter vacations, summer vacation ideas, shopping, places to eat, and much much more!

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