Okanagan Events May 2010
Things To Do During In The Okanagan
During The Month Of May
Looking for Okanagan events May 2010? We're kicking off summer with a great outdoor theatre in Armstrong BC, the International Children's Festival
in Penticton, the Spring Okanagan Wine Festival, learning opportunities for spring birdwatching, the Grebe Festival in Salmon Arm, and more fun May celebrations.
Weather during the month of May in the Okanagan is warm, fruit is on the trees, and many are priming their pools for summer!
Wineries are
busy with early visitors enjoying tours and tastings, and dining outdoors on terraces. There are a number of festivals fairs and events, and lots of
fun things to do in Kelowna, Penticton, and all around the Okanagan to suit visitors and locals of all ages.
If you're here during long weekend May holidays, you can enjoy the beautiful weather
early, and before the summer heat hits. Victoria Day, a Canadian public holiday is observed on the Monday before May 25th.
In 2010, Victoria Day falls on Monday, May 24, and is a busy weekend in the Okanagan. Most campgrounds and RV parks are full,
so if you plan to be here for the holiday weekend, remember to book your accommodations well in advance!
More summer farmers markets begin around the start of May, and you can find some neat local crafts, foods, produce, baked goods and art created by
local artisans. Most markets occur on weekends, but some also go on during the week as well. There is no admission charge to these events,
but do bring cash as you'll likely find something you want to buy!
And if golf is your thing, you can head out to any of the golf courses, especially in the South Okanagan, as they'll all be open!
Okanagan Local Current Events May 2010
Sorrento Village Farmers Market
Dates: Open from 2nd Saturday of May to Thanksgiving
Sat 8:00am to 12:00pm (noon)
Fresh fruits, vegetables, local organic produce, baked goods, arts and crafts, eggs, fresh cut flowers, jams, jellies, preserves; Shuswap artisans sell their wares and local musicians entertain.
There is also a coffee concession.
Location:
Sorrento Shoppers Plaza
Sorrento Trans Canada Hwy At Notch Hill Rd
Okanagan Spring Wine Festival
Dates: Apr 30, 2010 - May 9,2010
There are over 100 events to enjoy at different venues throughout the region during the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival.
Enjoy the spring weather, colorful scenery, great food and wine, including new releases.
Some of the events include Valley First Vintages in the Park, All You Need is Cheese, Terasen Gourmet & Grapes, Cadbuty's Melt in your mouth Chocolate with Heavenly Wines,
WestJet Wine Tastings, Pioneers Dinner and Valley First Grand Finale Consumer Tastings.
 Find Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca
Western Grebe Festival - Salmon Arm BC
Dates: Month of May
The Salmon Arm Grebe Festival is held annually in May at Marine Park at the Wharf in the city of Salmon Arm.
The Western Grebe, a large waterbird that breeds in the interior of British Columbia and winters on the coast, is at risk in BC
because its specialized habitat requirements limit it to only a few nesting locations and because of human disturbance at these sites.
The courtship of the Western Grebe bird is among the most complex of all birds.
The elaborate and energetic series of courting rituals begins 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.
Location:
Marine Park Wharf
Salmon Arm, BC
Penticton Farmers Market - Penticton
Dates: Sat May 01, 2010 - Sat October 30, 2010
Saturday 8:30 am - noon & Tuesday 4:30 - 8:30 pm
Vendors selling at the market produce what they sell. Local produce, fruits, vegetables, artisans, soaps, local honey.
Website: Penticton Farmer's Market
Location:
100 Block Main St
Penticton, British Columbia
Caravan Farm Theatre's 3rd Annual Mayfair - Armstrong BC
Dates: Sat May 08, 2010
Caravan Farm Theatre is a professional outdoor theatre company based on an 80 acre farm, 11 km NW of Armstrong BC.
It is one of Canada's premiere professional outdoor theatre companies, where productions are staged outdoors.
There is no theatre building.
The Mayfair event features old fashioned horse farming demonstrations, live music, an artisan's market &
local food fair, wagon rides, pony rides, archival tours & more!
Tickets: $5, cash at the gate. Gates open at 10 am.
Website: www.caravanfarmtheatre.com
Location:
Caravan Farm Theatre
4886 Salmon River Road
Armstrong, BC
Barriere Farmer's Market - Barriere
Dates: Thu May 06, 2010 - Thu October 28, 2010
Thu 10:00am to 2:00pm
Home made goodies and home grown fruits and vegetables.
Beef, pork and lamb from 4 bar S ranch and free range eggs from Watersmeet Farm.
Cedar garden furniture and paintings by local artists. A wonderful event.
Location:
4307 Yellowhead S. Hwy 5
Barriere, British Columbia
Ode To Joy - Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
The Okanagan Symphony is the third largest professional Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia,
and has entertained the Okanagan Valley and visitors with symphonic music since 1960.
Dates: Kelowna Community Theatre - Fri May 7 at 8 pm
Penticton Trade and Convention Centre - Sat May 8 at 7:30 pm
Vernon Performing Arts Centre - Sun May 9 at 7 pm
Program:
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 ["The Choral"], Ludwig van Beethoven
Quaternity: A Cantata for Seasons, Imant Raminsh
Guest Artists:
Gidon Saks, Tenor; Peter Collins, Baritone; Heidi Meundel, Soprano; Judith Forst, Mezzo; Okanagan Symphony Chorus
Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with the OSO chorus; and the world premiere of "Quaternity",
a major work by Imant Raminsh, commissioned by the OSO for its fiftieth year. Sixty players and 120 voices on stage.
Tickets available through Ticketmaster.ca
Chase Village Market - Chase BC
Dates: May to October
Friday Evening Market 5 - 9 pm
Local produce including world famous corn, strawberries and pumpkins can be enjoyed in season
Music, local produce including strawberries, corn and pumpkins (in season), a variety of organic produce, baked goods, cheeses,
arts & crafts, various arts & live music and cultural displays.
The Chase Country Corn Festival and the Pumpkin Patch are family events to enjoy during the late summer and rich fall seasons in the Shuswap.
Location:
Village Of Chase, BC - follow signs
Fintry's Festival of the Falls - Kelowna
Date: Sat May 08, 2010
The Fintry Estate is located on the west shore of Okanagan Lake in what is now Fintry Provincial Park & Protected Area.
It is located half way between Kelowna and Vernon BC.
There are a number of heritage buildings, the Manor House, Octagonal Barn, & Packing House, as well as Fintry Falls waterfalls where you can
hike up 400 stair climb and enjoy beautiful views of Okanagan Lake and the waterfalls.
A new exhbition, for 2010, on the 2nd floor of the Octagonal Dairy Barn will be the highlight of the Festival.
Historic photos will chonicle the story of Fintry's famous Ayrshire herd.
A lunch concession with hot dogs, burgers,
cookies & beverages from 11:00 - 3:00 on Saturday is available.
Admission: Adults $10; Children - free. Dogs on leash - free! This includes tours of the Barns & Manor House as well
as entry to the grounds. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the property.
Directions: The park is located on Fintry Delta Road, off Westside Road, approximately 34 km north of Kelowna or 49 km south of Vernon.
The park is on the northwest side of Okanagan Lake. Watch for marker signs located on Hwy 97.
Access is also possible by boat: 6 km across Okanagan Lake from Ellison Provincial Park and 6 km across the lake from Kopje Regional District Park in Lake Country.
Location:
Fintry Provincial Park
Kelowna, BC
Peachland Farmers' & Crafters' Market - Peachland
Dates: Sun May 23, 2010 - Sun September 26, 2010
Sunday 10 am - 2 pm
Located along the waterfront in the town of Peachland, enjoy a wide variety of vendors that all offer homemade,
baked or home grown products, and special events on various Sundays.
The park itself is very spacious with picnic and seating areas, the Rotary Pavilion and a playground area for kids.
Location:
Heritage Park, between Okanagan Lake and Beach Avenue on the waterfront
Peachland, BC
13th Annual Meadowlark Festival
Dates: May 20th - 24th, 2010
The Meadowlark is one of the best known and best loved birds in western Canada.
The annual 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. There are many field tours led by experienced outdoor leaders.
Many events and tours including guided walks, bus tours, bicycle tours, ranging from bird watching,
horseback riding, botany, geology and xeriscape gardening to First Nations cultural events, literary events, family and children's events over the 5 day event.
Tickets Contact: www.meadowlarkfestival.bc.ca
Falkland Stampede - Falkland
Dates: Sat May 22, 2010 - Mon May 24, 2010
Falkland, British Columbia, is a rural settlement of about 600 residents, situated along Highway 97, between Vernon and Kamloops.
Falkland Rodeo grounds.
The rodeo starts Saturday at 1pm, with a dance which begins at 9pm. Sunday May 23: features a parade which starts at 1pm, followed by the rodeo.
Sunday dance starts at 9pm. May 24: Heavy Horse Pull at 10am, rodeo at 1pm.
Location:
Falkland Stampede Grounds
Falkland, BC
Would you like to add an event to the
Okanagan festival and events calendar?
Many events aren't widely publicised!
Submit your event here!
Kettle Valley Train Robbery & BBQ - Summerland
Dates: Sun May 23, 2010 at 4 p.m. (runs through Sun September 26, 2010)
The Garnett Valley Gang has been robbing the train and entertaining in an 'Old West' fashion for many years.
A favorite spring event in the Okanagan, the train robbery includes a 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.
Tickets: Adults 50.00, Children 21.00
Contact: kettlevalleyrail.org
Location:
18404 Bathville Rd
Summerland, BC
Rotary Okanagan International Children's Festival - Penticton
Dates: Thursday, May 27 & Friday, May 28: 9 am-3:30 pm; Saturday, May 29: 8 am-5 pm
Join the Rotary Okanagan International Childrens Festival for 3 days of music,
theatre, dance, storytelling, circus arts & lots of hands-on fun for kids.
The 2010 festival offers over 40 performances in 3 on-site venues, and in 2010, 4 great circus/vaudeville presentations.
A wide range of on-site activities and workshops are included with admission.
Food concessions and picnic tables are available on site.
No Pets. All venues are wheelchair accessible.
Tickets:
Thursday & Friday
$8.00 per Main Stage Show ticket - includes access to all on-site activities and Open Stage Shows
$5.00 for site-only admission or $15.00 for 4-includes access to all on-site activities and Open Stage Shows (available at the Box Office only)
$12.00 per Vaudeville Night ticket
Saturday is Family Day!
$10.00 for an ALL ACCESS PASS or $35.00 for 4
Website: www.okchildrensfest.com
Location:
Okanagan Lake Park, Lakeshore Drive
Penticton, BC
Shuswap Lake International Writers Festival - Salmon Arm
Dates: Fri May 28, 2010 - Sun May 30, 2010
The Shuswap Lake International Writers Festival begins with a VIP Wine & Cheese, and over the course of the
event, offers music, food and beverages as well as readings and stories from authors and storytellers.
Register for one or more of 8 workshops plus an evening of readings.
Some events will also take place at the Salmon Arm campus of Okanagan College and the Salmon Arm Art Gallery.
Location:
The Prestige Harbourfront Resort & Convention Center
251 Harbourfront Drive NE (is located downtown, adjacent to Waterfront Park. Follow Highway #1 into Salmon Arm and follow signs to the waterfront)
Salmon Arm, BC
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