Holiday Markets, Lights & Christmas Events in the Okanagan, 2026

Christmas markets & craft fairs

The four biggest holiday markets are below. For every Christmas market and craft fair in the valley, town by town, see our Okanagan Christmas markets guide.

• Yuletide @ the PTCC (Penticton, Nov 6 – 8): a three-day holiday market with local artisans, gift vendors and specialty food sellers, plus the kids-only Little Elf Shop. Admission is $3 a day.
• Christmas at the Laurel (Kelowna, Nov 13 – 15): a European-style holiday market in the historic Laurel Packinghouse, with handmade gifts from local artisans and festive treats. Admission is by donation to the Food Bank.
• Craft Culture Holiday Market (Kelowna, from Dec 4, several dates): at Prospera Place, 1 to 7 pm on Dec 4. Admission is $7.
• Christkindl Holiday Market (Kelowna, Dec 4 – 6): a traditional European-style Christmas market back at the Laurel Packinghouse, with handmade local gifts, festive treats and hot cider. Admission is by donation to the Food Bank.

Lights, trees & festive walks

• Festival of Trees at Mission Hill (West Kelowna, Nov 20 – Jan 3): a festive display of community-decorated holiday trees, with a guided experience and seasonal wine tasting supporting BC Children's Hospital. This is the 10th annual Festival of Trees.
• Tree of Hope Festival (Kelowna, Nov 21): the annual tree-lighting tradition in the Landmark District, with festive entertainment, seasonal treats and family-friendly activities. The organizer will announce the detailed schedule closer to the date.
• Magic on Main Street: Santa Claus Parade & Light Up (Penticton, Nov 29): the Santa Claus Parade travels down Main Street to Gyro Park for the official downtown light-up, with Santa, a 180-foot light tunnel and a giant “light brite”. Parade at 4:30 pm, light-up at 6 pm; free.
• West Kelowna Light Up 2026 (West Kelowna, Dec 4): the City of West Kelowna's brightest event of the year, at Westbank Centre from 5 to 8 pm, with holiday lights, entertainment and family activities.
• SilverStar Annual Light Up (SilverStar, Dec 5): help light up the village at SilverStar Mountain Resort's annual Light Up celebration.
• Big White's Twinkling Trail Light Up (Big White, Dec 12): at Big White Ski Resort.

Holiday shows & concerts

• Matt Dusk – A Very Sinatra Christmas (Lake Country, Nov 18): at Creekside Theatre, ticketed through the theatre's box office.
• A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol (Vernon, Nov 19 – 29): a comedy in which a WWII-era troupe performs a live radio broadcast of A Christmas Carol, complete with vintage carols, mock commercials and backstage mishaps, at the Powerhouse Theatre.
• A Celtic Family Christmas Party (Kelowna, Nov 23): at Kelowna Community Theatre, 7:30 pm. Admission is $70.21.
• Disney's Frozen the Musical (Kelowna, from Nov 25): a family musical at the Actors Studio and Dinner Theatre, 7 pm. Admission: $72-$99.
• The Celtic Tenors: A Celtic Christmas (Vernon, Nov 28): at the Vernon District & Performing Arts Centre, 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
• The Celtic Tenors: A Celtic Christmas (Oliver, Nov 29): at Venables Theatre, 7:30 pm.
• Summerland Strummers Christmas Carol Singalong (Summerland, Dec 12): at the Summerland Community Centre, starting at 7 pm. Confirm tickets with the venue.
• The Nutcracker: Mission Dance Company (Vernon, Dec 13): Mission Dance Company, with guest dancers from Okanagan Ballet Theatre, performs a family-friendly, two-hour Nutcracker with live narration, at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. Shows at 2 pm and 7 pm.
• Oh Come All Ye Soulful (Lake Country, Dec 17): at Creekside Theatre, ticketed through the theatre's box office.
• Freya & Friends: Okanagan Symphony Holiday Concert (Kelowna, Penticton & Vernon, Dec 18 – 20): the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra’s holiday concert with the folk duo Freya, Okanagan composer, pianist and vocalist Leila Naderi, and the Okanagan Symphony Chorus. It plays Kelowna on Dec 18, Penticton’s Cleland Theatre on Dec 19 and Vernon on Dec 20.
• Stars on Ice Holiday Tour (Vernon, Dec 18): a holiday edition of Stars on Ice, with Olympic, World and National champion figure skaters performing holiday-themed programs, at Kal Tire Place.
• South Okanagan Big Band — Jazzy Christmas (Summerland, Dec 18): at the Summerland Community Centre, starting at 7 pm. Confirm tickets with the venue.
• A Coast-to-Coast Cowboy Christmas with George Canyon & Aaron Pritchett (Vernon, Dec 19): at the Vernon District & Performing Arts Centre, 7:30 to 9:30 pm.

Festive wine country & workshops

• Wine Tasting: The Heart of Wine Country™ Holiday Cheer Open House (Okanagan Falls, Nov 14 – 15): at various wineries throughout the Okanagan Falls and Skaha region, 11 am to 4 pm.
• Workshop: Holiday Wreath Workshop and Barrel Sampling @ Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery (Okanagan Falls, Nov 15): at Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery, 1 to 3 pm.
• Holiday Mingle (Oliver, Nov 21): at Phantom Creek Estates, noon to 4 pm.
• Christmas Gnome Workshop (Lake Country, Nov 22): at Gray Monk Estate Winery.
• Okanagan Winery Holiday Dinner (Oliver, Nov 28): at The Sonora Room Restaurant at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, 6 to 9 pm.
• Poinsettia Ornament Workshop (Oliver, Dec 6): at Phantom Creek Estates, 2 to 4 pm.
• Holiday Paint & Sip: Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board (Kelowna, Dec 21): at Sandhill Wines, 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Admission is $75.

Family, Santa & community events

• Welcome to Winter at Big White (Big White, Nov 28): the resort's season-opening celebration in the village, with family activities and festivities, 5 to 7:05 pm.
• Christmas Express (Summerland, select dates Dec 3 – 22): a one-hour holiday ride on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway, with Christmas lights aboard the 3716 locomotive, music, carols, a hot drink and Santa. Departures at 4:30 and 6:30 pm; book ahead.
• West Kelowna Winterfest (West Kelowna, Dec 5 – 6): a free family winter weekend at the Mount Boucherie Community Centre, including storytime with Santa and skating with Santa.
• Christmas Sleigh Rides at Ottercrest Farms (Armstrong, select dates Dec 11 – 30): horse-drawn Christmas sleigh rides on select December afternoons, with rides every half hour.
• Christmas Dinner and Dance (Osoyoos, Dec 11): at the OSCA Osoyoos Activity Centre.
• Christmas Themed Bingo (Osoyoos, Dec 17): at the OSCA Osoyoos Activity Centre.
• Santa's Workshop (Big White, daily Dec 18 – 24): at Big White Ski Resort.
• SilverStar 12 Days of Holidays (SilverStar, Dec 21 – Jan 1): SilverStar's holiday programme in the village.
• Big White's Christmas Eve Festival (Big White, Dec 24): at Big White Ski Resort.
• Ski with Santa (Big White, Dec 25): at Big White Ski Resort.
• Xmas Fusion DJ Night (Kelowna, Dec 25): at Revelry Food+Music Hub, 7 pm to 1 am. Admission is $15 to $70.

New Year's Eve & New Year's Day

• SilverStar New Year’s Eve (SilverStar, Dec 31): cheers to the New Year in SilverStar Village.
• NYE!! The Justin Glibbery Sextet at the Vernon Jazz Club (Vernon, Dec 31): at the Vernon Jazz Club, 9 pm to 11:59 pm.
• Polar Bear Dip (Kelowna, Jan 1): at Tugboat Beach in Waterfront Park, 1 to 2:30 pm. Admission is $15.

Quick picks

See more: All holiday & seasonal events, What's On

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