Penticton
Around Penticton
Photo: Darren Kirby · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · British Columbia · 47k people
Penticton
Locals say South Okanagan · “The Peach City”, “The City of Festivals”
Where sun-soaked orchards meet the lake's edge
Wine RedLake BlueOrchard Green
Welcome to the South Okanagan, where the lakes meet the vineyards. Whether you're here for the peaches, the trails, or just to soak up the sun, you'll find a relaxed pace that feels like a permanent vacation.
Clubs for Penticton
No clubs for Penticton yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Penticton. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Penticton. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Okanagan Lake Large lake bordering Penticton, popular for swimming and boating.
- Skaha Lake Warmer lake south of Penticton, great for beaches.
- Penticton Channel Canal connecting the two lakes, famous for floating.
- Munson Mountain Hill with the iconic Peach water tower and panoramic views.
- South Okanagan Events Centre Home of the Penticton Vees and concert venue.
- SS Sicamous Historic sternwheeler moored on Okanagan Lake.
- Outdoors Float down the Penticton Channel
- Outdoors Swim at Skaha Beach
- With kids Visit the SS Sicamous
- With kids Explore the Osoyoos Desert Centre
- Evenings Wine tasting at local wineries
- Evenings Brewery taprooms in downtown Penticton
- Locals love Vineyards
- Locals love Orchards
Through the year
- Penticton Peach Festival August August civic celebration with parades, music, and food.
- Okanagan Fall Wine Festival October October wine tasting and vineyard tours across the valley.
- Penticton Ironman Canada August August triathlon drawing athletes from around the world.
- Peach City Beach Cruise July July classic car show along the lakeshore.
- Summerland Fall Fair September September community fair with exhibits and rides.
Semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and mild, sunny winters. Best time to be out is from May to September. Best: Summer for lake activities and wine festivals.
Talk like a local
- “The Channel”
- The waterway connecting Okanagan and Skaha lakes.
- “The Peach”
- The iconic peach-shaped water tower on Munson Mountain.
- “The Vees”
- The Penticton Vees hockey team.
- “Float”
- To drift down the channel on a tube or raft.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Penticton Vees BCHL
Eat and drink
- Okanagan peaches Tree-ripened peaches from the valley's orchards, celebrated at the Penticton Peach Festival.
- Cherries Sweet and tart cherries grown throughout the region, a summer staple.
- Ice wine A specialty of the Okanagan, made from grapes frozen on the vine.
- Cider
Where people go
- Vineyards Rows of grapevines stretch across the valley, producing world-class wines.
- Orchards Peach, cherry, and apple orchards are a defining feature of the landscape.
- Lakeside beaches Sandy beaches along Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake are popular for swimming and sunbathing.
- Wineries Tasting rooms and vineyard estates are scattered throughout the region.
- Farmers markets Local markets showcase fresh produce, artisanal goods, and crafts.
- Rail trails The Kettle Valley Rail Trail offers scenic cycling and hiking through old railway corridors.
- Desert landscapes The area around Osoyoos features Canada's only desert, with unique flora and fauna.
Heritage and traditions
The South Okanagan is proud of its unique desert-meets-lake landscape, its fruit orchards and vineyards, and the deep Syilx First Nations heritage that shapes the region.
This time of year in Penticton
- Grape harvest September-October Wineries host harvest festivals and grape-stomping events.
Say it like a local: “the bench” — The Naramata Bench wine-growing area.
Festivals
- Osoyoos Elks Rodeo May A classic rodeo with bull riding and barrel racing, celebrating the cowboy heritage.
- Oliver Cherry Festival July Celebrates the cherry harvest with pie contests and orchard tours.
- Penticton Dragon Boat Festival June Teams race dragon boats on Okanagan Lake, with a multicultural festival.
Landmarks with a story
- Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre Showcases Syilx history and desert ecology.
- Grist Mill at Keremeos 1877 working flour mill with original waterwheel.
- Princeton Museum Exhibits on coal mining and local history.
- Summerland Ornamental Gardens Historic research station with beautiful terraced gardens.
Food traditions
- Fruit stand culture Roadside stands sell fresh peaches, cherries, and apricots in summer; a beloved local ritual.
- Ice wine harvest In December, grapes are picked frozen on the vine to make Canada's famous ice wine.
- Cider pressing Local orchards press apples into cider each autumn, a tradition tied to the fruit industry.
- Syilx traditional foods The Syilx people have long harvested salmon, bitterroot, and serviceberries; these are celebrated at cultural events.
Music and arts
- Syilx art Basket weaving, beadwork, and carvings are showcased at the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre.
- Winery music series Many wineries host summer concerts featuring local bands and singer-songwriters.
- Penticton Art Gallery A community hub for regional visual arts, with rotating exhibits and classes.
A little history
- Thousands of years ago Syilx presence
- Late 1800s Settlement and irrigation
- 1915 Kettle Valley Railway
- 1955 Penticton Vees win World Championship
- 1990s Wine industry boom
Rivalries
- Penticton Vees vs Vernon Vipers BCHL hockey rivalry that gets heated.
- Penticton vs Kelowna Friendly competition for wine country bragging rights.
- Game day Penticton Vees hockey
- Game day Ironman Canada
- Outdoors Visit the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
- Outdoors Golf at a local course
Locals speak with a relaxed Canadian accent, and you'll hear references to 'the valley,' 'the bench,' and 'the channel.'
Only here
- Ogopogo – the legendary lake monster said to live in Okanagan Lake.
- Spotted Lake – a saline lake near Osoyoos with mineral spots, sacred to the Syilx.
- Penticton Channel – a man-made waterway connecting two lakes, perfect for floating.
- Canada's only desert – the Osoyoos desert is the northernmost pocket desert in North America.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce 'Okanagan' as 'oh-kuh-NAH-gan'.
- In summer, always have sunscreen and water; the desert heat is real.
- Try the ice wine, even if you don't like sweet wines – it's a local specialty.
- Float down the Penticton Channel at least once – it's a rite of passage.
- Be aware of wildfire season in late summer; check air quality.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaSouth OkanaganBritish ColumbiaOrchards, vineyards, and warm desert lakes.KelownaBritish ColumbiaSun-soaked shores and vineyard rows.VernonBritish ColumbiaLakeside living, orchard charmNorth OkanaganBritish ColumbiaWhere the Okanagan gets down to earth.Thompson-NicolaBritish ColumbiaWhere the rivers meet the rangeOkanoganWashingtonWhere the desert meets the pines and the river runs deep.Salmon ArmBritish ColumbiaA lake-lover's paradise in the heart of BCKamloopsBritish ColumbiaWhere rivers meet and champions play.
Penticton. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.