Celebrate Canada Day and the 71st Osoyoos Cherry Fiesta
As Canada Day celebrations take place across the country, the nation comes together to honor this beautiful place we call home.
In Osoyoos, Canada Day is a celebration that is two-fold. The Cherry Fiesta began in 1948 to mark the significance of the Cherry Harvest, which historically begins on July 1st.
Names proposed for the celebration were the Cherry Festival and Cherry Carnival. Cherry Carnival won out, but was later changed to the Cherry Fiesta to reflect the Town’s Spanish influence.
Today, the Cherry Fiesta is one of the most anticipated events in the South Okanagan. The annual event is run by the local Osoyoos Festival Society and features a parade, live entertainment, and the largest fireworks display in Western Canada.
The festival kicks off early with the Rotary Pancake Breakfast, followed by the highly anticipated parade down Main Street. Thousands of onlookers enjoy cultural dancers, fun floats, and even a water fight with the local Osoyoos Fire Department.
After the parade, the celebrations continue with a craft vendor market, food trucks, live entertainment and beer garden at Gyro Beach from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm.
Throughout the afternoon, Gyro Beach will also have the annual cherry pit spit and cherry pie eating contest, which people of all ages can enjoy.
In 2019, the Cherry Fiesta will celebrate it’s 71st year and plans to have even more fireworks for the display, which starts around dusk (approximately 10:00 pm).
When the sun sets over Osoyoos Lake, attendees line every stretch of sand along Gyro Beach to watch the tremendous fireworks display. The show is lead by long time Osoyoos local Frank Zandvliet, a self proclaimed “pyromaniac” who choreographs the entire production to music.
Donations for the fireworks are generously gathered from local businesses and residences in the months leading up to the show.
Watch the video of Frank from Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association‘s Remarkable People series below!
If you’re looking to visit us for Canada Day, why not make a weekend out of it? Osoyoos has many options for camping, motels, hotels and resorts. View all of our local accommodations.
For the full Cherry Fiesta lineup of events and happenings, be sure to check out the event listing here.
