Autumn has officially arrived for 2023 and pretty soon, Osoyoos will become a painted landscape with vibrant hues of gold, yellows, and reds as the leaves in the vineyards begin to change.
While the seasons may be changing, the Osoyoos events calendar is not slowing down. Coming up in autumn are multiple notable events worth circling on your calendar and saving the date so you can add some memorable moments to your fall!
Here are 10 upcoming events that you don’t want to miss this season!
Oliver Wine Capital Weekend
September 22nd-24th, 2023
The highly-anticipated Wine Capital Weekend brings wineries, breweries, distilleries, artisans, musicians and eateries together for 3-days of family-friendly fun Hosted in the picturesque town of Oliver.
Kicking off the weekend’s festivities on Friday, September 22nd, the 2nd annual Kick-Off Party will be held at the District Wine Village.
Saturday, September 23rd, will witness the 7th annual Cask and Keg event, a haven for craft beer, cider, and spirits aficionados.
On Sunday, September 24th, the Wine Capital Weekend will culminate with the illustrious 24th annual Festival of the Grape and the exhilarating chaos of the Grape Stomp Competition presented by Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country.
More information and tickets can be found online here.
Pride Arts Festival @ Gyro Park
September 23, 2023
This one-day festival is a proud celebration of art, culture, and inclusion. Gyro Park will be filled with local musicians, dancers, speakers and performers, as well as visual art exhibitions under tents throughout the park. Food trucks, non-profits, local wineries, breweries, and businesses will all be welcome to partake, showing their support for the local artist community, and most notably, artists who identify within marginalized communities of 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Black and/or People of Colour.
This is a family-friendly inclusive event to celebrate PRIDE! The event will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More information can be found online here.
Sizzlefest 2023 @ Keremeos Memorial Park
September 23, 2023
Sip and Sizzle with the Similkameen Independent Winegrowers at the 2023 Sizzlefest, in Keremeos, BC, on Saturday, September 23rd from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm. Purchase beverage tickets at $1/oz for tastings or glasses of fine wines, ciders and spirits from our 14 members. Bottle sales are available for offsite consumption.
Entrance to the festival is free. More information can be found online here.
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Gala @ Nk’Mip Cellars
September 30, 2023
Nk’Mip Cellars First Annual National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Fundraising Gala. An evening of special guest speakers, live and silent auctions, gourmet wine and food, entertainment, raffles, and more – all in support of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
VIP Sparkling & Oyster reception beginning at 5:30 with General ticket entry beginning at 6:30.
VIP tickets are $150 and General admission tickets $100.
Tickets & information are available here.
Explore the World @ Walnut Beach Resort & Pointe 49° Restaurant
Fridays throughout October & November
Calling all culinary enthusiasts, this is the event for you!
Explore the World Event at Pointe 49° Restaurant will feature a 3-course meal from a different country on Friday nights during October & November.
Greece – October 6
Morocco – October 13
France – October 20
Ukraine/Poland – October 27
Jamaica – November 3
Tunisia – November 10
Mexico – November 17
Italy – November 24
The menu is $49.95 +tax
For reservations, contact the hotel at 250 495 5400
Family Thanksgiving Fun on the Farm @ Covert Farms
October 8th, 2023
Covert Farms Family Estate will have live music, wine tasting, wines by the glass, charcuterie boards, loads of outdoor games and our jumping pillow. Visit their llamas, sheep, highland cows and chickens. Bring your lawn chairs as it will be an event for the whole family!
Musical entertainment by LooPS — an up-and-coming duo in the Canadian music scene — from 1-4 p.m.
More information can be found here.
Thrash Wrestling @ Sonora Community Centre
October 13th, 2023
The Time bomb is ticking and Thrash Wrestling is “Set for Destruction” once again at the Sonora Community Centre in Osoyoos!
All ages are welcome to this explosive event of live wrestling!
In action this night you’ll see Riea Von Slasher, Sean Gaston, Michael More, Cope, Rex Rothschild, “The Vixen” Jade, and Vance Nevada to name a few!
Tickets are $20 and are available at Unity Clothing or online at $25 at the door.
Oktoberfest @ District Wine Village
October 21st, 2023
It is October so it is only fitting that there is an Oktoberfest celebration in the South Okanagan!
Grab your lederhosen and dirndls and head out to the District Wine Village on October 21st, between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.
It will be a day filled with great beer, live music and all-out fun. Tickets can be purchased online for $35 per person.
Tickets are available online here.
All Hallow’s Festival @ Gyro Park
October 28th-29th, 2023
All Hallow’s Festival is returning to Gyro Park once again for its second annual event!
This spooky festival celebrates the South Okanagan’s diverse bounty of local artists in a progressive, family-friendly Halloween harvest-style event. This accessible, by-donation community festival, creates magical opportunities for cultural exchange through exciting, participatory performances by local artists.
Building on the unprecedented 2022 turnout, All Hallows 2023 will sustainably expand its offering of multi-day family-friendly performances and activities, building in more workshops and cultural exchanges over the course of the weekend.
With its diverse local line-up, and accessible hands-on activities guided by local artists fueled with community vision, All Hallow’s is the perfect example of how to reinvent the heritage harvest festival into a forward-thinking family event.
More information can be found here.
Fire & Ice Festival @ Various Locations
November 24-December 3rd, 2023
The South Okanagan Fire & Ice Festival will return for 2023 bringing together food, wine, and culture as we celebrate the shift from fall to winter in the valley and bring on the holiday season. Enjoy several events throughout the South Okanagan and find something fun for everyone.
The week-long festival will include multiple events, including Oliver Tourism’s Fire & Ice Festival coupled with Oliver’s Community Light Up & Fireworks and the highly-anticipated Fire & Ice Carnival at Spirit Ridge Resort.
