Kelowna ON AND 'JUST OFF' THE WATER
One of the joys of RV’ing to a waterfront city is the extra variety of marinerelated activities and events available. From watersports and fireworks, to arts and alcohol, there’s something to tempt every palate. Kelowna is exceptional in this regard and h
Kelowna Yacht Club Boat Show – April 29-30, 2017
It’s called ‘foot fever’ and if you’ve got it, the Kelowna Boat Show at the Kelowna Yacht Club is the place to scratch that itch. If only you could find that perfect boat just a foot or two longer than yours, you’d be happy forever – or until the next boat show.
The show features land and water displays of everything marine related from building docks to sailboat racing, and jetskis to luxury cruisers. With boats available for trial runs from the dock, there is no better place to satisfy your thirst for the water.
Pianos in the Parks mid-June to September
Songs in the key of life float across the water as people strolling along the
Pirate Day - June
waterfront parks stop to play one of the pianos to create an impromptu recital.
Every sailor has a dark side, and members of the Kelowna Yacht Club are no exception. Except that these dark sides are just in the flags and eye patches as kids, pirates and sea mates take to Okanagan Lake for the annual Variety Boat for Hope.
Special-needs children and their families gather at the downtown marina Saturday and escort the young buccaneers to treasure station boats on the lake in a quest for loot. “The Boat for Hope event is a unique experience for families with children who have special needs, made possible because an entire community comes together to make it happen,” says Bernice Scholten, Variety’s executive director.
Skippers from the boating community along with local businesses come together to make the annual event entertaining for the families – as well as help Variety raise funds to help more sick children. The Kelowna Yacht Club and Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs team up to host the day.
Canada Day Celebrations – July 1
“Celebrate Canada Day” is Kelowna’s annual, free community festival held in Waterfront Park, Jim Stuart Park and Kerry Park, as well as Prospera Place. In 2016, there were over 50 activities and performances to entertain festivalgoers. Over 60,000 people attended and events included Canada Day birthday cake, a folk festival, food fair, artisanal showcase, live music on multiple stages (including an orchestra), a Bazaar, and Kids Zone.
The fireworks launched from a barge moored off Waterfront Park surrounded by as many boats as there are stars in the sky, eyes tilted to the heavens from the best seats in the city for a choral symphony of light.
Arts on the Avenue - July 2017
The Arts Alive! Program from Festivals Kelowna morphed into Arts on the Avenue in 2015. This free, one-day celebration in July closed Bernard Avenue between Water and Pandosy streets to vehicular traffic and became a pedestrian only outdoor art exhibition.
The festival featured artists from a variety of disciplines selling handcrafted products alongside performing artists, live demonstrations and presentations by valley artists. There were also be two interactive “community art” projects in which visitors could participate in creating a giant art piece.
Visit with vendors, listen to the music, and people-watch from shaded outdoor cafes and restaurant patios.
www.festivalskelowna.com
Annual Dragon Boat Festival - August 2017
The ninth annual festival is gearing up to be one of the best Dragon Boat festivals of the year. It will attract hundreds of families and individuals from all over to participate or cheer on the teams. This year, Kelowna Dragon Boat Club has six boats to make the races even more thrilling.
www.kelownadragonboatclub.com
You have your choice of quiet, secluded RV parks in private orchards, or busy lakeside RV resorts with full amenities. Visit https://www.tourismkelowna.com/stay/camping-rv-parks/ to find the park that’s right for you.