Oliver’s Top Festivals
Oliver is always a lively place – no matter what season. A small town with a lot of passion for culture and community, Oliver is host to a variety of festivals throughout the year. Whether we’re breaking a sweat, dancing up a storm, or appreciating nature’s beauty, there’s a festival to help us mark the occasion and celebrate! Below are Oliver’s Top 10 Festivals, listed in no particular order.
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FALL FESTIVAL: Cask & Keg and Festival of the Grape
Held in September, these two events bring together friends and family for the biggest celebratory weekend in Oliver! The Cask & Keg Festival family-friendly event showcases the best local craft breweries, cideries and distilleries. The following day is the family-friendly Festival of the Grape, Oliver’s largest outdoor event, featuring over 50 wineries from Oliver and Osoyoos Wine Country. Both events include live music, tasty eats, and loads of fun!
The Baldy Brew HAHA! Craft Beer and Comedy Festival
Hopheads unite! Local Okanagan craft beers and hilarious comedians come together at this mountainside festival. After a day on the s lopes, join the fun for some beer tasting and laughs in the spring sun.
Hopheads Half-Corked Marathon
Typically held in May, this event wasn’t named 2017 Canadian Event of the Year at the Canadian Tourism Awards for nothing! This widely-anticipated event welcomes over 1,000 runners, along with family and friends, to Oliver every May. Laughter is expected, and team costumes are encouraged. Check out photos from past events to get inspired!
Oliver Roots & Fruits Expo
Typically held in August, the Roots & Fruits Expo is a two-day celebration of Oliver’s unique heritage and the incredible agricultural richness o f our region. Everyone is invited to come together to learn about, experience, and taste what makes Oliver special!
Community Light Up & Fireworks
Oliver Tourism’s Fire & Ice Festival coupled with Oliver’s Community Light Up & Fireworks, held in late November, brings families together to celebrate the start of the festive season and put some sparkle into the winter months. There is holiday entertainment, followed by a bonfire and fireworks at the Oliver Visitor Centre. Kick off the holidays with us here in Oliver, B.C.!
Wine Capital Art Walk
This event is typically held in May. Stroll downtown Main Street on a spring evening to see art come alive! This free event features mini-exhibits by local artists, art sales, live demonstrations, draws, music, and wine.
Freak'n Farmer Adventure Race
September Fun! Hosted on the scenic grounds of Covert Farms in northern Oliver, this e vent is considered by many as the most grueling of adventure races around. Throughout the race course, obstacles abound that re-create the tough jobs that are required on a working farm. Are you as tough as a farmer? Get in the race, and find out!
Pig Out
This annual outdoor tented event brings together several local chefs to showcase their grilling skills while preparing food based on a culinary theme. Their mouth-watering dishes are complemented by new releases and fan favourites poured by the wineries of the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association.
Meadowlark Festival
This May festival presents interactive, multi-disciplinary events that explore and celebrate the spectacular natural environment of the Okanagan Similkameen. There’s something for all interests, from canoe trips, guided hikes, astronomy events, art exhibitions, birdwatching, and more! Some of these are hosted here in Oliver. Each small-group event is led by an expert in their field.
Vaisakhi Festival
In April, Vaisakhi commemorates the birth of the Khalsa tradition, a type of Sikh warrior, dating back to 1699. Everyone is welcome to participate in the community festival which includes a colourful parade, live music, and food. Join the festivities; make new friends, experience new tastes, and help celebrate the diversity of Oliver’s cultural landscape!
