Downtown Kelowna is home to hundreds of events and festivals throughout the year. Join us for family fun, cultural performances, street festivals, sporting events, and more! Events are added daily, so be sure to check back often.

Be sure to tune into Shaw Television (Channel 11) every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights for “Your Downtown” featuring some of the week’s upcoming events. To list your Downtown event on this website, e-mail Michele@downtownkelowna.com or fax event information to (250) 862-5204.

This site last updated on April 17, 2008.

Mouseover the event title for full details of event.

January

January	1	SALSA Thursdays Drop In for dancers of all skill levels. Salsa dancing at the RCA every Thursday from 8:00-10:30pm. Includes SALSA lesson & dance, 30 minute lesson at 8:15 with dance to follow. Features experienced instructors from the community. $5 for an evening of SALSA fun! Tickets available at the door. Beginners welcome!! Call the RCS for more info 717-5304. Event Venue/Location Rotary Centre for the Arts 421 Cawston Ave Kelowna BC Drop In Fee $5.00 SWARM (SOLD OUT) Extreme Percussion! This extreme percussion orchestra wowed the "Life and Arts" Festival audiences this year with their theatrical show of invented instruments, original music, comedic vignettes and intense physical choreography. Performers play and spin wheeled sculptures about the stage, while leaping and dancing around them. The mesmerizing contemporary collage of music, movement and mass, thrills audiences of all ages. www.swarmweb.com Event Venue/Location The Mary Irwin Theatre Rotary Centre For The Arts 421 Cawston Ave Kelowna BC Event Times Date Time Sat., April 12, 2008 7:00PM SWARM - Held Over by Popular Demand! Second show added for Sunday, April 13th at 1:00pm SWARM the Extreme Percussion Group, will follow their SOLD OUT performance on Saturday, April 12th with a second Matinee on Sunday. Don't miss this amazing performance! With their engaging choreography and powerful action-packed performances, SWARM is propelling percussion theatre to new heights. SWARM's style, best described as Action Drumming, is the direct combination of drumming, dancing and props. It is through this unique style that new instruments and new ways of playing them are constantly being created by this clever musical troupe. The mesmerizing contemporary collage of music and movement displayed in each SWARM performance promises to intrigue the senses. Featuring high energy jumps and spins with catchy beats, SWARM's collaborative technique are unlike any other. Event Venue/Location Rotary Centre for the Arts 421 Cawston Ave Kelowna BC Event Times Date Time Sun., April 13, 2008 1:00PM Matinee Ticket Prices Ticket Type Regular Price Adult $30.00 Student $10.00 Basement Musicians' Circle Join the Basement Musicians' Circle every second Tuesday Join the Basement Musicians' Circle every second Tuesday at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. This friendly get-together for beginning, experienced, reluctant, or shy musicians, singers and composers is an excellent time to try out new material in any musical style.For all ages and skill levels! Meet some new friends with just you, your voice and your instrument- unplugged. A drop-in fee of $5.00 can be made at the door. Instructor: Ray Turner Times: 7:00-10:00PM For more information, visit www.bigearsray.com Event Venue/Location Rotary Centre for the Arts 421 Cawston Ave Kelowna BC V1Y 6J1 Event Times Date Time Tue., April 15, 2008 7:00PM Tuesday Tue., April 29, 2008 7:00PM Tuesday Ticket Prices Ticket Type Regular Price Drop In Fee $5.00 THE SWINGIN' SISTER'S CLUB A 1940s Homefront Cabaret The year is 1940 and Canada’s men are off to war! 3 dames take over a radio station in a small town on the prairies and raise the spirits of the communities singing some of the most powerful and memorable songs of our time. You’ll hear historical marker songs like you’ve never heard them before such as I”ll Be Seeing You to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, to other lesser-known gems such as Morning on the Farm as well as lively renderings of the 40's radio programs which connected people in isolated communities. This musical revue is a warmhearted tribute to those who worked, entertained and even baked pies to keep the homefront alive
January	1	KGH Celebrates 100 Years The Kelowna General Hospital celebrates its centennial year in 2008, and to mark this milestone the Kelowna Museums are opening a special exhibition at the Okanagan Heritage Museum. “Kelowna General Hospital - Celebrating 100 Years 1908-2008”. This exhibition explores one hundred years of health and medicine at the Kelowna General Hospital through displays of hospital and medical artifacts, as well as photographs of the nurses, doctors, and staff who have practiced at KGH over the last century
January	1 - March 2	Nexus - Histories and Communities The Kelowna Art Gallery presents works from their permanent collection in celebration of their 30th anniversary. The exhibition contains both historical and contemporary works , which have themes loosely related to Kelowna and our history.
January	1	Basement Musician's Circle Join the Basement Musicians' Circle every second Tuesday at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. This friendly get-together for beginning, experienced, reluctant, or shy musicians, singers and composers is an excellent time to try out new material in any musical style.For all ages and skill levels! Meet some new friends with just you, your voice and your instrument- unplugged. A drop-in fee of $5.00 can be made at the door. Instructor: Ray Turner Times: 7:00-10:00PM For more information, visit www.bigearsray.com
January	11	Doc Willoughby's Live Music Doc Willoughby's is an intimate and interactive venue for amazing live Canadian music! For tickets and information please call 868-8288.
January	17	Memphis Blues Live Music Every Thursday night is Blues night at Memphis Blues BBQ on Bernard. Enjoy great live music with your BBQ dinner from 5 - 9.

February

February

1

Fired Up Fridays at Christopher's Christopher's Seafood, Steak and Ultra Lounge Presents Fired Up Fridays! Enjoy Fired Up Lunches on Fridays and then after work head into Christopher's Ultra Lounge for Martinis, appteizers and live music. You can also enjoy live music on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Call Christopher's for more information 861-3464.

March

March	15 - 30	SNAP Downtown Kelowna all good news ~ all colour ~ all downtown! Be one of the first to advertise your Downtown business or event in the brand new special edition of SNAP Downtown Kelowna. The premiere issue will be on news stands as of April first. This is a seperate publication dedicated to, and promoting, our fabulous Downtown. For more information on SNAP Downtown please call the DKA at 862-3515 or James at 863-9186. Deadline for submissions is March 20th.
March	15	Tapas & Wine Wednesdays Shine Lounge, which is in the lakeview courtyard beside Ric’s Grill, presents Tapas and Wine Wednesdays and Chickalious Thursdays! Wednesday nights are the best nights at Shine to sample numerous new local wines and tapas for just $7 each and then Chickalicious Thursday nights are the night to Shine – with Martini specials and a dj from 8 – 12. For more information on Tapas and Wine Wednesdays and Chickalicious Thursdays, or to book your table in advance, please call 869-1586!
March	15	Chickalicious Thursdays at Shine Shine Lounge, which is in the lakeview courtyard beside Ric’s Grill, presents Tapas and Wine Wednesdays and Chickalious Thursdays! Wednesday nights are the best nights at Shine to sample numerous new wines and tapas for just $7 and then Chickalicious Thursday nights are the night to Shine – with Martini specials and a dj from 8 – 12. For more information on Tapas and Wine Wednesdays and Chickalicious Thursdays, or to book your table in advance, please call 869-1586!
March	18	Live Jazz at Sal's Prime Steakhouse Come dine every Friday night at 7pm at Sal's Prime Steakhouse and enjoy the beautiful and gifted Jazz artist Anna Jacyszyn. Featuring a new menu and a daily $39 menu, Sal's Prime is a perfect way to spend a Friday night and enjoy some amazing food and music. For reservations please call 862.2909
March	27 - April 13	The Fantastics The Kelowna Actors Studio presents The Fantastics from March 27th - April 13th. This celebration of love is the longest running musical in the world! The Actors Studio is Kelowna's only licensed dinner theatre. For tickets and info please call 862-2867.

April

April	10	Feel The Rhythm Feel The Rhythm COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLE. 7:00-9:00 PM Every Other Wednesday at The Rotary Centre for the Arts. No experience necessary!For all people who enjoy hand drumming. Drums are provided for those who do not have one Instructor: Jim Copeman Price: $5.00 drop in fee. For more information please call the RCA at 717-5304.
April	10	Artists@Work One Stop Shopping with Something for Everyone! Come celebrate the diversity and variety of this select group of professional artists and artisans! A one-stop-shop, price points from $5 to $5000! Ongoing Studio Crawl First Thursday of every month, 4-7 pm. FREE! Join the art walk on the first Thursday of the month at 4pm For more information please call the RCA at 717-5304.
April	10 - 12	31st BC Interior Jazz Festival The 31st Annual BC Interior Jazz Festival is happening April 10 - 12th. There will be daily performances at various locations including the Kelowna Communtiy Theatre, The Rotary Centre for the Arts and the Bohemian Cafe. For more detailed information please click on selectyourtickets.com or call 762-5050.
April	11	Jazz Masters' Concert The BC Interior Jazz Festival presents the 31st Annual Jazz Masters' Concert on Friday April 11th at 7:30pm at the Kelowna Community Theatre. The Jazz Masters' Concert features the fabulous vocal and instrumental stylings of Carol Welsman and Jazz Artists Greg Yasinitsky, Richard Sumstad, Dennis Esson, Bryan Stovell and The Michael Garding Big Band. Tickets are $25 at selectyourtickets.com or 250-762-5050.
April	13	SWARM Second show added for Sunday, April 13th at 1:00pm SWARM the Extreme Percussion Group, will follow their SOLD OUT performance on Saturday, April 12th with a second Matinee on Sunday. Don't miss this amazing performance! With their engaging choreography and powerful action-packed performances, SWARM is propelling percussion theatre to new heights. SWARM's style, best described as Action Drumming, is the direct combination of drumming, dancing and props. Event Venue/Location: Rotary Centre for the Arts 421 Cawston Ave Kelowna. For tickets and info please call 717-5304.
April	16 - 20	11th Annual Okanagan Film Festival The 11th Annual Okanagan Film Festival is at the Paramount Theatre in Downtown Kelowna from April 16th - 20th. There will be over 25 performances at this festival including Adam Scoorge's "The Union". Passes are selling quickly so get yours today online at www.okanaganfilmfest.com or at the Paramount.
April	19	"Ask a Genealogist" Day "Ask a Genealogist" Day 10am - 4pm, throughout the library on Ellis Street presented in conjunction with the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society a free programme of activities including: . personal family history consultations with KDGS volunteers . "Discovering your Family History Online" a computer lab workshop with Mary Read . "First Steps in Researching Your Family History Online" a mini-seminar with Claire Smith-Burns. For more information please call the Library at 762-2800.
April	19	Dance Artistico Mission Dance Company Presents Dance Artistico Date: April 19,2008(2 PM or 7:30 PM)at Kelowna Community Theatre Price: $25 Adult, $20 Seniors, $15 Student & Child Tickets: 860-1470 missiondancecentre.com
April	24	Film Night at the KAG This months film is Black Gold. Multinational coffee companies now rule our shopping malls and supermarkets and dominate an industry worth over $80 billion, making coffee the most valuable trading commodity in the world, after oil. While we continue to pay for our lattes and cappuccinos, the price paid to coffee farmers remains so low that many have been forced to abandon their coffee fields. Black Gold looks at the corruption in this multi-billion dollar market, and traces Tedesse Meskela’s journey to save Ethiopian coffee farmers from bankruptcy in the face of the enormous power of the multinational players that dominate the world’s coffee trade. Film Night is free to the public and the show starts at 7pm. For more information please call the KAG at 762-2226.
April	26	Couture for the Kids On April 26th internationally acclaimed fashion designer Jason Malto and actress Gabrielle Miller of Corner Gas fame, will host a fantastic evening of fashion and glamour. A charity runway show called "Couture for Kids" will raise funds for the BC Children's Hospital. The show starts and the Laurel Packing house which will be transformed into a Bryant Park style runway in the tradition of New York Fashion Week. There is a Cocktail reception at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. After the show head to Christopher's on Lawrence for the after party. Tickets are available at Christophers. For more information on the event please call 317-7096.
April	26	Last Call For Planet Earth "Last Call For Planet Earth" Canada Premier, April 26th 2008. Please join us for an evening of green education, with your hosts Angela Reid and Barry Milner. Rotary Centre For the Arts - Mary Irwin Theatre (Kelowna) Tickets: $10 through Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.ca DOORS:7:00 pm (non-profit event) "12 Leading architects share their vision on architecture that respects nature. This film is about people who care about our future, and who want to make a difference" www.lastcallforplanetearth.com

May

May	1	Cherry Blossom Acupuncture Open House Cherry Blossom Acupuncture invites you to their premier Spring Open House. Meet Rhianda R. Armstrong of Cherry Blossom (Registered Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner), Angela Wright of Align Nutrition (Registered Nutrition Consulting Practitioner), and Yee Nham of Nham Shiatsu (Certified Shiatsu Practitioner). Take this opportunity to see the Cherry Blossom space, have some refreshments, ask all your health and wellness questions, and win some great door prizes. Cherry Blossom is located at 1462 A St. Paul St., downtown next to Dyck’s Medicine Centre. Drop in on Thursday May 1 any time from 4:30-8:30pm, and remember to book your wellness appointment for special open house rates! Call (250) 878-6514 or visit www.cherryblossomacupuncture.com for more details.
May	1	Spring Wine Fest Warm Up On Thursday May 1st at 7pm join your host Julianna Hayes for a blind tasting, where you get to be a judge for the evening! Tantalize your taste buds and challenge your senses in the pursuit of excellent vino. Hosted by Julianna Hayes .Tickets: $45 for Kelowna Museums members, $50 for non-members. Call 868-0441 for tickets and info. At the BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop, 1304 Ellis Street inside the Laurel Packinghouse.
May	2	Mod Salon Grand Opening Mod Salon's Grand Opening is happening on May 2nd between 6:00 to 9:00pm! Mod salon is located at 1508 Water street in Downtown Kelowna. There will be entertainment, food, drinks, special presentations and we're raising funds and awareness for the Kelowna Women's Shelter. Amy, Kristina, Danelle, Gina and Andrea really look forward to seeing you all there!
May	2	Fashion Savoir-faire The Kelowna Art Gallery present Fashion Savoir-faire on Friday May 2nd. There will be a fashion show, fashion tips, silent auction, hors d'oeuvres, door prizes and much more. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are available by calling the Kelowna Art Gallery at 762-2226.
May	2	Okanagan Symphony's The Russians are Coming The Okanagan Symphony presents "The Russians are Coming" on Friday May 2nd at 8:00pm at the Kelowna Community Theatre. For tickets please call 860-1470 or click on www.okanagansymphony.com
May	4	Hike For Hospice 2008 The 7th Annual Hike for Hospice is happening on May the 4th at the Mission Creek Regional Park. The Hike starts at 10am and all people are welcome inlcuding pets! There will be face painting, crafts, a silent auction, entertainment, BBQ and much more. To donate, register or for more info, please call 763-5511
May	8 - 25	The Sound of Music The Kelowna Actors Studio presents the Sound of Music. Opening night is Thursday May 8th and the show runs until the 25th. The Kelowna Actors Studio is the Okanagan's only licensed dinner theatre. Tickets sell out extremely fast so you need to reserve your today. Call The Actors Studio at 862-2867 or www.kelownaactorsstudio.com

June

June	5	Pass the Winemaker Get to know some of BC’s talented winemakers on Thursday June 5th as they each spend 15-20 minutes at your table, pouring and chatting about their wines. Hosted by Julianna Hayes. Tickets: $30 for Kelowna Museums members, $35 for non-members. Call 868-0441 for tickets and info. At the BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop, 1304 Ellis Street inside the Laurel Packinghouse.
June	21	John Arcand - Master of the Metis Fiddle John Arcand - Master of the Metis Fiddle John Arcand fiddles to a historic tune. The undisputed master of the Métis fiddle, his music is more than passionate. A ninth generation Métis fiddler, he has ensured the Métis tunes of his grandfather and father remain a part of his people and still flourish today. www.johnarcand.com The Mary Irwin Theatre Rotary Centre For The Arts 421 Cawston Ave Kelowna BC Sat,June 21, 2008 8:00PM

July

July

19

13th Annual Cherry Fair Celebrate the harvest of the cherry during the BC Orchard Industry Museum's annual family favorite, the Cherry Fair, on Saturday, July 19 from 10am to 3pm inside the Laurel Packinghouse. Children and adults of all ages will enjoy sampling a wide selection of cherries at the popular cherry tasting booth, as well as an assortment of locally made cherry sweets and treats. There will be a variety of hands-on children's activities that will be both educational and fun. Browse the wares of local artisans and vendors, and make a bid in the silent auction. Watch for the Cherry Fairy as she makes her annual guest appearance. There's something for everyone at the Cherry Fair, including cherry pie, live entertainment, and more! Don't miss it. Tickets at the door. $2 per person / $5 per family or group of four. 763-0433

August

August

4 - December 31

Family Art Sundays - Kelowna Art Gallery Bring the whole family to the gallery to view the exciting exhibits and visit the Scotiabank Studio to participate in creative hands-on art making activities. Admission is $3 per person, which includes participation in the activity for one child and admission to the gallery for one child and one adult. It all begins each Sunday at 1pm at the Kelowna Art Gallery. Call 762-2226 for more info.

October

October	2	Fall Wine Fest Warm Up Stay tuned for special Guest Speakers. To be announced soon! Part of the Wine Education Series of Tastings (WEST), a wine education program on Thursday October 2nd that combines the natural elements of food and wine in an interactive and casual environment. Hosted by Julianna Hayes. Tickets: $45 for Kelowna Museums members, $50 for non-members. Call 868-0441 for tickets and info. At the BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop, 1304 Ellis Street inside the Laurel Packinghouse.
October	25	20th Annual Apple Fair The BC Orchard Industry Museum proudly presents the 20th Annual Apple Fair at the historic Laurel Packinghouse, Saturday October 25, 10am to 3pm. Children of all ages will enjoy the variety of activities and live entertainment taking place throughout the day. The festivities center on the Apple Tasting Booth which features a variety of locally grown apples for sampling- including all your favorites plus a few new tasty discoveries! Grab a piece of homemade apple pie and a scoop of apple 'n spice ice cream and celebrate the harvest of the apple! And watch for the Apple Fairy as she makes her annual guest appearance. Tickets at the door. $2 per person / $5 per family or group of four. 763-0433

November

November	11	Rememberance Day Open House The Okanagan Military Museum invites you and your family to a Remembrance Day Open House after the ceremony at the City Park Cenotaph. There will be coffee and refreshments. Make your way to the Okanagan Military Museum at the corner of Ellis and Doyle once the ceremonies at City Park are over. 763-9292
November	13	Ultimate Comfort Foods and Wines A wine and food pairing to warm your heart on Thursday Nov 13th at 7pm. Featuring simple, delicious, and soothing comfort foods. VQA wines selected by your WEST host, Julianna Hayes. Tickets: $30 for Kelowna Museums members, $35 for non-members. Call 868-0441 for tickets and info. At the BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop, 1304 Ellis Street inside the Laurel Packinghouse.

December

December

4

Stickies and Sweets Decadent pairings of ice wines, bubblies, and artisan chocolates to be enjoyed on Thursday Dec 4th at 7pm. Sample a selection of "stickies" perfect for gift-giving or entertaining this holiday season. $30 for Kelowna Museums members, $35 for non-members. Call 868-0441 for tickets and info. At the BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop, 1304 Ellis Street inside the Laurel Packinghouse.