Celebrate Canada Day - Kelowna
Our Biggest Event of the Year
“Celebrate Canada Day – Kelowna” is an annual, free, community festival held at multiple locations along our lakefront and in the Cultural District. It is produced through collaboration between Festivals Kelowna, Folkfest, the Kelowna City Band, and many other community organizations.
Celebrate Canada Day 2023
Click the buttons below to view our Canada Day Schedule and Map.
Activities are held from 11 am to 10:30 pm in Waterfront Park to bring residents and visitors together to celebrate our Nation’s birthday through interactive and drop-in activities, food, local artisans, and live performances. With a goal to be inclusive, activities are multi-generational, family-friendly, and designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and tastes.
Canada Day 2023
The Kelowna Canada Day celebration is produced as a community partnership between Festivals Kelowna, Folkfest, the Kelowna City Band, and our many activity partners.
Prospera Place
- Official Celebrate Canada Day Ceremonies, including a “Happy Birthday Canada” cake presented by Coldwell Banker
- 48th Annual Kelowna Folkfest Celebrations – presenting Canada’s cultural mosaic through culinary experiences and live performances
- 5th Annual Canada Day Concert presented by the Kelowna City Band – NEW TIME!
Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park features the 24th annual “Celebrate Canada Day-Kelowna” including:
- Taste of Canada – a food fair featuring a variety of tasty treats from over 19 different vendors
- Made in Canada Marketplace – an artisan showcase of handmade, Canadian arts and crafts
- Canada Day Bazaar – a marketplace of unique items by local small businesses
- Community Groups Display – information displays by local community organizations
- Canada Day at the Kelowna Art Gallery – drop by the gallery for plenty of Canada Day art fun and activities
Need some ideas of great activities to look for? CLICK HERE for tips and CLICK HERE for the full schedule of events.
Schedule Overview
- Folkfest Stage (Prospera Place) 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Kelowna City Band Canada Day Concert (on plaza outside Prospera Place), 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – NEW TIME!
- Century 21 Kid’s Zone (Pioneer Gardens, Waterfront Park) 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Parks Alive! Power Stage presented by The Lizard 104.7 (Island Stage) 12:30 – 9:30 pm
- TD Beach Stage presented by K96.3 (Tugboat Beach) 1:00 – 9:50 pm
- Kiwanis Family Stage presented by New Country 100.7 (Pioneer Gardens) 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Canada Day Fireworks presented by the City of Kelowna and Shoreline Piledriving (10:00 pm)
Admission to the festival is always free, but donations are greatly appreciated and help support the costs of this celebration.
Volunteers with donation bins will be located at the entrances to Waterfront Park and at the entertainment stages.
You can also use your phone to “TAP” and donate! Look for the digital donate sign at each Info booth in Waterfront Park.
Your donations help keep the Canada Day Celebrations free and accessible to all.
How can you be a part of this fun community festival?
Need more information?
If you need more information about participating in the event but aren’t sure where you would fit, please call Renata Mills, Executive Director, at 250-868-3326 or our Program Coordinator at 250-868-3307.
As a performer
We feature a variety of artists on our stages across a diversity of styles and genres from Rock to Country, Folk to Jazz, Reggae to Celtic, and more. If you want to be considered please submit a performer application. Note: As much as we’d love to hire everyone who applies, we cannot. However, we hire plenty of performers for our other events so if you don’t mind we’ll keep your application handy.
As an artisan – “Made in Canada Marketplace”
This marketplace is for showcasing the artwork of Canadian artisans and their handmade, handcrafted artwork. Note: If you were approved for last year’s event and are not planning to sell new products, simply apply and indicate this on your form. If you are new, your artwork will need to be verified that it is your, original, handmade artwork.
As a small business – “Canada Day Bazaar”
Are you a small or home-based business looking for a unique way to sell your products in a fun environment and reach new consumers? The “Canada Day Bazaar” provides space for small, retail, and commercial businesses to showcase and sell their products to over 60,000 people in one day for a low fee.
As a non-profit – “Community Group Showcase”
Non-profit associations are invited to host a booth in our “Community Area” at Waterfront Park as a fun way to connect with over 60,000 people in one day and share information about the important role they play in our community. A modest vendor fee is charged to support this festival.
As a food vendor – “Taste of Canada”
Have you got a cool food truck offering tasty treats? We accept applications for food and beverage vendors at the beginning of each year. As there are a limited number of spaces available, spaces are allocated based on such factors as creating a diverse mix of food products, capacity to service large attendance, and prior participation.
As an activity partner – “Kids Zone”
Do you have an activity that children would enjoy participating in? Face painting, hula hooping, hockey shoot, balloon drop, parachute play, arts & crafts, storytelling – these are examples of the fun and interactive stations groups produce for Canada Day. We welcome organizations to set up an interactive display for free, and in return, we offer the opportunity to share information about their product or services to our festival patrons.
Face painting fun
Canada Day Bazaar
Canada Day drum circle
Lucky Monkey - Power Stage performer
Kelowna City Band and youth
Ladies with Canada flags
Power Stage at Waterfront Park
Dancer Stan Jack
A special thanks
We thank our generous, community-minded sponsors and partners for their investment in the community.
