Did you know that Kelowna has a designated, official Cultural District? Located in downtown Kelowna, the Cultural District covers roughly six square blocks. It includes some of the community’s most sparkling cultural institutions, such as the Rotary Centre for the Arts, the Kelowna Art Gallery, the Kelowna Museums Society and many others.

^{Outside of Rotary Centre for the Arts. Photo: By Jove Co. / Valaura Jones}

It is also home to the delightful oasis of Kasugai Gardens and more than 20 pieces of public art created by a mix of local, national, and international talent. The Laurel Packinghouse, located in Kelowna’s Cultural District, is also a National Historic Site and was the city's first designated heritage building. 

^{Kasugai Gardens on a sunny day. Photo: By Jove Co. / Valaura Jones}

The Cultural District is also home to a diverse range of galleries – such as the Art Lovers Gallery tucked inside the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort and western Canada's only authorized gallery to sell the art of Dr. Seuss – as well as venues, restaurants, boutiques and coffee shops. Virtually every day, a variety of artistic performances and activities can be enjoyed in Kelowna’s bustling Cultural District. 

^{Playing on revolving public art at the Kelowna Downtown Libary. Photo: By Jove Co. / Valaura Jones}

Like the rest of Kelowna, the Cultural District is located on the traditional, unceded territory of the syilx/Okanagan people. The syilx people have lived here since time immemorial, and their vibrant culture remains alive and well today. If you’d like to learn more about the syilx people, I always recommend visiting Sncewips Heritage Museum. With that being said, the Okanagan Heritage Museum, located in the Cultural District, has some great information on our syilx hosts, too (go ahead and visit both; you won't regret it)!

What we know as ‘Kelowna’s Cultural District’ came into being around 2000. Following Kelowna’s incorporation in 1905, the area that is now the Cultural District became a critical industrial zone and was home to the region’s flourishing fruit-packing industry (hence the Laurel Packinghouse, which was built in 1918). Over time, as needs and demands changed, this area of the city was reimagined through the efforts of the arts community, municipal leadership, and substantial investment by the City of Kelowna and private organizations, among others.

^{Laurel Packing House. Photo: By Jove Co. / Valaura Jones}

Fittingly, in 2004, nearly 100 years after its incorporation, Kelowna was honoured as the 'Cultural Capital of Canada.’ Far from just giving Kelowna bragging rights, this recognition also saw Kelowna receive a $500,000 award from the federal government. In the 20 years since, Kelowna’s Cultural District has continued to go from strength to strength, and it is as vibrant and lively today as I can ever remember it (I’ve lived in Kelowna since 2004 when Kelowna was recognized as Canada’s cultural capital).

If, like me, you’re into your history and want to discover more about Kelowna’s Cultural District, the City of Kelowna offers free walking tours on Saturday mornings during the summer. No registration is required. All you need to do is show up at the entrance to the Tourism Kelowna Visitor Centre (238 Queensway) at 10 a.m. sharp. The tours are running through to September 21, 2024, before shutting down for the fall. However, please note that there’s no tour on August 31. Having been on the tour myself, I can tell you that they’re engaging for locals and visitors alike, and you’re sure to learn something new (I definitely did)!

^{Cultural District walking tour. Photo: By Jove Co. / Valaura Jones}

For Kelowna’s Cultural District to be what it is today, it took the effort of many visionaries and passionate champions over multiple decades. The story is still being written, and each of us who visits the Cultural District has a role to play in it. 

So, the next time you’re in downtown Kelowna enjoying an exhibit at the Kelowna Art Gallery, taking in a show at Kelowna Actors Studio or being delighted by a performance from the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra at the Kelowna Community Theatre, take a moment to think about all of the arts lovers and supporters who have gone before you and contributed to making Kelowna what it is. Whether you live in Kelowna or are just visiting for a while, your participation in our Cultural District continues to add to the unfolding story of this gem in the heart of downtown Kelowna. 

Of course, while the Cultural District is a hub for cultural and artistic endeavours in the City of Kelowna, there are many places where you can find wonderful arts activities and events in Kelowna. There are plenty of incredible venues, galleries, and cultural institutions across Kelowna that you can enjoy, but the Cultural District is undoubtedly a special place. To see what’s happening around Kelowna, including in the Cultural District, visit the Tourism Kelowna events calendar here. See you out and about!

_{Header Image: Kasugai Gardens. Photo: Scott Bakken}