West Kelowna has a rich arts and culture scene, shaped by the area’s Indigenous heritage, with plenty of hidden gems to discover. If you’re looking for things to do in West Kelowna, these experiences offer a meaningful complement to the food, wineries, and outdoor activities the region is known for.

Here’s your guide to West Kelowna’s museums, local galleries, creative studios, community events, and public art.

Indigenous Culture and Heritage

Coming off the William R. Bennett Bridge into West Kelowna you’ll find Westbank First Nation (WFN), a thriving self-governed syilx/Okanagan community. 

Around West Kelowna’s historic town centre, as well as on addresses on WFN land, you’ll see the name “Westbank” and notice aspects of syilx/Okanagan culture in many buildings, structures, and signs, reflecting WFN’s presence.

To learn more about Indigenous culture and heritage and understand how it’s influenced the area, visit Sncewips Heritage Museum. Operated by Westbank First Nation, this living museum shares the history, traditions, and present-day culture of the syilx/Okanagan people through artifacts and storytelling. 

The museum also offers a Community Core Tour from March to September that is entirely outdoors and takes you around the core of Westbank First Nation.

Museums and Local History

To build on that context, get to know the people, industries, and milestones that made West Kelowna what it is at the Westbank Museum. It’s located in the same space as the West Kelowna Visitor Centre, so after visiting the museum, you can get help mapping out nearby stops that connect to what you’re learning. 

The museum highlights the evolution of the community (the district of West Kelowna is fairly new— it was only incorporated in 2009!) and the significance of agriculture to the area. Take your time going through the displays, then step outside and explore your surroundings with a better sense of how it all came to be. 

Carry that perspective with you as you continue into West Kelowna’s art galleries and studios.

Art Galleries and Creative Spaces

West Kelowna’s visual art scene invites you to observe and participate.

For instance, at Grizzli Winery, art and wine come together through rotating exhibitions that showcase local and regional artists. Plan your visit around an exhibit, take your time through the gallery spaces, and pair it with a tasting to make the most of the experience.

Or Wine Country Studios offers workshops led by Métis artist Louise Lambert, where you can create your own piece while learning directly from a working artist. If you’re short on time, you can also book a time to visit her studio and view her work.

There’s also Pearl & Fern, a pottery studio that regularly hosts creative workshops and small-group experiences. It’s a welcoming environment where you can get creative and try something new.

After spending time in studios and gallery spaces, you’ll start to notice how art extends beyond walls and into the surrounding landscape.

Public Art

West Kelowna’s public art can be viewed at your own pace through a self-guided tour that highlights murals, sculptures, and installations. It’s worth slowing down, taking a closer look, and building in time to stop along the way. Many of the most memorable pieces are easy to miss if you’re just passing through.

Along the route, there’s a mural that shares the history of West Kelowna, several sculptures at local wineries, and Westbank First Nation’s collection of public art. 

Some highlights from the collection include the Veterans Monument by Smoker Marchand, honouring the approximately 7,000 Indigenous people who served in the First and Second World Wars, and the Four Food Chiefs mural, also by Marchand, which is the foundation from which Okanagan culture has grown and developed.  

After learning, exploring, and creating, the next step is experiencing West Kelowna alongside the people who live here.

Live Music and Seasonal Events

Connect with the community during your visit to West Kelowna by seeing some live music or joining a community cultural gathering.

In the summer months, West Kelowna Music in the Park brings free outdoor concerts to the Annette Beaudreau Amphitheatre in Memorial Park. Bring a chair and enjoy a lineup of regional musicians and a relaxed atmosphere where you can settle in for the evening. 

If you want something a little less lawn chair and a little more sipping wine while wearing linen, the summer concert series at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery offers live music in an amphitheatre set against sweeping vineyard views. Tickets are available for purchase in advance.

For a mix of music and mingling, head to Westbank Farmers’ Market. It’s a morning or afternoon well spent checking out local vendors, fresh produce, and handmade goods and taking in live music and entertainment.

Later in the season, there’s Westside Daze, a multi-day celebration featuring a parade, live entertainment, and family-friendly amusements that captures the spirit of West Kelowna.

West Kelowna Arts and Culture Awaits

The more you immerse yourself in West Kelowna’s arts and culture experiences, the more you’ll appreciate how its history, culture, and community define the place you are visiting.

Check out the Arts & Culture Guide to continue planning your visit.