September in Kelowna

Celebrate Canadian Country Music

^{Image credit: CCMA & Tour Bus Entertainment}

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is bringing Country Music Week to Kelowna for the first time this September, which includes Canada's biggest night in country music, the televised 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD. 

Throughout the week, visitors and locals will enjoy live performances by some of the biggest names in country music, as well as discover a new generation of up-and-coming talent, all taking place within downtown Kelowna's Cultural District.  

Not-to-miss fan events include:

• The CCMA Legends Show, presented by New Country 100.7 & Stingray, celebrates the timeless hits that helped shape Canadian country music.
• CCMA House Live at Waterfront Park, presented by Beem Credit Union, will transform the lakeside Island Stage into a two-day celebration of Canadian country music. 
• The 2025 CCMA Songwriters Unplugged Series celebrates the craft of original songs and the stories that shape them.
• The CCMA Country Crawl, powered by ATB Wealth, is a grassroots celebration of live country music across the city.

Visit the CCMA website to learn more about these fan events and others taking place during the event. 

Check out our blog for info on where to stay and what to expect while visiting Kelowna for CCMA Country Music Week 2025.

Honour Indigenous History and Culture

^{Chief Sw'kn'cut Sculpture at Kelowna Visitor Centre. Photo by: Ken Hagen}

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to reflect on the tragic history and legacy of residential schools, and honour the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit survivors of residential schools and commemorate those children who did not return home.

The commemorative date of September 30 aligns with Orange Shirt Day, a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project and Reunion events, which took place in 2013 and were designed to "commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation." Those looking to support the day and the ‘Every Child Matters’ movement are encouraged to wear official Orange Shirt Day merchandise. 

Locals and visitors in and around Kelowna—situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the syilx/Okanagan people who have resided here since time immemorial—can take part in the following events:

• Indigenous Tourism BC is hosting From Awareness to Action: Indigenous Experience Learning Series, a free, three-part online series, kicking off September 24, offering a pathway for individuals and organizations to evolve their roles from observers to allies to changemakers. 
• The Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society will host a gathering from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 30, featuring drumming, speeches, and educational activities that promote awareness, healing, and connection among all people.
• Sncewips Heritage Museum will be open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on September 30, with a presentation by Anona Kampe on Residential Schools at 11 a.m. and storytelling with Coralee Miller in the afternoon. Artwork from last year's event, x̌spuʔus sckʷul—Works of HeART, will also be on display.  
• The Métis Community Services Society of BC will host a drop-in event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on September 30 with drumming ceremonies, history sharing and storytelling, and more. 
• The Okanagan Heritage Museum will also be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., inviting guests to join them and the Next Steps for Walking the Reconciliation Path working group for Reflections on Truth and Reconciliation. 

On Truth and Reconciliation Day and beyond, we encourage visitors to:

• Read the various reports available from the National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
• Visit Sncewips Heritage Museum for a guided or self-guided tour to learn more about syilx culture and heritage.
• Discover the public art in Westbank First Nation, taste Indigenous-inspired flavours at Kekuli Cafe, and support Indigenous businesses in the area.
• Explore the Okanagan Heritage Museum's permanent gallery, which was transformed with guidance and support from the Sncewips Heritage Museum and contains Indigenous artifacts, including a traditional qʷćiʔ (Okanagan winter home).

Visit the Indigenous Tourism BC website to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Keep the Summer Fun Going

^{Kayaking on Kalamalka Lake. Photo by: Ken Hagen}

After the peak summer months, Okanagan Lake is warm and ready to enjoy throughout September. Lake activities and attractions are open seasonally, typically from the May long weekend until the Thanksgiving weekend in early October (depending on the weather), so September offers one of the last opportunities to take advantage of the warm weather and get out on the water. Make the most of outdoor adventures off the water, such as ziplining, ATV riding, hiking, rock climbing, and more. 

The annual Meet Me on Bernard activation along Bernard Avenue is extended until September 13 this year, in conjunction with CCMA Country Music Week 2025. Don't miss the final Thursday Night Market of the year on Thursday, September 11, 2025! 

Get Festival Ready

^{Feast of Fields, Okanagan Chefs Association.} 

September in Kelowna offers the best of summer and fall rolled into one, with loads of festivals and major events to attend.

Food and drink lovers can soak up the sun while tasting the best of Kelowna and BC at Okanagan Feast of Fields, which this year brings its three-hour gourmet harvest festival to Luckhurst Farm & Distillery on September 21, 2025. Those who want to explore some of the best brews and spirits from BC and around the world will want to get tickets for the Silver Star Beer & Cider Festival on September 6, 2025.

September is also a prime time for arts and culture fiends. The 32nd annual Lake Country Artwalk will take place on September 6 and 7, featuring original art from over 200 artists, as well as live music, workshops, and hands-on activities for the entire family. Opportunities to celebrate arts, culture, and heritage continue into the end of the month, thanks to Culture Days BC, which kicks off on September 19 and runs for three weeks. Visit the Culture Days website to discover what's happening in and around Kelowna. 

Local Events for September 2025

^{People walking in front of artwork outside of the Rotary Centre for the Arts}

Arts & Culture

• The Kelowna Art Gallery’s newest exhibit, To Be Something More, marks the latest chapter in BC artist Sandeep Johal’s ongoing exploration of women’s resilience.
• The Broken Hearts Club at Crown & Thieves is showcasing a variety of live entertainment, including magic and illusion shows by Ryan Michael and a burlesque performance by Femme Fatale Dance.
• The Rotary Centre for the Arts also hosts several events throughout the month, including the Adventurers, Wanderers, and Explorers Film Festival on September 17.

Live Music & Comedy

• Bob Marley’s band, The Wailers, are on tour celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the album, Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On. They will perform at the Kelowna Community Theatre on September 20.
• Famed Canadian comedian, Rick Mercer, is bringing his Stand-Up for Canada Comedy Tour to Prospera Place on September 20.
• Rock icon, Bryan Adams, will also be taking the stage at Prospera Place on September 24 for his Roll with the Punches Tour.
• Several of the area's wineries, breweries, distilleries, and craft beverage makers regularly host live music. In September, you'll find live music at spots like Freddy's Brew Pub, Grizzli Winery, Off the Grid Winery, Red Bird Brewing, and The Vibrant Vine.

Food & Drink

• Taste Around BC will be hosting its Happy Hour edition from September 10 to 30, featuring specials at various locations throughout the Okanagan.
• Fall means harvest time for the last of the area’s fruit and produce. Indulge in the freshest local flavours at area farmers’ markets:
  • At the Kelowna Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Landmark District and Sundays in Kerry Park.
  • At the Lake Country Farmers’ Market, every Friday until September 19.
  • At the Westbank Farmers’ Market on Saturdays until September 27
  • At the Peachland Farmers’ & Crafters’ Market on Sundays until the end of September

For more events in and around Kelowna, visit our Calendar of Events.

Weather

September brings some of the valley’s most inviting weather. Warm afternoons average around 22°C (71°F), with evenings cool enough to call for a sweater but never enough to slow you down. Clear skies and dry days make it perfect for lakeside paddles, golden-hour hikes, or long patio lunches. It is a season that gives you space to do it all and still pause long enough to take it in.

Helpful Planning Resources

^{Photo by: Shawn Talbot Photography}

Plan a purposeful and rewarding trip to Kelowna by using the resources available on our website:

• Use our itinerary-builder to keep track of things to do and to plan out your schedule.
• Learn more about Kelowna’s array of accommodation options.
• Discover more about fall in Kelowna.

Have more questions about your trip to Kelowna? Connect with our team at the Kelowna Visitor Centre.

Be sure to follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more inspiration and share your adventures using #exploreKelowna.