November in Kelowna

Like March, November is a bit of a transition month, with ski hills opening and the transition to winter fun and the holiday season slowly beginning towards the end of the month. Read on to find out more about what you can discover and what to expect in and around Kelowna when visiting at this time of year.

Explore Kelowna's Local Coffee Scene

^{Third Space Cafe (Credit: Studio Iverson)}

What better way to warm up as the weather cools down than to explore all of the local coffee shops in and around Kelowna? Numerous independent shops serve classics and seasonal favourites (PSL, anyone?!). Several of Kelowna's coffee shops roast their own beans, too—Bean Scene Coffeeworks, Bright Jenny Coffee, Anarchy Coffee Roasters, and Craft 42 Roasters, for instance. Many of these coffee shops and others, including Bliss Bakery & Bistro, Sprout Bread, and Bread Co., also have delectable eats and tasty treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Find out more about Kelowna's coffee shops through our blog.

Immerse Yourself in Arts and Culture

Fall is a wonderful time to explore Kelowna’s arts and culture offerings, particularly on cool, wet days since most options are indoors. In downtown Kelowna, you’ll find several galleries, performing arts groups and theatres, and museums, all within a short walk of each other.

Art enthusiasts can browse nearly 100 works of art pulled from the Kelowna Art Gallery’s vault as part of the gallery's new exhibition, Rise/Fall: Works from the Permanent Collection, which runs until January 26, 2025.

To kick off its 2024/25 season, Ballet Kelowna will present Ode, celebrating long-time company artist Desiree Bortolussi with her final performances before retirement. The program will take place at the Kelowna Community Theatre on November 8 and 9, 2024. 

On Friday, November 15, 2024, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra will host Beethoven & Saint-Saëns at the Kelowna Community Theatre as part of its 2024/25 season Mainstage Series. Those on a budget can attend the open dress rehearsal at 2 p.m., with admission by donation ($20 suggested). 

If live music is a must, don't miss award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour on November 18, 2024. You'll find more fantastic shows happening at Creekside Theatre, Prospera Place, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Revelry Food + Music Music Hub, and Red Bird Brewing.

Explore more of Kelowna’s arts and culture offerings.

Kick off the Holiday Season

^{Mission Hill Family Estate. Image credit: @hashtagmeag}

November is the unofficial start to the holiday season, and Kelowna definitely gets into the season's spirit! Mission Hill Family Estate's annual Festival of Trees celebration kicks off on November 22, 2024, while the Tree of Hope Festival at the Landmark District takes place the following day, November 23, from 12 to 6 p.m., with the tree light-up taking place at 5 p.m.

Craft Culture will host three of its four seasonal markets in November:

• November 2, 2024 | Winter Warm-up Market at Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA)
• November 10, 2024 | Delta Grand Holiday Market
• November 29 & 30, 2024 | Holiday Magic Market at RCA

Other holiday markets taking place in November include the North End Brewery Market Crawl, 16th Annual Christmas Extravaganza, 15th Annual Touch of Christmas Craft Fair, 

If getting crafty is more your thing, don't miss the following events:

• Priest Creek Family Estate Winery's holiday event, Pinot & Pottery Gingerbread House Workshop, on November 14, 2024. 
• Festive Winter Planter Workshop at Little Straw Vineyards on November 17, 2024. 
• na’ʔk’ʷulamən (What We Do): Tree Ornaments at Okanagan Heritage Museum on November 30, 2024.

Local Events

Indigenous Veterans' Day - November 8, 2024

• Westbank First Nation will host a remembrance ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on November 8 in honour of Indigenous Veterans' Day. The ceremony will take place at 1900 Quail Lane at the Monument.

Remembrance Day - November 11, 2024

• Kelowna:
  • Downtown: Branch 26 of the Royal Canadian Legion will hold its annual Remembrance Day parade and ceremony in downtown Kelowna. At 10:45 a.m., the parade will begin its procession from Stuart Park to the cenotaph in City Park for the 11 a.m. ceremony.  
  • Rutland: The Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans will hold a ceremony at the cenotaph at Lions Park in Rutland. Guests are asked to arrive by 10:30 a.m. ahead of the procession.    
• Lake Country: The Oyama Branch #189 of the Royal Canadian Legion will host a service in the George Elliot Secondary School Gym. Guests are asked to be seated by 10:30 a.m.
• West Kelowna: The Royal Canadian Legion Westbank Branch will host Remembrance Day Services in West Kelowna at Royal LePage Place, with support from the City of West Kelowna, from 10:45 a.m. to noon. A short parade will take place at 10 a.m., before the service.
• Peachland: Legion Branch #69 is hosting the ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at Cenotaph Park.
• November 11, 2024, marks 25 years since the opening of the Okanagan Military Museum. The museum is closed on Remembrance Day; however, visitors and locals can take in the current exhibit, "In the Line of Duty: WWII Service Stories," on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Indigenous Culture

• Visit the Okanagan Heritage Museum for additional programming in its na’ʔk’ʷulamən (What We Do) series. 
• On November 16, the Kelowna Art Gallery will host the next installment of its community Indigenous Beading Circle. 

Food & Drink

• At the beginning of the month, join Meadow Vista Honey Wines for the last few of its S'mores & Smokies event, which includes a local honey smokie dinner, a roast-your-own S'mores pack, mulled mead or hot chocolate, and more.
• The Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery Mixoff returns on November 7, 2024, with local bartenders competing to craft the winning cocktail and take home the title of Mixoff Champion. 
• Find culinary classes throughout the month at Mission Hill Family Estate, Lakehouse Kitchens and The Okanagan Table. 

Sporting Events

• Cheer on the Kelowna Rockets during one of the team's November home games, which are taking place throughout the month at Prospera Place. 

Visit our online events calendar to see what else is happening in and around the city.

Weather

The weather continues to cool in November, which is often one of the rainiest months of the year—this precipitation accumulates as snow in the hills and mountains surrounding the city. Average temperatures for the month are 6°C / 42°F on the high end and -2°C / 27°F on the low end, so you'll want to make sure you have warm layers to adjust based on the day. Remember that temperatures will be cooler near the lake and at higher elevations, so prepare accordingly if you’re exploring outdoors. There will be a fair number of cloudy days throughout the month, but this means you get to enjoy a different perspective of the stunning views Kelowna is so well known for. You can monitor current conditions through the live webcam at the Kelowna Visitor Centre. 

Helpful Planning Resources

^{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.