October in Kelowna

While the first official day of fall arrives in late September, October is when the season kicks into high gear. The air is fresh and crisp, trees start changing colour, and wine grapes are ready to be harvested. 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.

Celebrate all Things Fall

^{Mission Creek Regional Park. Photo by: ©RDCO & Michael Hintringer}

There are many Kelowna activities that can only be enjoyed during the fall. In late September and early October, you can get a firsthand look at the Kokanee salmon swimming upstream to spawn in Mission Creek Regional Park—on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., until October 9, a park interpreter is onsite to answer questions. The trees along the creek will be changing colours, too, for an even more fall-esque experience.

To take in more of the changing colours, set out to discover the larch trees throughout the region—from mid- to late-October, they can’t be missed as they turn a bright gold hue. Find out more about where you can discover the golden larches here.

From September through November, head to Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park to delight on chestnuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, and more grown in the working orchard. Or take a trip to Davison Orchards for their Family Pumpkin Festival where you can hop on a tractor for a tour of the pumpkin patch. Local farms and markets will have an array of fresh, seasonal produce including gourds of all shapes and sizes. You’ll also find several corn mazes in and around Kelowna—the Kelowna Corn Maze, McMillan Farms, and Kelowna Fruit n Veggies are three spots to check out.

Savour Seasonal Eats and Sips

^{Photo by: Darren Hull}

Cozy spaces and comfort foods go hand in hand during the fall and neither are in short supply in Kelowna. Many area restaurants will offer themed fall menus throughout the month and at Thanksgiving, showcasing the freshest local produce alongside newly released red wines and hearty stouts.

For beer lovers, the first annual Kelowna Beer Week takes place from October 1 – 8, 2022. Craft breweries throughout the region are joining forces and hosting events each day, including Oktoberfest parties, a Brewers Meet and Greet, and even a homebrew competition.

October is also BC Wine Harvest Month, as grapes are ready to be harvested from the vines so the wine making process can get underway. Wine lovers can celebrate the season by visiting their favourite wineries on a guided tour or by attending fall events including:

• Smokies and S’mores at Meadow Vista Honey Wines every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until the end of November
• Fall Fest at Grizzli Winery on October 1
• The Harvest Market at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery on October 1 and 2
• Fall Wine Festival Party at Volcanic Hills Estate Winery on October 6
• Taco Vino hosted by the BC Wine, Cider, & Spirits Festival on October 22

Discover Kelowna’s Ghoulish Side

In October, Kelowna offers up spooktacular experiences for Halloween lovers of all ages. You’ll find fun for all ages at Don-O-Ray Farm Adventure’s family-friendly Haunted Farm, which runs throughout the month, and at the Family Monster Bash taking place at the Capital News Centre on October 30. The Westbank Museum will also be hosting a Haunted House at the end of month, with a costume contest taking place on Halloween.

Caravan Farm Theatre’s all-ages spectacular, Walk of Terror, returns for its 19^th year on October 29, taking guests through the fields and forests at the farm where they will be thrilled and terrified in equal measure by performers including Kelowna’s circus ensemble, Kinshara, and Calgary funk-band, Freak Motif. Leading up to the Walk of Terror, they will also be presenting SPARAGMOS, an eerie hour-long immersive event running from October 11 to 18 (not suitable for young children).

Other fright-worthy adventures include the Myra Canyon Scare Park, Halloween Movie Nights in the Vineyard at Priest Creek Family Estate Winery, and the Fruitcake: Halloween extravaganza (which will include a special guest from Canada’s Drag Race).

Local Events

^{Photo by: BreakOut West & Matt Lucas}

Festivals & Sports

• The annual Culture Days celebration promotes arts and culture in communities across Canada, with free events taking place between September 23 to October 16.
• Play On!, Canada’s largest street hocky festival, returns to Kelowna on October 1 and 2. On top of hockey, visitors will find live entertainment and interactive games.

Concerts

• Be prepared for an electrifying performance when Canadian musical icon and legendary guitarist, Colin James, brings his Open Road Tour to the Kelowna Community Theatre on October 1.
• On October 4, The Mavericks and Los Lobos will bring their Latin-infused musical stylings to the stage at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
• Classic rock legends, Styx, will be rockin’ out at Prospera Place on October 8 with special guest, Nancy Wilson’s Heart.

Live Comedy, Theatre, and Dance

• The Dancers of Damelahamid will perform Mînowin, a multimedia performance including Indigenous dance, at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on October 8.
• Kelowna Actors Studio is bringing the energy, hilarity, and musical adventure of Xanadu to the stage from October 12 – 30.
• Australian comedian, Jim Jeffries, is ready to deliver an evening of laughs as he performs The Moist Tour at Prospera Place on October 20.
• An Evening with Mary Walsh will see one of Canada’s most well-known and beloved comedienne's grace the stage at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on October 27.
• Fans of MTV’s Jackass series take note, Steve-O’s Bucket List Tour is making its ways to Kelowna on October 28.

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

Weather

Things start to cool down through the month of October, though in some years it remains quite warm through until Thanksgiving weekend. Things remain fairly dry, though you may start to see rain towards the end of the month, with cloudy days becoming more regular as the month progresses. October is sweater weather, with temperatures reaching an average high of 13°C / 56°F and an average low of 1°C / 34°F. Pack lots of layers and a decent jacket, and keep in mind that temperatures will be cooler near the lake and at higher elevations, so prepare accordingly if you’re going to be exploring outdoors.

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, and Facebook for more inspiration and share your adventures using #exploreKelowna.