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.
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.
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:
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 19th 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).
Photo by: BreakOut West & Matt Lucas
For more events taking place in and around Kelowna, visit our online Calendar of Events.
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.
Photo by: Shawn Talbot Photography
Plan a purposeful and rewarding trip to Kelowna by using the resources available on our website:
Have more questions about your trip to Kelowna? Connect with our team at the Kelowna Visitor Centre.
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Kelowna is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the syilx/Okanagan people who have resided here since time immemorial