Spring 2024 is here, and there is a lot to do
It’s Spring and you know what that means! The seasonal businesses in the Thompson Okanagan are opening and getting ready to welcome you. Farmers’ markets, wineries, cideries, golf courses, fruit stands, and so much more. Here is a Spring guide for the best local food and drink the Thompson Okanagan has to offer.
It’s Spring and you know what that means! The seasonal businesses in the Thompson Okanagan are opening and getting ready to welcome you. Farmers’ markets, wineries, cideries, golf courses, fruit stands, and so much more. Here is a Spring guide for the best local food and drink the Thompson Okanagan has to offer.
Farmers’ Markets
The Thompson Okanagan has over 20 farmers markets in almost every part of the region. They are the perfect place to experience slow-food and farm-to-table freshness. Not only are the markets filled with produce but they also include local vendors, small businesses, and artisans so you can support local. In peak Spring and Summer you don’t even have to go to the grocery store! Learn more about what the Farmers’ Markets have to offer by visitng our “Farmer's Markets in the Thompson Okanagan” blog:
Images by Kelly Funk
Wineries, Ciders and Distilleries
It’s wine tasting season! The wineries of Thompson Okanagan are open and gearing up for another great season. Spring is the perfect time to tour wineries before the summer rush. With more than 80 varietals planted in BC, you are bound to find the perfect taste, body, and texture of wine to fit your preferences. The Thompson Okanagan is such a unique place to grow wine with four beautiful regions all expressing their own flavours and wine styles. You can embark on a guided, or self-guided tour to the Similkameen Valley, Okanagan Valley, the Shuswap, or the Thompson Valley, and experience what the wines of B.C. have to offer.
Many wineries have events, tours and unique tasting experiences to offer you more than just a tasting throughout the Spring and Summer. By going to your favourite winery or city event pages, you can see what is happening at the local the wineries.
Image by Destination BC/Kari Medig
Guided and Self-Guided tours
There are many great wine trails that are the ultimate guide when it comes to first time tasters, or visitors looking to find a new spot. Wine trails offer you the chance to take yourself on a self-guided tour to as many stops as you like. There are even guided tours that often follow the wine trials’ routes to make your journey safe and fun for all. Some of these guides can be found on city event pages:
Wine tour companies
If you wanted to drive your self, or only stop at a few here are some great wine trails to follow
Kamloops Wine Trail - @kamloopswinetrail
Scenic Sip - @scenicsip
Westside Wine Trail - @westsidewinetrail
Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive - @bottleneckdrive
Naramata Bench Wines - @naramatawines
The Heart of Wine Country - @theheartofwinecountry
Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country - @uncorkthesun
Similkameen Indep. Winegrowers - @Similkameenwine
Keep an eye out for special events throughout the Spring and Summer seasons. Book a reservation to guarantee your spot for a tasting and find details about your favourite wineries tasting fees and operating hours on their website.
Looking for more than just wine?
If you're looking to expand your wine tour, the Thompson Okanagan has more to offer than just great wine – Throw in a stop at a cidery along the way. Or better yet, a distillery! There are so many great cideries and distillers next door to your favourite wine shops. Often cideries have great patios, snacks and areas to hang out. It can be a great family outing, with many cider houses having games, and room for kids to run around. Distilleries can be a great choice for a date night, or a unique happy hour. With 23 different distilleries to choose from, you are bound to taste something different in everywhere you travel to. Upgrade your bar with award winning spirits, support small businesses, and taste local flavours.
Image by @woodwardciderco
The season for patio sipping and vineyard hopping is here!
Fore!
The greens have been groomed, the club houses are open and the sun is out. It sounds like golf season.
The golf courses of the Thompson Okanagan are ready for you! There is a golf course in every single region of the Thompson Okanagan, with Kelowna having the second most golf courses in B.C. Come and enjoy the beauty of golfing in the Thompson Okanagan and experience views of vineyards, mountains looking over lakes, and manicured and desert-like fairways.
Image by Darren Robinson Image by Destination BC/Andrew Penner
Try golfing in Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, and Shuswap for some well-known, breathtaking courses. Or venture outside those cities for hidden gems and quiet courses.
The Thompson Okanagan is open and ready to welcome you this Spring and Summer! Check out accommodations on cities websites and make sure to reserve your spots at your favuorite wineries to guarantee a spot.
Written by Caroline Peterson
A local who went from the lower mainland to the Okanagan. As a student with a passion for tourism, she aims to highlight the Thompson Okanagan experience with a fresh, adventurous perspective.
Local Winter Flavours
Winter in the Thompson Okanagan brings shorter days, cooler temperatures, and amazing local food and beverage festivals, events, and markets.
Post-ski meal at Sun Peaks Resort by Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe
With its snow-capped mountain landscapes and cozy valley vibes the Thompson Okanagan invites you to enjoy the season and the local flavours of the region. Winter brings shorter days, cooler temperatures, and amazing local food and beverage festivals, events, and markets.
The region is home to the second-largest wine-producing area in Canada. Following the fall harvest, the wineries, cideries, breweries, and local food producers are ready for you to taste their incredible offerings.
Festivals, events, and markets are a great way to experience several different food and beverage options at once, and there is a variety to attend this winter season.
Food
Apex Mountain Resort, Hoodoo Adventure Company, Maple Leaf Spirits, and Lake Breeze Winery are pairing up to create the ultimate winter adventure and dining experience. After a two-hour guided snowshoe along the beautiful snowy trails at Apex, snuggle up and enjoy a delicious farmstead-to-table dinner while sipping beverages by the fire. This event is happening on January 24, 2024.
Dine Around the Thompson Okanagan features BC VQA wines, BC Beer and Spirits, and delicious food from restaurants in and around Kelowna. This 17-day event offers three-course dining menus from over 50 local restaurants at price points starting at $25-$65 per person. With so many options, there is something for everyone! Dine Around the Thompson Okanagan is happening from January 17 to February 2, 2024.
The Vernon Winter Carnival has been an annual celebration of the season since 1961, with the historical event estimated to have started in the late 1800s. The carnival combines winter activities with delicious food and beverages. With 10 days of entertainment, art, and food and beverage events the Vernon Winter Carnival is an amazing way to celebrate the wonders of winter while enjoying the region’s local flavours. The events start on February 2, 2024.
Beverages
WINTER SIPS - South is happening on January 20, 2024, at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. This event kicks off the Okanagan Winter Wine Festival and features BC VQA wine tasting from regional producers, small bites, and live entertainment. The following weekend, head up to Kelowna’s food and music hub - The Revelry, for WINTER SIPS - North, on January 27, 2024. There is no better way to spend a cool Thompson Okanagan afternoon than sipping on BC wines paired with entertainment and great food.
The Okanagan Winter Wine Festival continues down further south at District Wine Village with Winterfest at the District. On January 20 and 21 head to Oliver with your TASTE Passport, to explore the district and enjoy and explore BC wines from the southern part of the region.
If you’re looking to pair up your tasting experience this season with a bit of adventure, look no further than Apex Mountain Resort in Penticton. There is a wine-tasting adventure and a brewery adventure both happening this winter up at The Gunbarrel Saloon. On February 3 join in some après-ski wine tasting with paired appetizers from The Gunbarrel Saloon during the Vertical & Vintages event. If your after-adventure beverage choice is a local craft beer, join them on March 2 for Brewski, featuring samples from over 20 breweries.
Farmers Markets
One of the best ways to celebrate and enjoy the flavours of the region is by supporting local and attending farmers’ markets. The Thompson Okanagan has several farmers’ markets that feature produce, baking, and other local goods. Some of these markets offer an indoor, winter version, so you can enjoy the local flavours of the Thompson Okanagan even in the winter.
About the author
Nadia is a proud former Thompson Okanagan tourist who now lives in beautiful Kelowna, BC. She hopes to tell the stories of the region’s beauty and hidden treasures while rediscovering the destination she spent enjoying on family vacations.