Festive Season in the Thompson Okanagan Through Photos
Explore the visuals of celebrations around the Thompson Okanagan ranging from grand to quaint, exhilarating to peaceful, and everything in-between.
Many communities throughout the Thompson Okanagan go to great lengths to put together wonderful celebrations in the snowy months of the year to raise levels of joy & cheer. These celebrations range from grand to quaint, exhilarating to peaceful, and everything in-between.
While I could spill oodles of digital ink describing each affair and its uniqueness, I think that the energy & emotions related to each celebration are better communicated through the photos you’ll find in this post.
Be sure to check out the links if an event catches your eye! These celebrations offer quite a bit more than these lovely visual captures.
Summerland Light Up - December 18 - Annual
Location: Summerland, British Columbia
Season of Trees - November 26-December 23 - Annual
Location: Mission Hill Family Estate, West Kelowna, British Columbia
WildLights Festival - December 10, 2021-January 3, 2022 - Annual
Location: BC Wildlife Park, Kamloops, BC
Joyride by Caravan Farm Theatre - December 3-January 2 - Annual
Location: Armstrong, British Columbia
New York New Years - New Years Eve - Annual
Location: Stuart Park, Kelowna, BC
Peak Pride - January-March - Annual
Location: Big White Ski Resort, SilverStar Mountain Resort, Sun Peaks Resort
Vernon Winter Carnival - February 4-13, 2022 - Annual
Location: Vernon, BC
Magical Winter Sleigh Rides
Locations: Horse Drawn Okanagan - Armstrong, British Columbia - December 21 – 24, and 26 – 29, 2021
Okanagan Sleigh and Wagon Aventures - SilverStar, British Columbia - Annual December 4th-April
Credit: @horsedrawnokanagan
Credit: @horsesofsilverstar
Winter Markets in Boundary - All Winter
Locations: Greenwood, British Columbia
Grand Forks, British Columbia
Written by Darnel St.Pierre
After graduating from university & completing a collegiate athletics career in 2020, Darnel returned home to Kelowna and started rediscovering his hometown. With endless wineries to discover and adventures to be experienced, he couldn’t be happier with his current chapter. Showcasing the Thompson Okanagan through tourism marketing has brought Darnel immense joy as he looks to grow alongside the tourism industry.
Peak Pride Big White
Now in its third year, Peak Pride Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia is turning up the heat in the winter months by being the hottest queer ski weekend of the year. Period.
Peak Pride Big White is the Thompson Okanagan’s big, inclusive, gay ski weekend
Move over Aspen. Nice try Breckinridge. And you can forget about European Gay Ski Weekend. Now in its third year, Peak Pride Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia is turning up the heat in the winter months by being the hottest queer ski weekend of the year. Period. Hot, new, fresh and exceedingly welcoming, Peak Pride Big White, held April 5-7, 2019, is the ski weekend meant for the LGBT community longing for the next best rainbow winter getaway.
Unlike its newly minted sister, Peak Pride Sun Peaks, that just held their inaugural gay ski weekend, the third annual Peak Pride Big White provides an exceptional ski weekend for the LGBT community. The second biggest winter pride in British Columbia, Peak Pride Big White is solidifying itself as a fixture of the queer calendar.
Peak Pride Big White
Photo credit: The Homoculture
Gay pride and gay ski weekends in smaller regions are becoming an important part of the queer movement for recognition and acceptance—starting at the grassroots level to educate the region on gay culture. This builds awareness of the LGBT community, helps break down barriers, makes the community more inclusive and gives the gay community a place to go. For the Thompson Okanagan region, events like Peak Pride Big White increases tourism to the area from other queer communities including Calgary, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver and Vancouver Island. These events allow for an opportunity for local businesses to show their support of the gay rights movement.
Peak Pride Big White is competing head-to-head with other gay ski weekends across Canada and the US. Just this past year there were three new gay ski weeks introduced in Canada. The Thompson Okanagan is the only region to host two gay ski weekends. Peak Pride Big White is an incredible value. Big White has incredible end-of-season lift and lodging specials, and event organizers have kept the Peak Pride event tickets incredibly affordable – especially considering the calibre of talent coming for this event, such as DJ DrewG!
DJ DrewG
Photo Credit: Rod Spark Photography
Events like Peak Pride at Big White also provide a platform for local talent. There are plenty of queer artists and performers who benefit greatly from an event on the local scale. Drag queens, for instance, are always looking for new events and bookings to perform. Opportunities like Peak Pride Big White are a big deal for local talent. Outside of Kelowna Pride and FruitCake, there are limited opportunities for these performers to hit the stage and showcase their talents. An event like Peak Pride Big White helps these performers get recognized by other LGBT communities looking to bring in talent from other regions and to find up-and-coming talent. It is important to support local artists and performers.
Peak Pride Big White is boasting all new events for this year’s gay ski weekend, including a fabulous Saturday night party held at an all-new location. San Diego based DJ DrewG, who performs all over the world and has done official remixes for Madonna, Beyoncé, K$sha, Lady Gaga and more will be laying down the beats for the party at Snowshoe Sam’s. With 400 people expected to attend this year’s party - sexy, out and proud DJ DrewG will have revellers dancing the night away.
Peak Pride Big White
Photo credit: The Homoculture
Think a gay ski weekend is all about skiing or snowboarding? Think again! Sure, the Okanagan has some of the best skiing in the region. But there are also lots of winter activities to enjoy while at Peak Pride Big White. Try dog sledding adventures, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing safaris, tubing and ice skating on Canada’s highest outdoor, Olympic sized skating rink.
If you’re a snow bunny who’d rather stay comfortable and warm indoors and enjoy the white stuff from the window while in front of a fireplace, there are plenty of activities for you. You can relax in the comfort of your luxury room, pamper yourself in the day spa, workout with state of the art gym equipment, people watch with a hot cup of espresso or hot chocolate from the coffee shops, enjoy world-class culinary delights from esteemed chefs and partake in some of the best après ski. And of course, relax and have brunch with the best of them.
The Thompson Okanagan region boasts some of the richest biodiversity in all of Canada. Within its borders sit its two major geographical features: Okanagan Lake and the Thompson River. Other natural features within the Thompson Okanagan region include Mt. Robson, the tallest Canadian peak of the Rocky Mountains and a semi-desert ecosystem known as the Okanagan Desert and the Nk’Mip Desert. Meanwhile, the snow at Big White has often been called champagne powder for its light, fluffy skiing conditions.
Keep your eyes peeled – you might even catch some drag queens on the chairlift or cruising down the slopes of Big White!
The Thompson Okanagan community has grown increasingly homo-friendly in the last few years, and both Peak Prides are all-inclusive, “everyone is welcome” events. Peak Pride Big White is no exception. Grab your winter jacket, ski suit, goggles and gloves and make your way to the little gay ski weekend that keeps getting bigger and better every year.
See you at Peak Pride Big White, April 5 – 7, 2019!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Webb is a celebrity social influencer, advocate for LGBT rights, role-model for the LGBT community and the winner of the prestigious Mr. Gay Canada – People’s Choice award. Brian has a passion for discovering and sharing special, life defining moments. Originally from the beautiful Thompson Okanagan, Brian is well known for making regular appearances throughout the year at Pride parades, festivals, street fairs, competitions, circuit parties and LGBT-friendly destinations.
IG @br_webb
Peak Pride Sun Peaks
The LGBT community is constantly looking for the new, now, and next in life, pop culture, music, film, art, television, experiences, and events. If you are one of those queens longing for the next hottest thing before it even becomes mainstream, then you can start with the best gay ski weekend.
The hot new gay ski weekend
The LGBT community is constantly looking for the new, now, and next in life, pop culture, music, film, art, television, experiences and events. It’s because queer people crave innovation and have a zest for life. If you are one of those queens longing for the next hottest thing before it even becomes mainstream, then you can start with the best gay ski weekend. A fabulous gay ski weekend awaits in the Thompson Okanagan at Sun Peaks Resort, March 1 - 3, 2019: Peak Pride Sun Peaks.
If you’ve never experienced a gay ski weekend, you are missing out on a queer rite of passage different to the typical pride, circuit, EDM or club events. Ski weekends are a great opportunity to meet new friends because they offer more social atmospheres and events than their aforementioned counterparts. A little bit of sport combined with several queer / LGBT-inclusive parties and events allow you to mix and mingle with queens and kings from all over the world. It’s fabulous! There are networking events throughout the weekend, cheeky to couture snow gear and outfits, breathtaking scenery, incredible food, welcoming people, 5-star service, and a hellova good time at gay ski weekends. They bring together different facets of the queer community that other events and gatherings don’t compare to.
Photo credit:The Homoculture
Now in its third year, due to its immediate growth in popularity, Peak Pride is expanding its gay ski weekend program to include a second resort. Sun Peaks Resort located near Kamloops, British Columbia, within the Thompson Okanagan region, is the new ski weekend event every queer person will want to attend.
Peak Pride is the only dual-mountain gay ski weekend in Canada! People come from all over North America to attend this growing event, especially gays from the Okanagan, Vancouver, Calgary, Seattle, and San Francisco. Peak Pride Sun Peaks is a new event that is hitting the radar of the LGBT community - especially snow bunnies who are looking for fresh new experiences.
Peak Pride Sun Peaks has a fantastic queer ski weekend planned for their inaugural event. Starting Friday, March 1, the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel lobby will invite guests for the mx Welcome Reception from 6-8pm. Nearby Morrissey’s Public House will host a queer comedy night at 9pm.
Photo credit: The Homoculture
Soak in all things gay at the Pride Mountain Parade starting at 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon, and then head down from some après ski at The Bottoms Après, held at the Bottoms Bar and Grill (you can’t make these names up) from 3pm-6pm.
A new event just added to Saturday’s schedule is the wipeOUT party. Held at Masa’s Bar & Grill, wipeOUT will have drag queen performances and live DJ-spun music to dance to from 9pm until doors closed. This is the party to shake your tail feathers at and burn off some of that après-ski consumption. Sunday, Sun Peaks Grand Hotel will host a farewell brunch at their Mantles Restaurant from 10am-12pm, finishing what will be a fab, fun and very gay ski weekend.
Don’t think for one second that Peak Pride Sun Peaks won’t be serving up stunning accommodations, because the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels you will ever visit. A luxury resort hotel, the Sun Peaks Grand offers every single amenity one could possibly think of while on their gaycation: spa, pools, hot tubs, fitness centers, conference rooms—you name it. The rooms are outfitted with the latest, state of the art technology, comforts and stunning design. Located right in the heart of Sun Peaks village, you’re literally in the epicenter of everything for Peak Pride at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel.
If you’ve never been to the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada, you’re missing out on some of the most beautiful country God herself ever created! Roughly the size of the country of Ireland, the Thompson Okanagan covers 71,000 square kilometers of land, and boasts climates as varied as Canada’s only desert, rainforests, plains and Canada’s tallest mountain within this stretch of the Canadian Rockies. It’s rich diversity and massive size make it flush with life, natural beauty, thriving open communities, rich heritage and of course—the perfect location for a gay ski weekend.
Peak Pride Sun Peaks is the best value when it comes to a gay ski weekend in North America! Come meet new friends, enjoy the famous Thompson Okanagan powder snow (bring your snorkel!) and the charming ski-to/ski-from village. Tickets range from just $7- $129 for all the events all entire weekend. Peak Pride offers a great, affordable gay ski weekend at a fraction of the price of other queer snow bunny retreat getaways.
Get your tickets to Peak Pride Sun Peaks now!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Webb is a celebrity social influencer, advocate for LGBT rights, role-model for the LGBT community and the winner of the prestigious Mr. Gay Canada – People’s Choice award. Brian has a passion for discovering and sharing special, life defining moments. Originally from the beautiful Thompson Okanagan, Brian is well known for making regular appearances throughout the year at Pride parades, festivals, street fairs, competitions, circuit parties and LGBT-friendly destinations.
IG @br_webb