Kootenay Rockies & Columbia Valley
Local Events
The Columbia Valley and Kootenay Rockies are hosts to many of the best festivals and events in BC. From the Snowflake Festival in January in Invermere to Radium's Music and Market on Main in the summer months, your vacation can be as busy or as relaxed as you like.
Columbia Valley Oktoberfest
Invermere + Windermere
Radium Hot Springs
TBD
Oktoberfest is all month long in Invermere. With different activities, dining and golfing specials there is no better place for your October getaway.
Invermere Farmer’s Market
July to September Long Weekend
Invermere's Farmers Market is a popular activity for locals and visitors. With over 20 vendors showcasing everything from fresh bread and locally grown vegetables to works of local artists, you are sure to enjoy perusing the variety of booths and likely will take some new treasure or tasty treat. Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm from July to September Long Weekend
Easy Rider Snowboard Cup
TBD
The Easy Rider Snowboard Cup at Panorama. It is the longest running snowboard contest. It is a fun event designed so that snowboarders of all ages and abilities can participate and have a great time.
Valley Appreciation Day
Sat, July 21, 2018
This downtown Invermere festival will host the service clubs, complimentary pancake breakfast, Gagne Family logging show, a stage show, cart races and live entertainment. Incorporated into the event will be a market offering a variety of goods that cannot be found at the Farmer’s Market as well as children’s activities and interactive games.
Heart of the Rockies Triathlon
The Heart of the Rockies Triathlon started over 30 years ago in 1983. The event started with 56 competitors and now hosts over 200 athletes. The triathlon is very well designed and even has a children's competition on the Saturday with the main event occurring on Sunday. For more information on this fabulous weekend visit their website at: http://www.heartoftherockiestri.ca/ . For the details on our special for this event click here.
JulyFest
July 20 - 22, 2018
The biggest event of the year. Every year, on the third weekend in July, Kimberley hosts three amazing Hot Summer Days and two incredible Hot Summer Nights as we celebrate the ‘Best of the Fests’. This special weekend is filled with bocce tournament, live music and dancing, a variety of sporting events and beer gardens.
Loop the Lake Walk & Run
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Loop The Lake Walk/Run is a half marathon family event. Go for your personal best, or come out, enjoy the route and cheer on the runners. Participants finish at Kinsmen Beach where you can enjoy your complimentary pancake breakfast and a cool down in the lake. http://www.loopthelake.bc.ca/
East Kootenay Beer Festival
Situated on the slopes of the BC Rockies at the Fairmont Hot Springs ski area, come for the stunning views as you sample over 70 varieties of beer from 20+ breweries. This is definitely a fun social event for locals and visitors alike. Must be 19+ to attend.
Winter in Motion Festival
Invermere + Windermere
Panorama Mountain Village
Radium Hot Springs
Fairmont Hot Springs
December - March
The Columbia Valley doesn't slow down when the snow hits! We turn up the volume on getting outdoors in our winter wonderland.
December - March is the time to be in the Columbia Valley to enjoy the following activities and events. Click here for a full list of events.
Bonspiel on the Lake / Snowflake Festival
Bonspiel on the Lake is a curling event combined with Invermere's Snowflake festival. Friday kicks off with food vendors, live music, cocoa and warming stations as well as dazzling fireworks. Curlers from all over BC and Alberta enter teams to take on curling in the great outdoors on sheets of Lake Windermere ice.
Kinsmen Ice Fishing Derby
Invermere + Windermere
Panorama Mountain Village
Radium Hot Springs
Fairmont Hot Springs
TBD 2019
The Annual Ice Fishing Derby drops line every January . Registration begins at 8 am. Catch a net full of squaw fish and you could win up to $500 (prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place). Follow up the fishing action with a great post-derby meal and drink at the Station Pub with your fellow ice fishermen.
Headbanger Festival
Only in Radium do the headbangers take it to the streets - Bighorn Sheep Rams that is. Come see nature in action as the Bighorn Sheep ram heads on our streets. Radium is hosting their annual Headbanger Festival in November. The weekend is full of activities and educational opportunities for the whole family.
Starlight Challenge
Every Friday in February
Every Friday evening, during the month of February, the Fairmont Hot Springs Ski Resort turns on the floodlights and hosts the popular annual Starlight Challenge, now in its 33rd year. Races include 4 person teams and individual racers, both skiers and snowboarders.
Nipika Toby Creek Nordic Skate Loppet
Invermere + Windermere
Radium Hot Springs
A weekend of Nordic skiing fun with Saturdays event being classic technique and Sunday is skate technique. There are lots of age categories for all events. There are distances for all ages and abilities and awards will be presented to the top skiers in each category on both days. There are lots of draw prizes to be had. Top male & female will be awarded a special prize for the two day total time. After the loppet, join in the awards barbecue.
Music & Market on Main
every Friday July through to September
Radium's main street opens up to fantastic marketplace with accompanying entertainment from a wide variety of musical talent. Come listen to the great music while cruising through the booths. This event runs from July through to September with the market running from 4-9 pm and music from 7-9 pm.
East Kootenay Wine Festival
The East Kootenay Wine Festival celebrates the very best wines from British Columbia. The 15th annual event will again feature over 50 of BC's most acclaimed wineries. Get your tickets now as this event sells out every year. For details visit https://www.fairmonthotsprings.com/events-and-festivals/wine-festival/
Wings Over the Rockies
Invermere + Windermere
Panorama Mountain Village
Radium Hot Springs
Fairmont Hot Springs
Wings takes place in Radium, Brisco, Edgewater, Windermere, Panorama, Fairmont and Canal Flats. Many different aspects of migration will be explored including the migration of waterfowl and songbirds and the seasonal movement of ungulates, carnivores, butterflies, bats, fish and even humans. The festival coincides with International Migratory Bird Day and will include hikes, river floats, workshops, presentations, children's activities, guest speakers, exhibits, food and more.
Rocky Mountain Rally
The Columbia Valley offers some of the best on and off-road driving available in North America. Taking place June 4 & 5, this event will provide a larger service park for the competitors as well as exciting spectator points on all the stages for people to come out and watch the action! This event was organized by Northern Alberta Sports Car Club and Calgary Sports Car Club. Visit www.rockymountainrally.com for more information.
Bull Riding in the Rockies
July 20, 2018
World professional bull riding, kid's mutton busting, rodeo clowns and mexican poker followed by an evening family dance. This event takes place on at the Invermere Curling Rink starting at 7 pm. A cowboy dinner is served from 5 to 6:45 pm
Columbia Valley Classic Show & Shine
This event kicks off with live entertainment on Friday night. Start the show day with a pancake breakfast before you tour through rows and rows of a variety of cars and trucks on display. The car and truck show ends with a grand finale parade to Invermere. An evening of 50's/60's costume clad party-goers dance the night away from 8 pm to 1 am. Visit www.radiumcarshow.com
Torchlight Parade at Fairmont Resort
Located at the Fairmont Ski Hill on Christmas Eve, dozens of skiers and their blazing torches wind down the slopes through the darkness during this annual event – a cherished tradition that kicks off the holiday season at the resort.
Columbia Valley Rockies Pond Hockey Championship
This event formally known as the BC Pond Hockey Championship encompasses everything a Canadian winter weekend looks like (pond hockey, hot coco, beer, snow, ice, friends and fun). For hockey fanatics, it's hard to imagine it getting any better than this. Outdoor rinks, on either Lake Windermere or Lake Lillian, are approximately 75' x 150', nets are 6' wide and 10" tall and side boards are made of snow. It's 4-on-4 hockey with no goalies; teams can have up to 6 players. More information
Super Hero Sun Fest and Slush Cup at Panorama
Come spend the closing weekend of Panorama with us and enjoy all the festivities. Dress up as a super hero and participate in the famous slush cup. Tons of prizes and fun!
Lakeside Splash Down
Invermere + Windermere
Radium Hot Springs
Sat, Aug 11, 2018
Hang glider and paraglider pilots take off from Mt. Swansea and fly through the air and land in water targets on Lake Windermere. This is a great spectator sport from the comfort of a beach chair on James Chabot Beach. http://www.lakesideevent.com/
