With the exchange rate heavily in Americans’ favor, this winter is a great time for a trip to southeastern British Columbia. From December to March, you’ll find a wide variety of resort and mountain town events and activities among wine country and champagne powder.
Big Reds at Big White (Dec 8 @ Big White Ski Resort)
This 11-annual wine festival will have you drooling over handcrafted, Okanagan-region wines, ranging from Bordeaux blends to “old world” style Pinot Noirs.
Holiday Kick-off Weekend (Dec 13-16 @ Sun Peaks Resort)
Events include the Alpine Fondue & Starlight Descent, Ugly Sweater Contest, a figure skating performance, Santa arriving by sleigh, caroling, and more.
Big White Pond Hockey Tournament (December 14 @ Big White Ski Resort)
Register a team or watch this 5-on-5 pond hockey tournament. Then take advantage of many activities at Big White, like skiing and snowboarding, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice climbing, and dog sled tours.
Gnome Hunt (Dec 22 @ Revelstoke Mountain Resort)
10 gnomes will be hidden on the mountain—find one for a chance to win two Heli skiing seats with the Selkirk Tangiers.
Ski with Santa (December 25 @ Red Mountain Resort)
Ski with the jolly old man on the slopes, then enjoy breakfast in Paradise Lodge.
New Year’s Eve Family Party in the Plaza (Dec 31 @ Kimberley Alpine Resort)
Kick off the New Year with music, games, an ice-skating party, BBQ, and night skiing! Enjoy a beer garden, fire spinners, torch light parade, and fireworks display.
Coast Capital Savings Cruz the Blues (Jan 12 @ Big White Ski Resort)
Think you can ski all the blue runs at Big White in two days? Embark on this blue run scavenger hunt, and win prizes at the prize ceremony finale.
Moonlight Snowshoe & Mulled Wine (Jan 14 @ Sun Peaks Resort)
Part of the 21st Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival. Take a guided snowshoe tour to a cozy winter woodland camp.
Winter Carnival & Snowball Après (Jan 19-20 @ Whitewater Ski Resort)
Family-friendly activities such as taffy tasting, kid’s scavenger hunt, marshmallow roasting, live music, buffet dinner, and torch light parade.
Rossland Winter Carnival (Jan 24-27)
Canada’s Oldest Winter Carnival will include the Bobsled Calcutta, a variety show, carnival parade, fire spinners, snow statues, a rail jam competition, and more. Catch the Blizzard Music Festival at Olaus Ice Palace this weekend too.
28th Annual North Okanagan Hot Air Balloon Festival (Feb 2-3 @ Vernon, B.C.)
The skies will fill with hot air balloons as part of the 10-day Vernon Winter Carnival.
Snowed In Comedy Tour (Feb 7 @ Silver Star Resort)
Enjoy one of the biggest comedy tours in Canada, then hit the slopes on the weekend to enjoy skiing and snowboarding, tube town, snowshoeing, fat biking, and more.
Skied Dating—Celebrate Love Day (Feb 10 @ Whitewater Ski Resort)
A fun, relaxed, Kootenay-style “finding-friends-or-maybe-more-than-friends-that-like-to-shred” speed dating event. If you already have a sweetheart, enjoy the partner in crime lunch special.
Trickle Creek “S’mores” Fat Bike Tour (daily @ Kimberley Alpine Resort)
Take a 2-hour guided fat bike tour through the trails of the award-winning Trickle Creek Golf Resort forest. Fire pit, s’mores, and hot beverages available along the way.
Kootenay Coldsmoke Powder Festival (Feb 22-24 @ Whitewater Ski Resort)
In-bounds and backcountry ski and snowboard clinics with the experts, inspiring speakers and films, amazing food, and wild and crazy competitions all weekend long.
Slopes for Hope (Mar 3 @ Red Mountain Resort)
A family-friendly ski-a-thon that will raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Individuals and teams attempt to ski the vertical height of Mt. Everest (29,029 feet) in one day.
Gourmet Ski Week (Mar 4-7 @ Big White Ski Resort)
The ultimate ski holiday for foodies. Culinary experiences will include wine lunches, après cocktails, chef-hosted dinners, and more.
Canadian Formal, Eh (Mar 9 @ Whitewater Ski Resort)
Work in teams of three to complete a snowshoe race, lumberjack challenge, and maple syrup shot ski. Prize for Best Canadian Costume; bring your flannel, denim, and toques.
Beer Goggles (Mar 15-16 @ Red Mountain Resort)
Join the famously ridiculous and epic Beer Goggles Craft Brew Fest, with over 60 craft brewers, music, food, and powder to ski!
Monster Energy Boarderstyle Competition (Mar 15-16 @ Fernie Alpine Resort)
A hybrid boardercross, slopestyle, and obstacle course race, with four snowboarders shredding simultaneously in a tournament-style bracket for prize money.
Clam Slam Caesar Making Event (Mar 17 @ Red Mountain Resort)
The third-annual Caesar showdown and distillery tasting will be brought to you by the Kootenay’s top bartenders. Expect clam-broth/tomato/vodka concoctions, a live DJ, and outdoor BBQ fest.
Belgian Beer Dinner (Mar 29 @ Kicking Horse Resort)
A Bavarian dinner with a B.C. twist, featuring some of Belgium’s top beer producers.
Banks, Cranks, & Brews (Mar 30 @ Panorama Resort)
A banked slalom for snowboarders, fat-tire bikers, and mountain bikers. //
