Whether you’re a frequent visitor or visiting Penticton for the first time this month, you’ll be happy to hear that there are plenty of fun things to do in town this month. Penticton is in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, after all! From outdoor sports to fun outings for the entire family, take a look at our top five things to do in Penticton this November:
1. Festival of Lights
If you’re in town on November 27th this month, make sure to stop by the annual Festival of Lights. Taking place in Summerland, this 28 year-old tradition features an amazing light display all around town as well as live music, carnival games, street performers, and fun light up head gear. Take part in all the fun and get into the holiday spirit with thousands of other festival-goers on the last weekend of November!
2. Winter wine tour
Wine tours aren’t just for the summer! There are several wineries around Penticton that are open for wine tours in the off-season (from November to April 30th.) This will be a completely different experience than your summer wine tour as you’ll get to experience the unique icewine-making process. Walk amongst a picturesque vineyard in the late fall and observe a very special type of harvest and fermentation process. Icewine grapes need to be kept at below -8 degrees celsius at all times before they pressed, which makes it a very difficult type of wine to grow. Canada is one of the few countries to have such consistently, cold temperatures, making it one of only a handful of countries to grow and sell ice wine in the world. For a true wine connoisseur, this is a must see experience.
3. Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park
For travelers looking for adventure, there’s nothing better than Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park. It offers a variety of exciting activities, including world class rock-climbing opportunities, as well hiking, cycling and horseback riding. For those who prefer the scenic route, relaxing walking trails are also open to the public, not too mention wildlife viewing. You never know, you might just be the lucky visitor who gets a glimpse of a big horn sheep!
4. Kettle Valley Rail Trail
Kettle Valley Rail Trail is the ultimate park for serious cyclists. The park covers over 455 kilometers of land and has every biking trail surface imaginable. From firm cement pathways to advanced sandy terrain, this trail is a great option for cyclists looking for both a challenge and an opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of the area. The full ride takes about four days to complete, with plenty of opportunity to explore the area surrounding the trail (Naramata and Penticton) in between.
5. Beer tour
If you favour beer over wine, you’re going to love all of the beer tours available in Penticton. Grape Friends Lounge & Tours offers a slew of tours for you to take part in, including an impressive “Beer Buddies” tour that includes visiting three different distilleries and four micro breweries. If you’re in town in November and need a fun night out, this beer tour seems like a sure thing!