Christmas Events for Kids in Kelowna (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Kelowna. The season opens on November 28 with Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market and runs until December 6 with Winterfest. Every event here is free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Canada.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Kelowna and West Kelowna: 3
  • First: Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market, Kelowna, November 28
  • Free events: Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market, Light Up in West Kelowna and Winterfest

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Kelowna

Kids’ Christmas events
3 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Kelowna and West Kelowna
Season
November 28 to December 6
Free events
3
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Kelowna

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Kelowna.

Christmas marketFree

Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market

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The Downtown Kelowna Light Up is the city's kick-off to the holiday season, held at Stuart Park on Saturday, November 28, 2026. Tourism Kelowna describes it as a free community event with activities for kids of all ages.

Around the park you will find a winter street market of local makers selling handmade goods, gifts and seasonal treats, plus food trucks, drinks and live performances. Skating and a chance to see Santa are part of the evening. The entry does not give start and end times, so check the Downtown Kelowna Association page nearer the date before you plan bedtimes.

Parent tip: Times are not posted yet, so look again closer to the day. Dress the kids for an outdoor night by the lake.

Host
Tourism Kelowna (opens in a new tab)
Where
Stuart Park, Stuart Park, downtown Kelowna waterfront (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tourism Kelowna (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in West Kelowna

Listed soonest first: 2 confirmed events in West Kelowna.

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 2 more Kelowna events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Kelowna.
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  • Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
  • Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
  • One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.

Coming up on this page

  • 3 Santa
  • 2 Lights
  • 2 Crafts
  • 2 Markets
  • 3 Free

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Visit with SantaFree

Light Up in West Kelowna

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Light Up fills Brown Road in Westbank Centre on Friday, December 4, from 6 to 9 pm. The countdown and tree lighting is at 6:30 pm with the Mayor, Council and CNB Leadership students. The street party has inflatable games, family activities, community booths and food trucks, while local school choirs and bands play on the main stage from 6 to 8:30 pm.

A craft market runs 6 to 9 pm at the Lions hall next to the street, with live jazz. Pictures with Santa are offered, with no time listed. A high-altitude fireworks show over Memorial Park closes the night at 8:45 pm. The City calls it a free community event, and the tourism entry mentions free hot chocolate.

Parent tip: The fireworks start at 8:45 pm, so plan for a late finish with younger children. Photo times with Santa were not listed.

Host
City of West Kelowna (opens in a new tab)
Where
Brown Road, Westbank Centre, Brown Rd (between Main St and Gossett Rd), West Kelowna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of West Kelowna (opens in a new tab)

New events in Kelowna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Kelowna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Story time with SantaFree

Winterfest (West Kelowna)

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Winterfest is West Kelowna's free family weekend, held on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, 2026. It takes over the arena and courtyard at the Mount Boucherie Community Centre. The City names two Santa activities so far: Storytime with Santa and Skate with Santa.

The page says more activities are planned and that the full schedule will be posted on November 20, so session times are not available yet. The City describes the weekend as being for the entire family and does not set an age range. For questions, the recreation team lists recreation@westkelownacity.ca.

Parent tip: Look for the schedule after November 20 to pick your Storytime with Santa slot.

Host
City of West Kelowna (opens in a new tab)
Where
Mount Boucherie Community Centre arena and courtyard, 2760 Cameron Road, West Kelowna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of West Kelowna (opens in a new tab)

New events in Kelowna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Kelowna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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More Christmas events for kids in Canada

A story for the trip home

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Christmas events for kids in Kelowna: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Kelowna?

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Kelowna, each on its host’s own page: Light Up in West Kelowna (West Kelowna), Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market and Winterfest (West Kelowna). Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Kelowna?

Yes, every event here is free: Light Up in West Kelowna (West Kelowna), Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market and Winterfest (West Kelowna).

Where can kids see Santa this year in Kelowna?

Where to see Santa: Light Up in West Kelowna (West Kelowna), Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market and Winterfest (West Kelowna). Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Kelowna?

Christmas story times on this page: Winterfest (West Kelowna).

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 5, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Kelowna

Kelowna's Christmas comes in light-up nights. Stuart Park switches on downtown, Westbank Centre counts down on Brown Road, and a Rutland street fills with decorated homes.

Five Light Up nights and a Collison Road street of lights

Kelowna starts December with switch-on nights rather than one big parade. Kelowna.com counts five Light Up events around the valley, among them the Downtown Kelowna Light Up at Stuart Park and the Light Up on Brown Road in Westbank Centre. West Kelowna's Light Up and Winterfest were already described as annual in a 2016 report. Candy Cane Lane in Rutland's Spring Valley is the other staple, a free display of decorated homes that Castanet, in an undated report, said had run about 15 years.

Parade with a Purpose number six rolled downtown on Dec. 6

In 2025 the sixth Parade with a Purpose went through downtown Kelowna on Saturday, December 6, from 6 to 7:30 pm. Candy Cane Lane sits on Collison Road in Rutland, free to visit, and Castanet said donations go to causes including the Kelowna Women's Shelter and the Salvation Army. Kelowna.com also lists the Festival of Trees at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort among the season's family outings.

A parade from Kettle Valley and helmets in every size

Parade with a Purpose began in Kettle Valley, and Castanet said it was started to support Youth Recovery House. It ends with a Santa Claus float. At West Kelowna's Winterfest in 2016, skates and helmets in all sizes were free to borrow, and kids could decorate cookies and get their faces painted. This year the Light Up countdown in Westbank Centre includes CNB Leadership students. In Summerland, the Kettle Valley Steam Railway runs a Christmas Express with music, lights and hot cocoa.

Traditions today

  • Downtown Kelowna Light Up: A free night at Stuart Park with a winter street market, food trucks, live performances, skating and Santa. In 2026 it is on Saturday, November 28.
  • Light Up in West Kelowna: Tree lighting on Brown Road in Westbank Centre with a craft market, school choirs and fireworks at 8:45 pm. In 2026 it is on Friday, December 4.
  • Winterfest at Mount Boucherie: A free family weekend with Storytime with Santa and Skate with Santa, on December 5 and 6, 2026.
  • Parade with a Purpose: A December evening parade through downtown Kelowna that ends with a Santa Claus float. The sixth one was on December 6, 2025.
  • Candy Cane Lane: A free street of decorated homes in Rutland, on Collison Road. Castanet said donations go to local causes.
  • Festival of Trees: Decorated trees at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, listed by Kelowna.com.

A fact for kids

At West Kelowna's Winterfest in 2016, kids could borrow skates and helmets in every size for free, then decorate a cookie and meet Santa.

Questions about Christmas in Kelowna

Which night is the Downtown Kelowna Light Up in 2026?

The Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market is on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at Stuart Park. Tourism Kelowna calls it a free community event with activities for kids of all ages. The entry does not give start and end times, so check again closer to the day before you plan your evening.

What is going on at Stuart Park on Light Up night besides the lights?

Tourism Kelowna lists a winter street market with local makers selling handmade goods, gifts and seasonal treats, plus food trucks, drinks and live performances. Skating and visits from Santa are on the entry too. It is a free community event, and the page gives no age limit.

Who helps count down the West Kelowna Light Up tree lighting?

The countdown and tree lighting at the West Kelowna Light Up is at 6:30 pm on Friday, December 4, 2026, on Brown Road in Westbank Centre. Local reporting has described CNB Leadership students as part of the countdown. The fireworks come later, at 8:45 pm, so younger kids may want a nap first.

What date is the West Kelowna Light Up in 2026?

The West Kelowna Light Up is on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 6 to 9 pm on Brown Road in Westbank Centre. The Visit Westside page is titled Light Up 2026 and describes a family-friendly evening with a tree lighting, live music, a craft market and food trucks. The City calls it a free community event.

What time are the countdown and fireworks at the West Kelowna Light Up?

The countdown and tree lighting is at 6:30 pm and the high-altitude fireworks are at 8:45 pm on Friday, December 4. Main stage performances by local school choirs and bands run from 6 to 8:30 pm, and the craft market is open from 6 to 9 pm. Photo times with Santa were not listed.

Where exactly is the West Kelowna Light Up held?

The street party is on Brown Road between Main Street and Gossett Road in Westbank Centre. The craft market is at the Westbank Lions Community Centre next to Brown Road, and the fireworks are set off at Memorial Park. The City page gives no street numbers, so follow the signs once you arrive.

Can my kids get a photo with Santa at the West Kelowna Light Up?

Yes, pictures with Santa are offered during the Light Up on December 4, 2026. The City page gives no time for the photos. The Brown Road street party also has inflatable games, family activities, community booths and food trucks, and the tourism page mentions free hot chocolate.

What are the dates of West Kelowna Winterfest in 2026, and is it free?

Winterfest is on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, 2026, in the arena and courtyard at the Mount Boucherie Community Centre. The City lists it as free and for the entire family. The full schedule is due to be posted on November 20, so session times are not available yet.

What can little kids do at Winterfest?

The City names Storytime with Santa and Skate with Santa for the 2026 weekend, and says more activities are planned without naming them. There is no stated age range. Contact the recreation team at recreation@westkelownacity.ca if you have a question about your child before the schedule comes out.

Is Winterfest in West Kelowna a new event?

No. A 2016 report from the City called both Winterfest and the Light Up annual. That year Winterfest ran on Sunday, December 4, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Mt. Boucherie Community Centre, 2760 Cameron Road, with free skating, crafts, face painting, cookie decorating and Santa. Skates and helmets in all sizes were free to use.

What is the Parade with a Purpose in Kelowna?

It is an evening Christmas parade through downtown Kelowna. The sixth one was on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 pm, and Castanet reported more than 30 floats. Castanet also said it began in Kettle Valley to support Youth Recovery House, and Kelowna.com says it ends with a Santa Claus float.

Has a 2026 date been set for Parade with a Purpose?

No 2026 date has been confirmed yet, so check the organizers before you go. The 2025 parade was on Saturday, December 6, from 6 to 7:30 pm in downtown Kelowna, and Kelowna.com says it ends with a Santa Claus float. Look again later in the autumn for an announcement.

What is Candy Cane Lane in Kelowna?

Candy Cane Lane is a free display of decorated houses in the Spring Valley area of Rutland, on Collison Road. Castanet, in an undated report, said it had run about 15 years, and that donations go to causes including the Kelowna Women's Shelter and the Salvation Army. Dates were not confirmed for 2026, so check before you drive over.

Where can families see the Festival of Trees near Kelowna?

Kelowna.com lists the Festival of Trees at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, among the family outings of the season. No 2026 dates have been announced, so check the resort before you plan a visit. Kelowna.com also lists several Light Up nights around the valley, which pair well with a tree visit.

Can kids skate at Stuart Park at Christmas?

The 2026 Downtown Kelowna Light Up entry mentions skating at Stuart Park, and Tourism Kelowna's holiday article for families has described the Stuart Park rink as free to enter, with skate rentals and skate aids costing extra. That article was written in 2024, so confirm the 2026 opening date with the City of Kelowna.

How many Light Up nights does Kelowna.com list around the valley?

Kelowna.com lists five Light Up events around the valley, including the Downtown Kelowna Light Up at Stuart Park and the Light Up on Brown Road at Westbank Centre. In 2026 the downtown one is on November 28 and the West Kelowna one is on December 4, both free, so a family can easily catch two in a week.

Can we ride the Christmas Express near Kelowna?

Kelowna.com says families can hop aboard the Christmas Express at Kettle Valley Steam Railway in Summerland, with music, lights and hot cocoa. Dates and ticket prices have not been announced, so check with the railway before you drive. Summerland is a drive south of Kelowna along the lake.

Where should we go for Christmas with kids in Kelowna in 2026?

Three free options have confirmed 2026 dates: the Downtown Kelowna Light Up at Stuart Park on November 28, the West Kelowna Light Up on Brown Road on December 4, and Winterfest at Mount Boucherie Community Centre on December 5 and 6. Rally Takes the Train's Kelowna Christmas events guide keeps the list current as hosts publish dates.

Besides the Light Up at Stuart Park, what can kids do at Christmas around Kelowna?

Across the lake in West Kelowna there is a Light Up with fireworks on December 4 and Winterfest on December 5 and 6 with Storytime with Santa and Skate with Santa. In Rutland, Candy Cane Lane shows decorated homes on Collison Road, and the Festival of Trees is at the Delta Grand.

Is The Nutcracker on in Kelowna at Christmas?

Tourism Kelowna's November 2024 holiday article said the Canadian School of Ballet was returning to the Kelowna Community Theatre for its 34th year of performing The Nutcracker. No 2026 dates have been announced, so check the theatre before you buy tickets.

Sources

  1. Downtown Kelowna Light Up & Winter Street Market, Tourism Kelowna
  2. Winterfest, City of West Kelowna
  3. Light Up, City of West Kelowna
  4. Light Up 2026, Visit Westside
  5. Parade with a Purpose returning to downtown Kelowna, Castanet
  6. Candy Cane Lane, tree light-ups and a winter street market usher in December in Kelowna, Castanet
  7. Winter fun begins in West Kelowna, iNFOnews
  8. Celebrating Christmas in Kelowna, Kelowna.com
  9. Kid-Friendly Holiday Events Around Kelowna, Tourism Kelowna
Kelsey Cecil
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