Penticton Culture
Penticton Art Gallery
The Penticton Art Gallery showcases exhibitions of fine and decorative art from local, BC and national artists. Every year, it also displays drawings, photographs and sculptures of the natural environment in association with the Meadowlark Festival. Other exhibits capture life in a desert-like climate or tell stories of the Syilx people that can also be explored at the En'owkin Centre. The Penticton Art Gallery’s location provides a picture perfect ending to a lakeshore stroll that begins at Okanagan Inland Marine Heritage Park, passing by the Pentiction Rose Garden and Penticton-Ikeda Japanese Garden. The gallery is also close to major hotels, restaurants and other attractions in downtown Penticton.
South Okanagan Events Centre
The South Okanagan Events Centre is a hub of sports and entertainment in Penticton and the South Okanagan Valley. It hosts Penticton Vees BCHL Junior A hockey games, concerts of high-profile artists and special events such as the Holiday Festival on Ice. Whether it’s behind the penalty box, in a luxury suite or by the stage, this state-of-the-art, wheelchair accessible facility has great seats for every event. The centre’s close proximity to Penticton’s hotels also makes it a convenient place for hosting anything from a boardroom meeting to a full-scale convention. Sport enthusiasts, music lovers and business dealers may enjoy a restaurant meal at the South Okanagan Events Centre’s on-site Valley First VAULT Bar and Grill.
En'owkin Centre
According to the Syilx people of the Okanagan First Nations, there is a natural law governing human relationships with all living things. The En'owkin Centre in Penticton is a place where this link with nature can be learned by viewing its many carvings, pictographs and story poles. One can imagine how life in an underground house must have been like while standing in the centre’s large circular gathering space. It is also possible to view traditional first nations dances, songs and stories thanks performances put on by the Nak’ulamen Performance Collective. The En'owkin Centre's surrounding gardens and wonderful trails add to its feeling as a place of spirituality and harmony with nature.
Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Life in Canada’s only desert isn’t easy, but it’s one worth exploring at the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre that is located just south of Penticton. Western Rattlesnakes don’t seem to mind the heat from the comfort of their holes, nor do nesting bats keep from entering into the desert’s cold, dark nights. The centre uses a combination of indoor and outdoor galleries with interactive stations and hands-on displays to provide visitors with a glimpse of life in the desert. Individuals may choose to get their hands dirty by digging for artifacts or sit comfortably in a teepee and listen to stories. Self-guided walking trails through 50 acres of Great Basin Desert wind through a reconstructed, traditional Okanagan village as well as a variety of plant and animal life unique to the area. There is no Penticton River Channel to float down out here, nor is the area suitable for gold mining.