Spring in Vernon, British Columbia, comes with a full calendar of events that spread across parks, ski hills, orchards, and community centres. This is not just a summary of what's happening; it's a practical look at what each festival offers, how they unfold, and what you can expect if you plan to attend.
SEISMIC Spring Mountain Festival
SEISMIC is a 10-day event held at SilverStar Mountain Resort from late March into early April, blending competitive mountain sports with live music, food, and outdoor activities. The event transforms the ski hill into a series of pop-up venues, terrain park features, and community spaces designed to bring skiers, riders, and locals together.
Signature events include the SMITH Rail Jam and the Sovereign2SilverStar Ski Marathon, both of which attract participants from across the region. The Rail Jam focuses on freestyle skiing and snowboarding in a custom-built terrain park, while the ski marathon is a long-distance Nordic race that links Sovereign Lake and SilverStar. Throughout the week, live music performances from acts like SkiiTour and Mariya Stokes add energy to the hill, while food trucks and beer gardens offer places to relax. Families can also take part in activities such as bingo and craft sessions.
Beyond the entertainment, SEISMIC provides a boost to the local economy during the shoulder season. Businesses in both the resort village and the town benefit from the increased traffic, and many accommodations offer special packages. For those planning a spring ski trip, the festival adds music and events to the final weeks of the snow season.
Vernon Spring Home Show
Held in March at Kal Tire Place, the Vernon Spring Home Show focuses on residential improvements, with displays ranging from kitchen renovations and energy-efficient windows to landscaping and garden tools. Free to attend and set up for easy browsing, the event allows visitors to compare a wide range of products and services from local and regional businesses.
Exhibitors travel from across British Columbia, often using the show to launch seasonal promotions or introduce new product lines. Visitors come to gather quotes, ask technical questions, and schedule service appointments for the months ahead. The layout is designed to appeal to homeowners planning large-scale renovations as well as those looking for small upgrades.
For business owners, the event is an opportunity to meet clients in person. Booths are usually staffed by owners or technicians rather than sales representatives, so conversations can get into the specifics of each project. For anyone planning changes at home, the show offers practical insights in a setting that encourages open dialogue without retail pressure.
Vernon Spring Artisan & Lifestyle Market
Running the same weekend as the Home Show, the Vernon Spring Artisan & Lifestyle Market takes over another section of Kal Tire Place. This event highlights handmade goods, small-batch products, and wellness-focused items, bringing together vendors that include local soap makers, print artists, and makers of household and personal care products.
Organizers prioritize variety, ensuring the vendor list includes a broad mix of products rather than repeat booths. Visitors can browse home decor, sample essential oil blends, or talk directly with the person who crafted the items on display. Many vendors offer workshops or demonstrations, giving people a closer look at their process and providing ideas for how to use or make similar products.
The market serves as both a sales platform and a networking event for small producers. It also brings foot traffic to businesses near the venue. With its timing alongside the Home Show, it benefits from shared attendance and provides a different kind of shopping experience that focuses more on craft and lifestyle.
Spring Festival at Cambium
In April, Cambium Cider Co. hosts a Spring Festival in their orchard space just outside Vernon. The event features a local makers market, guided orchard tours, and food and drink options that centre around the company’s cider production.
The orchard setting is used for both vendor booths and scheduled activities. Guided walks include a "Bug Walk" for families, where a biologist discusses pollination and insect biodiversity in the region. Other tours focus on the history of the orchard, tree varietals, and seasonal maintenance practices like pruning. A professional photographer is available for portraits among the apple trees.
Throughout the day, live music provides a relaxed background. In 2025, Inge & The Swing Miners are set to perform. The on-site kitchen operates a wood-fired pizza oven, and cider tastings are offered at both scheduled intervals and walk-up stations. The event attracts casual visitors and those looking for a more structured orchard experience, making it more than just a market.
Okanagan Spring Wine Festival
Though spread across the Okanagan Valley, the Spring Wine Festival includes several events in or near Vernon. Held in early May, the festival features wine tastings, vineyard dinners, and sessions with winemakers. Local wineries typically run their own programs as part of the wider festival.
Nearby producers like Intrigue Wines and 50th Parallel Estate host tastings paired with food or live music. Some events highlight new releases or explore specific varietals, while others offer ticketed vineyard dinners with long-table seating. Educational events include seminars led by winemakers and guided pairings focused on food and wine combinations.
The festival draws both visitors from outside the region and locals interested in reconnecting with area wineries ahead of the summer season. Most events are 19+, but some locations provide family-friendly options or non-alcoholic tastings. The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society coordinates event schedules, ticketing, and transportation.
Why Spring Festivals Matter in Vernon
Spring festivals in Vernon are shaped by the changing season. While snow remains on the mountains, the valley begins to bloom, creating opportunities to hold events in both settings. Festivals take advantage of this overlap, offering skiing competitions one week and orchard markets the next.
These events also help spread tourism more evenly throughout the year. Instead of waiting for summer, visitors come in March, April, and May, which helps local businesses and reduces seasonal strain. Each festival is designed with a clear focus—be it a mountain race, a cider tasting, or a handmade goods market—and each sticks to what it does best. That consistency keeps people coming back.
