53 festivals · 39 with confirmed dates
The festival
year
Every named festival in the Kootenays across 2026, month by month: 53 festivals in all, 39 of them with dates a source actually stated and 14 listed only by the month they land in. June through September carries most of the year. January through March carries a second peak, built entirely on snow.
The year opens on the month you are standing in, and the months already gone sit at the foot. Built to print: two pages, no images, dates in a column. Confirm with the organiser before you drive.
September
The agricultural fair.
Rossland's fall festival: the museum, Third Avenue and a family dance. Dates from the Rossland arts council's and Tourism Rossland's calendars.
Smokiepalooza trail.ca
Butler Park, Trail, one afternoon into the evening. Date from the Trail Smoke Eaters' and the City of Trail's calendars.
Grand Forks and District Fall Fair grandforksfallfair.ca
Grand Forks · the Boundary
Agriculture, horticulture, crafts, home cooking, preserves.
Five days across Fernie: rides, a swim, drag, a punk night, Pride in the Park. Dates from the Fernie Pride Society's own calendar.
Harvest Fest nelsonstar.com
Baker Street, one day.
Pass Creek Fall Fair passcreekfair.com
The family agricultural fair, at Pass Creek.
Hills Garlic Festival wkartscouncil.com
New Denver · the Slocan Valley · runs every September, exact dates not confirmed
Around 160 vendors.
October
Elephant Mountain Literary Festival emlfestival.com
November
Fernie Alpine Resort opening day snowseekers.ca
The ski season starts.
Kootenay Artisan Fair kootenayrockies.com
Nelson · runs every November, exact dates not confirmed
Runs in November and again in December.
Whitewater Ski Team Annual Ski Swap nelsonkootenaylake.com
Nelson · runs every November, exact dates not confirmed
The season's opening social.
December
RED Mountain opening day snowseekers.ca
The ski season starts.
Kimberley Alpine Resort opening day snowseekers.ca
The ski season starts.
Whitewater opening day whitewatermountainresort.com
The ski season starts, and runs to about 4 April 2027.
Kaslo Christmas Light Up and Legion Craft Faire nelsonkootenaylake.com
Kaslo · runs every December, exact dates not confirmed
Earlier in 2026
January
Polar Bear Swim nelsonkootenaylake.com
New Year's Day, every year.
Rossland Winter Carnival rosslandwintercarnival.com
Rossland · since 1898
Canada's longest-running winter carnival.
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour nelsonkootenaylake.com
Nelson · runs every January, exact dates not confirmed
The touring programme's Nelson stop.
February
Kootenay Coldsmoke Powder Festival whitewatermountainresort.com
Workshops and in-bounds clinics, all levels.
Polka Dot Dragon Lantern Festival nelsonkootenaylake.com
Nelson · runs every February, exact dates not confirmed
Winter in the Forest Festival nelsonkootenaylake.com
Kaslo · runs every February, exact dates not confirmed
March
Fernie Griz Days ferniegrizdays.com
49th annual in 2026. Fernie's biggest winter event, first weekend of March.
April
Kootenay Festival of the Arts nelsonkootenaylake.com
Trail · runs every April, exact dates not confirmed
May
Radius Rhythms and Riffs kootenayrockies.com
Radium Hot Springs
Trail Silver City Days trail.ca
Midway, parade, entertainment.
Nelson Garden Starter and Mother's Day Market nelsonstar.com
Hall Street Pier, one day.
Creston Valley Blossom Festival blossomfestival.ca
85th annual, alongside Creston's centennial.
Tiny Lights Festival kootenayrockies.com
Ymir · Kootenay Lake
15th edition in 2026.
Amissa Music Festival nelsonkootenaylake.com
Meadow Creek · Kootenay Lake · runs every May, exact dates not confirmed
Kaslo May Days and Logger Sports nelsonkootenaylake.com
Kaslo · runs every May, exact dates not confirmed
June
Castlegar Sunfest castlegarsunfest.ca
Parade, sports tournament, live music.
Spirit of the Rockies Festival samsteeledays.org
Formerly Sam Steele Days. Third weekend in June.
ArtWalk nelsonkootenaylake.com
Opening night. Runs across venues all summer, with a second opening on 31 July.
Kaslo ArtWalk nelsonkootenaylake.com
Kaslo · runs every June, exact dates not confirmed
Runs June through September.
Kootenay Burlesque Festival nelsonkootenaylake.com
Nelson · runs every June, exact dates not confirmed
July
Steamboat Mountain Music Festival kootenayrockies.com
Edgewater
Fun Field Festival kootenayrockies.com
Wardner
Starbelly Jam starbellyjam.org
Crawford Bay · Kootenay Lake
Music and arts on the East Shore.
Kimberley JulyFest kimberleyjulyfest.com
Third weekend. Arena concert, skate race, artisan market, Canadian Bocce Championships.
Nelson summer night markets nelsonstar.com
Baker Street. Two nights: 24 July and 21 August.
Shambhala Music Festival nelsonkootenaylake.com
Salmo River Ranch · Kootenay Lake
26th annual in 2026.
Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival kaslojazzfest.com
The main 2026 festival was cancelled and replaced by a fundraising Kaslo Block Party. Confirm with the organisers before travelling.
Balfour Daze nelsonkootenaylake.com
Balfour · Kootenay Lake · runs every July, exact dates not confirmed
August
9th edition. Painting runs 15 June to 9 August; mainstage at 91 Baker Street, Railtown. Free.
Unicorn Music Festival kootenayrockies.com
Salmo · Kootenay Lake
Wapiti Music Festival wapitimusicfestival.com
Annex Park.
Columbia Basin Culture Tour wkartscouncil.com
Basin-wide
18th annual. 85 venues, free, self-directed, 10am to 4pm both days.
Flats Fest kootenayrockies.com
Canal Flats
Nelson Pride nelsonpride.ca
30 years of Pride parades. The parade is Sunday 6 September, 2:30pm to 4:30pm.
Kaslo's Birthday nelsonkootenaylake.com
Kaslo · runs every August, exact dates not confirmed