An iconic summer tradition is transforming this scenic spot in B.C. into a sea of Elvis lookalikes

Did you know that Penticton is one of just two cities in the world to sit between two lakes? And even better for summer visitors, there’s a popular lazy river connecting them.

Canada’s laziest river

The Penticton River Channel stretches seven kilometres from Okanagan Lake to Skaha Lake, and operator Coyote Cruises soon opens for the season on Saturday, June 27. So if you’ve been craving a scenic float down a river, it’s a good time to mark your calendars!

A quirky local festival

Another popular Penticton attraction to make note of is the upcoming Penticton Elvis Festival, a quirky local tradition that has become a massive Elvis look-alike celebration. Every year, top Elvis impersonators and artists from across the province perform some of Elvis’ biggest hits, all mastering the voice, the stage presence, and rock and roll flair.

From June 24 to 28, a series of Elvis-themed events will take over locations across the city, including a now sold-out kickoff party, a Sunday gospel show and pancake breakfast, and an Elvis look-alike competition at Okanagan Lake Park.

While professional Elvis tributes will be selected by a panel of judges, they’ll also crown non-professional impersonators (including “little kings“), so all festival attendees have the chance to show up in their finest Elvis gear.

The current Penticton Elvis Fest champion is Bruno Nesci, a professional Elvis Tribute Artist who has performed across Canada and internationally. This year, he’ll be headlining the festival from June 26 to 28.

This quirky celebration is a pretty neat way to experience the city if you’re already planning an Okanagan trip!

Canada’s Craft Beer Capital

Considered the Craft Beer Capital of Canada, Penticton has tons of year-round tasting rooms to check out, including eight craft breweries, two cideries, and three distilleries, all within walking/biking distance of the downtown core. And if you’re more of a wine person, there are nearly 90 wineries in the city and surrounding area to visit, so you’ve got plenty of options there.

Whether you book a wine tour, a weekend on the lake, or just want to pop by for a couple of Elvis-inspired musical acts, there are plenty of reasons to visit Penticton this upcoming season.

How to get there: Drive four hours and 25 minutes from Vancouver to Penticton via Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1 E, BC-5 N and BC-97C

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