Heritage Week – Central Okanagan Heritage Society

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BC Heritage Week is a province-wide celebration held each year during the third week of February. Each year, a new theme is chosen to spark creativity and guide events across the province. The week is an open invitation for British Columbians to share stories and experience heritage in their communities. The goal of BC Heritage Week is to inspire people to connect with local heritage and to raise awareness of the many ways it shapes our communities, identities, and daily lives. Heritage advocates, community groups, cultural organizations, and local governments are encouraged to host events that showcase both tangible and intangible heritage. At the same time, members of the public are invited to attend, take part in activities, and share their own stories.

This year, BC Heritage Week takes place from February 16 to 22, 2026. It aligns with both BC’s Family Day and Canada’s National Heritage Day on Monday, February 16, making it an ideal opportunity to explore intergenerational storytelling, shared traditions and community connections.

The 2026 Theme: Stir the Pot: Food brings us together.

It links us to the land and to traditions, ties us to our families and ancestors, and connects cultures and communities. The 2026 BC Heritage Week theme, Stir the Pot is an open invitation to celebrate food as a form of heritage that is both deeply personal and widely shared. From heirloom seeds and traditional cooking and harvesting methods to community feasts and intergenerational recipes, food reflects who we are and where we come from. Stir the Pot also suggests advocacy: it is a call to spark conversation, to bring overlooked stories to the surface, and to address issues of food security, cultural recognition and access. By stirring the pot together, we not only honor traditions but also create space for dialogue and discussion. This year’s theme invites British Columbians to explore food as a vessel of memory, identity, and meaning.

HERITAGE WEEK EVENTS IN THE CENTRAL OKANAGAN

Monday, February 16, 2026:

Heritage Week Opening Event and City of Kelowna’s Family Day Fun Event:

Location: MNP Place: 4105 Gordon Drive, Kelowna (formerly CNC)

Time: 1pm to 4pm

This is a free event!

There will be displays, activities, and music by various organizations celebrating the heritage, culture and history of the valley. There will also be Family Day Fun at the MNP Place featuring fun and games for the whole family! There will be a free draw including fun and interesting items from the participating heritage and cultural organizations.

Come check out the following local heritage and cultural organizations: Central Okanagan Heritage Society; Friends of Abbott Street Heritage Conservation Area; Nushana Collective Wellness; Kelowna Canadian Italian Club; Kelowna Chinese United Association; Kelowna Community Music School; Kelowna District Genealogical Society; Kelowna Pipe Band; Kelowna Tree Protectors; Mandarin Mondays in Kelowna; OCCA Communities Association; Okanagan Historical Society; Okanagan Filipino Canadian Society; Orchard Valley Quilters Guild.

Kelowna Cultural District- Kelowna Heritage Week and Family Day Event:

Celebrate Family Day and Kelowna Heritage Week with a free, walkable cultural experience across the Cultural District. Families are invited to visit three local arts and heritage organizations, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Okanagan Heritage Museum and Kelowna Art Gallery to participate in hands-on programming, and collect stamps in a Family Day passport for a chance to win a prize basket.

Kelowna Art Gallery

Location: 1315 Water Street, Kelowna; Time: 10am to 4pm; Admission: Free Come and celebrate the Okanagan’s rich diversity of food, family recipes and cooking traditions through art. Join us with your family to create artwork inspired by your favourite foods and explore colour, texture and new materials. https://kelownaartgallery.com/family-day/

Okanagan Heritage Museum

Location: 470 Queensway Ave, Kelowna; Time: 12pm to 4pm; Admission: Free Join us for a family-friendly day of discovery at the Okanagan Heritage Museum! Enjoy a mini- presentation and hands-on activities that explore the rich history and heritage of food and why it remains such an essential ingredient in our communities today. https://www.kelownamuseums.ca/event/stir-the-pot-family-day-at-the-okanagan-heritage-museum/

Rotary Centre for the Arts

Location: 421 Cawston Ave, Kelowna; Time: 1pm to 4pm; Admission: Free The RCA invites participants to explore the art of circular and stirring movements through the dances of three unique cultures: Egypt, Hawaii, and India! Join in and celebrate family day by dancing together! Come stir up some fun and experience the world—one circle at a time! https://rotarycentreforthearts.com/events/special-events/kelowna-heritage-week/

Tea and Storytelling at Sncewips!

Location: Sncewips Heritage Museum, #260- 525 Highway 97, West Kelowna; Dates and Times: 11am to 4pm; Admission: by donation Let’s stir the tea-pot at Sncewips for tea-time & storytelling by Coralee Miller on Family Day for BC Heritage Week! https://www.sncewips.com/whats-happening

Family Day Pottery Workshops at the Westbank Museum:

Location: Westbank Museum, 2376 Dobbin Road, West Kelowna; Dates and Times: February 15 & 16^.at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Come celebrate BC Family Day and Heritage Week at the Westbank Museum by coming and making some pottery with Pearl & Fern Pottery! Bring the whole family for an amazing time making pottery together — creating memories and handmade pieces that will last a lifetime! This experience is suitable for beginners age 5 and up and all materials will be provided. Your finished bowl will be taken back to Pearl & Fern’s studio to be bisque fired, glazed in your choice of colour, and will be ready for pickup within a few weeks. There are 12 spaces available per class at $40 per person. Adult attendance and registration is required for registration of participants age 16 and under. Go to https://pearlfern.as.me/schedule/85bddbee/?appointmentTypeIds[]=81422706 to register.

Celebrate Heritage Week at the Lake Country Museum and Archives:

Location: Lake Country Museum, 11255 Okanagan Centre Rd. W, Lake Country; Date and Time: Monday, Feb 16 at 1:00pm to 4:00pm; Admission: $5.00 Join us to celebrate BC Heritage Week this Family Day! This year’s theme is “Stir the Pot,” which celebrates BC’s food systems as a form of heritage. At the Lake Country Museum & Archives, we will explore the history of farming and agriculture in the Okanagan region, with interactive exhibits, local stories, and activities for the kids! https://lakecountrymuseum.com/

Circle Dancing and Art to Connect with Trees:

Location: Kelowna Unitarian Church, 1310 Bertram Street, Kelowna; Date and Time: Monday, February 16 at 1:00pm to 3:00pm; Admission: Free- Everyone is welcome Kelowna Tree Protectors and Kelowna Unitarians are offering a free drop-in workshop featuring circle dancing and an art project themed to connect us with our long heritage with trees. The circle dances are simple and the steps to each dance are taught. No dance experience is required. Our intent is to provide an embodied experience of our deep connection with trees with the hope that we will protect what we love and feel a visceral connection with. Here is a video of one of 3 dances that will take place. share.google/c43rYHjkhbs0tad70

Wednesday, February 18, 2026:

KCUA and JoeAnna’s House — “Share a Meal”:

To celebrate Heritage Week 2026 and the theme “Stir the Pot: Food Brings Us Together”, Kelowna Chinese United Association (KCUA) will partner with JoeAnna’s House to support the “Share a Meal” program on February 18. JoeAnna’s House provides affordable, on-site accommodations for out-of-town families with loved ones receiving care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). KCUA volunteers will prepare and serve a meal to help ease families’ stress and reduce the burden of cooking while they focus on supporting a loved one. joeannashouse.com/share-a-meal

A special cultural dinner will feature: Dumpling making (interactive activity with guests, if they wish); Chinese meal prepared and served by our volunteers on site; A short Chinese Opera “Face Changing” (Bian Lian) performance, presented safely and respectfully in the dining space. Our goal is to bring warmth, cultural exchange, and comfort to families staying at JoeAnna’s House during Heritage Week.

COHS Heritage Awards Presentation:

Location: Benvoulin Heritage Church, 2279 Benvoulin Road, Kelowna; Time: 7pm; Admission: Free As part of this year’s Heritage Week celebrations, the Central Okanagan Heritage Society will be presenting the winners of this year’s Heritage Awards on Wednesday, February 18 at Benvoulin Heritage Church. This is the 42nd year that COHS has presented these awards. This year’s event includes a well-deserved Distinguished Community Service award as well as awards that recognize the unique heritage of the Central Okanagan through its buildings and sites. Refreshments will be available after the presentation. Everyone is welcome to attend. https://okheritagesociety.com/awards/

Thursday, February 19, 2026:

Wine Families of the Central Okanagan:

Location: Via Zoom; Date and Time: Thursday, February 19 at 7pm to 8pm; Admission: Free This year’s Heritage Week theme is, “Stir the Pot.” Let’s celebrate Heritage Week by exploring the history of some of the Central Okanagan wine families, Stirring the Pots Vats to produce great wines! Wine Families of the Central Okanagan, presented by Okanagan wine expert, Luke Whittall – is hosted by the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society and the Okanagan Regional Library. Wine cultures in old world Europe emphasized the family, where meals were shared and wine was enjoyed. Who were the first families to introduce wine and wine culture to Kelowna. To Register: orl.libcal.com/event/3987539

Luke Whittall is an Okanagan wine industry professional who has worked in cellars, vineyards, wine shops since 2005. He has written six books about wine and was a co-author with John Schreiner on the 6^th edition of The Okanagan Wine Tour Guide in 2020. His Sipster’s Pocket Guide series of books for BC and Ontario published by Touchwood Editions have marked a new direction in wine writing since debuting in 2021. Each guide features some of the most amazing wines ever produced in Canada’s largest wine regions. His first book, Valleys of Wine: A Taste of British Columbia’s Wine History was published in 2019. From 2017 to 2022, he taught courses on BC wine history, wine and food pairing, and wines sales and marketing at Okanagan College in Penticton and Kelowna. He is the host and producer of The Sipsters Wine Podcast, which is available on all major podcast platforms and at sipsters.ca.

Friday, February 20, 2026:

Heritage Week Trivia Night with Westbank Museum and the Sncewips Heritage Museum:

Location: Connector Brewing, #101- 3310 Carrington Road, Westbank; Date and Time: Friday, February 20 @ 6:00 PM Do you take pride in being a local history buff? Come join the Westbank Museum and the Sncewips Heritage Museum for the 3rd annual Heritage Week Trivia Night, hosted at Connector Brewing on Friday, February 20th at 6:00 PM. Get your team together (max 8 players per team) and come down to have some fun, learn some new things about your community’s history, and maybe even win some prizes! There will be one round of heritage trivia presented by the Westbank Museum and one by the Sncewips Heritage Museum. There will also be two rounds of music trivia and a bonus round game!

Saturday, February 21, 2026:

Bennett Heritage House- Brookside Manor- Tours:

Location: Bennett House , 1988 Bowes Street, Kelowna; Time: 11am and 1pm; Special Heritage Week Pricing: $15/person or $10 for COHS member Come Celebrate Heritage Week with a guided tour of the Heritage Designated Bennett House (Brookside Manor). This is an exciting opportunity to view this significant heritage building and to discover more about its history and unique style. To celebrate this year’s Heritage Week, the Central Okanagan Heritage Society is offering two 75 minute tours of this historical jewel. Spots are limited for each tour. Pre-Registration is required: okheritagesociety.com/events-at-the-bennett-estate

Weird and Wonderful Tour:

Location: Okanagan Heritage Museum, 470 Queensway Ave, Kelowna; Time: 11am to 12pm; Admission: $15 per person Join us for a fun, family-friendly guided tour of the Weird and Wonderful exhibit! Learn about the museum’s most curious and extraordinary objects. Hear the stories behind staff-selected artifacts, enjoy quirky descriptions from local students, and test your skills with mystery items along the way. Please register at: Weird and Wonderful Tour

Sunday, February 22, 2026:

Cub Club: Flick and Facts:

Location: Okanagan Heritage Museum, 470 Queensway Ave, Kelowna ; Time: 1pm to 2:30pm; Admission: By donation Grab a lab partner and get ready for some silly science with hands-on experiments based on the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movie! Extract fruit DNA, create a cloud in a jar, learn how to make a giant gummy bear, and be amazed at the whimsical power of science! Kelowna Museums’ Cub Club program is designed for curious young explorers to discover history, nature, and culture through fun, hands-on activities every month. To learn more about Cub Club click here. Recommended for kids aged 5-8, but all ages are welcome to attend. Free for those with Family Memberships, contact Maria at mgarcia@kelownamuseums.ca to register. Cub Club: Flick and Facts

Spring Lantern Festival 2026:

Location: Kelowna Events Centre, 2041 Harvey Ave, Kelowna; Date and Time: Sunday, February 22; 4pm to – 8pm; Admission: $85/person Celebrate the magic of the 2026 Spring Lantern Festival with OCCA Communities Association and enjoy one of Kelowna’s most unique family night-out experiences. The evening features authentic traditional Chinese cuisine, vibrant multicultural performances, hands-on cultural activities, a dedicated children’s zone, craft workshops, and a special photo area where families can try on traditional attire from different cultures. An expanded multicultural program showcases performances and presentations from communities across the region. Food lovers can enjoy authentic Chinese New Year dishes rarely available in Kelowna, including a full three-course festival meal for $29. An $85 ticket offers an enhanced culinary experience with additional tastings, extended activities, and a $50 tax receipt supporting community programming. Hosted at the upgraded Kelowna Events Centre with improved accessibility and interactive spaces, this all-in-one event brings families together to celebrate culture, food, and community in a welcoming environment.occabc.ca

All Heritage Week:

Panels of Past Heritage Personality Research:

New panels created by the Kelowna District Genealogical Society (KDGS), along with over 30 panels from past Heritage Weeks will be on display at the downtown Kelowna Library throughout Heritage Week. The new displays include: The Rittich Family: who published a monumental study on the viability of commercial wine-grape growing in the Okanagan in 1941 and had a commercial winery (where Ancient Vines Winery is now). The Quong Wan and Family: the Quong family (or Kwong as the name is often spelled) started the City Café (at the site of the current Beach House Hotel at the corner of Harvey and Water) in 1928 (some reports say as early as 1906), retiring in 1964; the City Café was a popular place for City Council events, corporate banquets and, of course, with individual patrons.

Heritage Week Displays at City Hall in the Display Cabinet:

Check out the display cabinet located on the main floor of Kelowna City Hall. There are displays promoting Heritage Week and the theme of Stir the Pot: Food brings us together. It links us to the land and to traditions, ties us to our families and ancestors, and connects cultures and communities. Four heritage and cultural organizations in Kelowna are highlighted. The four organizations taking part are: Central Okanagan Heritage Society (COHS), Kelowna Canadian Italian Club (KCIC), Kelowna Chinese United Association (KCUA), and Okanagan Filipino Canadian Society (OFCS). The display is up until April 30, 2026.

Stay Tuned for the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club (KCIC) Book Launch- Stir The Pot: A Salute to Italian Foods:

Our Italian ancestors brought with them, the knowledge and skills to live a self sufficient life style. It was more than an economic necessity. Living off the land by hunting, fishing and food gathering, raising their own animals, vegetables and fruit and preserving this abundance, was not only essential, but became a sense of pride. These food traditions are carried forward to today. Food has been, and continues to be, a central theme in most Italian households. In December, 2025, Italian Cuisine became “the first cuisine ever honoured by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage”.

For the month of June 2026 (June 1-30), each day the KCIC will publish one page of their new book via Facebook. At the end of the month, the book will be on the KCIC website, and available in book form in the KCIC library, Okanagan Regional Library, downtown Genealogical library, and Kelowna Public Archives.