Showcasing the best of the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys’ natural environments, Meadowlark Festival is the flagship public event presented by the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA). This year the festival offers 78 tours including hiking, cycling, horseback riding, canoeing, geology tours, astronomy events, children`s programs, film screenings, art exhibitions, Aboriginal events, and photography, painting and writing workshops.
“We really try to provide programming that sparks interest across a broad spectrum,” says Janet Willson, Chair, OSCA Board of Directors. “We want to appeal to all sorts of people and get them out to enjoy and appreciate this amazing environment in which we live.”
Offering entertaining and educational events that allow participants the opportunity to engage with experts in their fields, Meadowlark tours take participants as far west as Princeton, north to Kelowna and Peachland, south to Osoyoos and everywhere in between including Summerland, Naramata, Cawston, Keremeos, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Penticton. The maximum number of participants for most tours is intentionally kept under 25 to ensure festival-goers have the best-possible one-on-one experience.
“We definitely pride ourselves on being one of the biggest nature festivals in North America,” exclaims Willson. “Meadowlark draws people from across Canada and the Pacific North-western United States, and also from as far as Asia and Europe! We are very proud to be building such a wonderful community legacy.”
Tickets are available online from the Meadowlark Nature Festival website at meadowlarkfestival.bc.ca. Tickets can be purchased in-person at the Meadowlark’s offices at the Shatford Centre, 760 Main Street, Penticton every Wednesday and Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm, between April 8 and May 13.