Over 6,000 Celebrate Canada Day at the 51st Kelowna Folkfest

ed07818
Jul 4
3 min read

Updated: Jul 11

Kelowna, BC – July 1, 2026 — More than 6,000 people gathered at Prospera Place on Canada Day to celebrate the 51^st Kelowna Folkfest, the Okanagan's longest-running and largest indoor multicultural festival. Founded by the late Ben Lee, Folkfest has been bringing people together for more than five decades to celebrate Canada's rich cultural diversity through music, dance, food, art, and community.

Kelowna Folkfest is proudly funded by the City of Kelowna and organized by the Kelowna Folkfest Committee, an entirely volunteer-run group. The festival is delivered in partnership with community organizations, sponsors, and cultural groups who generously contribute their time, talent, and resources to make this annual celebration possible.

This year’s festival featured continuous performances from local and international cultural groups, highlighting traditions from across the world, alongside international food booths, community exhibits, and family-friendly activities.

A major highlight of the day was the National Livestreamed Canada Day Drumming Celebration, which connected Kelowna to communities across Canada in a synchronized national moment of unity and celebration.

Canada Day Drumming Livestream – Replay:

https://www.youtube.com/live/UtkhmnRJa5Y?si=9hvir3fY8qjU5mo6

The Canada Day ceremony welcomed dignitaries and community leaders from all levels of government and local organizations, with greetings delivered by municipal, provincial, and federal representatives alongside community leaders. The ceremony was emceed by Councillors Ron Cannan and Mohini Singh.

Participating dignitaries included:

Stephen Fuhr, MP, Kelowna
Dan Albas, MP, Okanagan Lake West–South Kelowna
Gavin Dew, MLA, Kelowna–Mission
Mayor Tom Dyas, City of Kelowna
Councillor Maxine DeHart, City of Kelowna
Councillor Gord Lovegrove, City of Kelowna
Councillor Rick Webber, City of Kelowna
Councillor Charlie Hodge, City of Kelowna
Superintendent Chris Goebel, RCMP
Community and cultural representatives including Kelowna Folkfest partners and local organizations

The ceremony concluded with the traditional Canada Day cake, generously sponsored by Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty Ltd., with Save-On-Foods assisting with the cake-cutting ceremony. Attending dignitaries then served the cake to the public, sharing the celebration with thousands of attendees.

Event attendees also enjoyed complimentary professional photography, allowing families to capture lasting memories of the day.

Photos from the event:https://gallery.spotmyphotos.com/event/7e572519-10b5-4976-a737-c181042351ea?token=d40529fa679314ea271f1dd218b7d7fc77ecd733&feed=live

Video highlights:

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/738e6c_3055a91ea8824c04b8c75640100cc94b/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

“Kelowna Folkfest continues to be a powerful reminder of what makes our community strong,” said Elna von Dach, Chair of the Kelowna Folkfest Committee. “To see thousands of people come together in celebration of culture, friendship, and Canada Day is truly inspiring. This festival belongs to the entire community.”

The Kelowna Folkfest Committee extends its sincere gratitude to all sponsors, performers, volunteers, and community partners whose contributions made the 51^st festival possible, including the City of Kelowna, Festivals Kelowna, Canadian Heritage, Global Citizen Events, OCCA Communities Association, Asian Heritage Okanagan, World Trade Centre Okanagan, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #26, Kelowna Lady of the Lake Society, Dragon King, Sun Life Lisa Liang, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Jade Buffet, and many other generous supporters.

The 2026 Kelowna Folkfest Committee includes:

Elna von Dach – Chair
Fei Liu – Vice-Chair
Linda Kovach – Secretary
Julia Proulx – Treasurer
Directors: Marriana Chen, Bella Mockford, Steven Finkleman, Andy Wang, Emydel Ortiz, Noushin Mahmoudpour

The committee thanks the community for its continued support and looks forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another celebration of Canada’s cultural diversity.

About Kelowna Folkfest

Founded by the late Ben Lee in 1974, Kelowna Folkfest is the Okanagan's longest-running multicultural festival. Although the festival was paused for one year during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2026 celebration marks its 51^st annual Folkfest. The festival is organized by the Kelowna Folkfest Committee, an entirely volunteer-run group, in partnership with local cultural organizations. This annual Canada Day celebration highlights the rich cultural diversity of the Okanagan through music, dance, food, arts, and community engagement.