Celebrate Local this Holiday Season
Plan a Pre-Holiday Weekend Getaway
With a variety of charming shops and a vibrant arts and culture scene, Vernon is the perfect place for a pre-holiday weekend getaway. This quaint city has plenty of options to find the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list and enjoy some festive fun at one of the many events happening during the holiday season.
Shop & Support Local
This holiday season, consider the planet and your environmental impact when gift shopping.
Find sustainable styles and eco-friendly brands at Kaleco Clothing and Antlr Menswear both located in Downtown Vernon. Wearabouts Clothing Co. carries many planet forward brands for fun, functional fashion. Sustainability forward businesses like Planet Bee Honey Farm, and Olive Us are great options to get edible gifts for everyone on your list.
Bring your own (clean) containers to Fill Vernon’s Refill store and fill up on soaps and bath products. They have tons of variety and make great gifts. By re-using containers to fill, you're helping make our world a greener place by reducing single-use plastic.
Thrifting is another great way to minimize your environmental impact, while checking those gifts off your “nice list”. Vernon has some excellent consignment and thrift stores, including: Carousel Consignments, Little Plum Children’s Boutique, Sauvé Boutique or Expressions of Time.
Instead of ordering gifts from the big online retailers, consider supporting local Vernon businesses that make our community vibrant and welcoming. Here are a few places to browse:
For the kids
- Vernon Teach and Learn (they offer free gift wrapping!)
- Teeter Totter Toys (they offer gift wrapping by donation)
- Chicken Little
For the decorator
- Good Gracious Contemporary Gifts (they offer free gift wrapping!)
- The Room Collection
- Distinctive Décor Antiques
For the outdoor adventurer
For the connoisseur
- Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery
- Cambium Cider Co
- Honeymoon Mead (from Planet Bee Honey Farm)
For the party host
Holiday Artisan Markets
- A Festival of Crafts & Gifts: November 17 & 18 at Kal Tire Place
- Annual Outdoor Christmas Market: November 18 & 25 at Farmstrong Cider Company
- Winter Market: November 25 at Schubert Centre
- Artsolutely Artisan Sale: December 1 to 24 at the Vernon Community Arts Centre
- Winter Love Market: December 2 at CC Bloom Flower Farm
- Shoparama Holiday Gift Sale: December 2 & 3 at Vernon Recreation Centre
- Sleigh All Day – Christmas Market: December 8 & 9 & 10 at Kal Tire Place
- SilverStar Winter Festival - Last Chance Market: December 16 at SilverStar Mountain Resort
Fabulous Festive Events
- Countdown to Carnival Light-Up on November 25 in Civic Plaza
- The Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre has a spectacular line up this December with The Debaters, Andrew Allen, and so much more
- For evening musical entertainment, head to the Vernon Jazz Club for a Saturday night show
- Get in the spirit with It’s a Wonderful Life at the Powerhouse Theatre
- Visit Caravan Farm Theatre to see The Nutcracker, the winter sleigh ride show is a perfect family tradition
- Take in A Christmas Carol, an immersive processional theatrical experience at O’Keefe Ranch
To find all the exciting events happening in Vernon this holiday season, check out Tourism Vernon’s events calendar.
Tantalize your Taste Buds
- Take the family to Santa Brunch on Sundays at Predator Ridge Resort
- Taste exceptionally delicious plant-forward fare at The Roxy Cafe
- Visit Midtown Bistro for local comfort food and try their pulled pork sliders and mac and cheese
- Sample Eatology’s all day breakfast or tackle their famous BLT grilled cheese almighty in the heart of downtown
- Try our Hot Sips walking tour to find the top spots to warm up with a hot drink around the downtown area
- Explore Vernon’s foodie scene at one of the many local eateries
Immerse yourself in Arts & Culture
Check out Vernon's extensive arts and culture scene for a relaxing afternoon with the following:
- Engaging exhibits at the Vernon Public Art Gallery and the Museum and Archives of Vernon
- Local artist pieces at Gallery Vertigo
- Art classes and workshops at the Vernon Community Arts Centre
- Critically-acclaimed films at The Vernon Towne Theatre
- Vernon's many historic murals on a walking tour, including the newest butterfly mural located near Gallery Vertigo
To help you decide where to stay, it is important to note many of the hotels are within walking distance to shops, entertainment, restaurants and more. Check out the vacation packages page to help score a deal on accommodation this holiday season.
