This 4,000 person town sits at the northern tip of the American Great Basin Desert which extends all the way to Mexico. The area was established under a land grant in 1921 by the BC Premier “honest” John Oliver, to settle veterans from the First World War. They dammed the river to the north of town and built an irrigation canal (called “the Ditch” by locals). This converted the desert valley floor and hillsides into productive orchards and vineyards. The Fairview Townsite, 3 kilometres west on Fairview Rd, was an 1880s boomtown in the gold rush days but was abandoned in 1906.
The town has a number of golf courses and an 18 kilometre bike trail along the Similkameen River. The valley has fine rivers, lakes and streams for swimming, fishing and boating. Bear and Madden Lakes are known for trout fishing, and Vaseux Lake an Inkaneep provincial parks are nearby.
Oliver-Osoyoos Festivals
| Event | Date | Description |
| Chopaka Rodeo | mid April | Annual First Nations Event, Rodeo Hwy 3 (26 km east of Keremeos) 250–499-5528 |
| Oliver Arts & Culture Week | late Apr | Handworks Gallery with local artists & open house at PawPrints Gallery, Weaver’s Workshop, quilters open house & Showcase of Talent with 12-18 year old performers. Weavers open house, Art Club Show, Sage Valley Singers concert, songs of the 40’s. Quails Nest Arts Centre, Oliver 250-498-0104 |
| Okanagan Valley Music Festival | mid May | Oroville (just south of US border) |
| Caribou Trail Reining and Cow Horse Association | mid May | Okanogan County fairgrounds. |
| 49ers Day | mid May | 12 49ers Day celebration with packers’ gathering, parade, food cook-offs and more. Winthrop (just south of US border) 888-463-8469 |
| Elks Rodeo & parade | late May | Rodeo events on Saturday & Sunday. Elk Rodeo Parade & lawn mower races on Monday at the rodeo grounds. Famous pancake breakfast in Memorial Park Rodeo Grounds, River Rd, Keremeos 250–499-5175. |
| Winthrop Rodeo Days | late May | Winthrop (just south of US border) 509-996-2125. |
| Molson Mid-Summer Fest | mid-June | Molson 509-476-2739. |
| Old Oroville Days. | late June | Oroville (just south of US border) 509-476-2739. |
| Cherry Fiesta | 39995 | Many events are planned through out the day, including a pancake breakfast, parade, the Cherry Spitting competition, and at night end with a Fireworks display. Oliver 250–495-7142 or 1 (888) 676-9667. |
| Canada Day | 39995 | Canada Day celebration Memorial Park, Keremeos 250–499-5225. |
| Canada Day | 39995 | Celebrate Canada Day with a pancake breakfast, parade, cherry pit spit contest, fireworks & more. Osoyoos Community Beach & Park 250-495-7132 |
| Kinsmen Rodeo and Dance | late August | Kinsmen Rodeo Dance at Community Centre 498-3127 Rodeo Grounds 250-497-6934 |
| BC Day celebration | early August | Memorial Park, Keremeos 250–499-5747. |
| Rendezvous Blues Festival | end August | Smith Point Orchard, Oroville. (just south of US border) 509-560-3301 |
| Rodeo Days | end August | Winthrop (just south of US border) 888-463-8469. |
| Annual Fall Apple Day | late Sept | Mini fair to celebrate the best of life in apple country Grist Mill, Keremeos 250–499-2888 |
| Pepper Festival | late Sept | Memorial Park, and Victory Hall for dinner and dance. Harvest festival of peppers with music, dancing, food and vendors Memorial Park, Keremeos 250–499-5300 |
| Okanagan Wine Festival | mid Oct | Consistently ranked as one of the top wine festivals around, the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is sure to leave a lasting impression on wine lovers. With over 100 events on-hand to help celebrate the fall harvest during this 10-day celebration, you’re sure to be impressed. various locations around the Okanagan 250 861-6654 |
| Christmas Lite-up Parade | early Dec | Parade, Christmas festival, food, music, games and lighting, with evening social at Victory Hall. Downtown Keremeos, and Victory Hall 250–499-5225. |
| Bluegrass Country in Osoyoos | early August | Bring your musical instrument & join in a weekend of jam sessions & band scrambles, or just stop by to enjoy some great musical entertainment. Various locations in Osoyoos 250-495-6515 |
| Christmas Light-Up & Craft Fair | early Dec | Kick off the holidays on Saturday with the annual Osoyoos Christmas Light-Up, Santa Parade & carolling in the streets. Breakfast with Santa & craft fair on Sunday. Various locations in Osoyoos 250-495-7723 |
| Festival of the Grape | early Oct | Experience live music, great art, fabulous food & shop for distinctive gifts while sampling award winning wines. Kiddies have fun at the Chateau De Kids venue. Come & uncork the fun & enter the Festival’s Grape Stomp. Join us noon to sundown Oliver Community Park 250-498-6321 |
| Music in the Park | July & Aug | Local musical performers from rock & roll to country to classical entertain at these casual outdoor concerts. Thursday evenings during July & August. Lions Park, Oliver 250-498-0183 |
| Tinhorn Creek Concert Series | May – Aug | Outdoor concerts are held at the Vineyards own Amphitheatre. Watch for individual ticket sales on the first of each month, for that month’s concert. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Amphitheatre, Oliver 250-498-3742 |
| Annual Taste of Our Valley | late Oct | A festival of harvest including food, drinks, art, music, artisan and a silent auction. Since 1999. Victory Hall, Keremeos 250–499-5300 |
Other Links
Oliver Attractions
Oliver Heritage Society Museum
9728 356 Ave
250-498-4027
Exhibits cover the range of the areas flora and fauna as well as the mining history reflected in the nearby Fairview gold mining settlement
Okanagan Valley International Peace Park
Along Okanagan River
250-498-4781
This park stretches a mile along the Okanagan River, just east of town.
Okanagan-Similkameen Growers Association
East 9th St
250-498-3491
Take a summer tour of Oliver’s packing house, which has been in continuous operation since 1923. Take a walk through the area’s test orchard where new crops are tried before being widely planted in the Okanagan.
Fairview Town Site
4.5 km Southwest of Oliver on Fairview Rd
The town was named Fairview for its great view of the Okanagan River below the town. At its peak, 500 people lived here extracting high-grade gold ore
Tugulnuit Lake
Harrison Way (370 Ave), off 69th St heading east
Tugunuit Lake, just to the east of the Okanagan River is a spring-fed lake. There is a public beach on the lake.
Vaseux Lake
14.5 km north of Oliver on Highway 97
This federal wildlife and bird sanctuary lies alongside a
Wineries
Burrowing Owl Vineyards
Winemaker: Bill Dyer
100 Burrowing Owl Place
Black Sage Road,
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Tel: 1-877-498-0620 (toll free)
Fax: 1-250-498-0621
Carriage House Wines
Winemakers: Dave Wagner
32764 Black Sage Road,
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone (250) 498-8818
Winemaker: Olivier Combret
PO Box 1170,
Oliver, BC, V0H 1TO
Phone (250) 498-8878
Fax: 250 498 8879
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
Winemaker: Walter Gehringer
RR#1, S23, C4, (Road 8)
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone (250) 498-3537
Fax (250) 498-3510
Gersighel Wineberg
Winemaker: Gerd & Helgi DeGussen
RR#1, S40, C20, (29690 Hwy 97)
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone (250) 495-3319
Golden Mile Cellars
Winemaker: Andrea Mayer
12343 – 316A Ave, Road 13,
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone & Fax (250) 498-4263
Hester Creek Estate Winery
Winemaker: Frank Supernak
13163 – 326 Street, P.O. Box 1605,
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone (250) 498-4435
Fax (250) 498-0651
Inniskillin Okanagan
Winemaker: Sandor Mayer
RR#1, S24, C5 (Road 11)
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone (250) 498-6663
Fax (250) 498-4566
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Winemaker: Sandra Oldfield
RR#1, S58, C10 (Road 7)
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone (250) 498-3743 or 1-888-4-TINHORN (toll free)
Fax (250) 498-3228
Vincor International (Jackson Triggs)
Winemaker: Bruce Nicholson
Box 1650, Hwy 97,
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
Phone (250) 498-4981
Fax (250) 498-6505