Stock photo courtesy of the Sundog Festival / Facebook

By Liam Verster

Arts & Culture Festivities

Sundog Festival being held at new location

Sep 3, 2025 | 2:16 PM

The annual arts and cultural festival in Vernon will be held at a different park this fall.

The Sundog Festival of Arts & Culture will be held at Civic Memorial Park with a kickoff to Culture Days celebration on Sept. 19 and 20.

The festival is moving from Polson Park due to the ongoing Vernon Creek Naturalization Project at that location.

“As we celebrate our third year, we’ve tackled the challenges of a temporary venue change head-on, thanks to the support of the City of Vernon, new committee members, and growing community partnerships,” Heath Fletcher, co-chair of the Sundog Festival, said.

“At its heart, this festival is about arts, culture, and this amazing community coming together to thrive.”

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

22h ago

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

23h ago

Salaries

Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases

Dec 12, 2025

The Sundog Festival will run in tandem with the start of Culture Days, which run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 12.

The local festival will feature live music, performances, and interactive experiences that residents and visitors can attend free of charge. Those include music and performances by Kinfolk Nation and Wyatt C. Louis, NOSU, Frontine, Dixie Fried Help Katz, and the headliner The Melawmen Collective. The acts will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 19.

The festival will continue starting at 3 p.m. the following day with performances by Lone Valley Band, T>G & JBYRD, Robin Layne and the Rhythm Makers, Missy D, and Hey Ocean!

More details about the artists can be found at the Sundog Festival website.

The festival will also feature art installations, the Polson Artisan Market, a beer garden, family-friendly activities, and local food trucks serving up meals.

“We are thrilled with the continued success of the Sundog Festival and are grateful for the generous support of our funders and sponsors,” Shawna Patenaude, Executive Director of the Arts Council of the North Okanagan and co-chair of the Sundog Festival, stated.

“This free festival highlights the remarkable talent both locally and nationally, and we look forward to celebrating in Civic Memorial Park with everyone this year.”

This year’s Culture Days also carry the mental health theme of CARE (Community Arts Reimagining Equity and Wellness). The celebrations will mark the theme by having B.C. Culture Day Embassadors engage with the community through creative activities such as storytelling, singing, painting, mask-making and more, all with the goal of encouraging self-care, creativity, and connection in an inclusive and supportive space.

The festivities will wrap up at 10 p.m. each day.