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Find natural highs at Sun Peaks summer festivals
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Sun Peaks Resort, BC Mountain biking, chairlift access disc golf, wildflower walks and a natural rhythm to sooth the nervous system—this is Sun Peaks Resort as a summer festival destination.
In summer 2025, the community welcomed its new events venue, The Sun Peaks Centre (pictured above, right), an outdoor/indoor space now home to an array of annual festivals of all kinds.
“It’s so beautiful here, we are all so lucky to be here,” exclaims The Trew’s frontman, Colin MacDonald, on stage as part of July’s Rockin’ the Peaks Music Festival.
MacDonald is spot on: any festival seeker is fortunate to take in some time at the Peaks.
Sure, in the winter this destination is rockin’ as a world leading ski resort, and now becoming well known for the festivals it hosts.
Photo:
Jim Barr
The Trews play the Sun Peaks Centre, during the Rockin' the Peaks Festival.
“Over this past two years,” explains Tourism Sun Peaks Executive Director Naomi Kerchinsky, “we’ve really invested in our event experience, and what we can offer.”
The menu is sweet – picture it…
Day 1: pre-festival, Sun Peaks style
Check in on a Thursday and go feast on any of the 20 restaurants found across the village, including the 5Forty Café—which is my kinda place given they have copper cups on the ready for a superior Moscow Mule.
Photo:
Max Whalen
Day 2: Alpine views by day, festivals by night
Friday morning, you are up the Sunburst Chairlift and on for a high alpine hike (green, blue and a few black diamond options, including for those who really want to send it up to the summit of Tod Mountain for its 360 view).
What I did was a three and a half-hour loop out Gil’s Trail to Todd Lake, back via West Ridge Trail, all blue—some up and down, but nothing that is gonna kill yah.
Beauty views, and the wildflowers are something to see.
Photo:
Zuzy Rocka
Hiking through wildflowers on Gil's Trail, via chairlift at Sun Peaks Resort.
Hiker or nature lover? Pro tip: if you are new or not so comfortable with hikes and the outdoors, check into their daily guided hiking program.
Mountain biker? Hit it with 44 single track trails over almost 90km of terrain that is waiting for you.
Epic festivals, alpine beauty
Head to Sun Peaks for an elevated festival experience
Disc golfer? Score a disc if you need it from the Sun Peaks Activities Desk, and get a round in before the festival (9 or 18 holes).
Then load the chairlift to head into the alpine, to play Canada’s highest disc golf course. This course is worth the visit alone.
Photo:
Jim Barr
Sun Peaks is home to Canada’s only chairlift access disc golf course.
Soothe the body with a late afternoon swim at the community pool or, if you are fortunate enough to be staying the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, take a dip and then recline into one of the lounge chairs to soak in the alpine views.
And with that, you are set for Day 1 of the Festival happening thru après, that night and the next day!
Those headed to the Peaks’ Heartland County Music Festival this August will want to saddle up to the Saddle N Spurs Hat Bar—a vendor staple within the Sun Peaks Centre.
Photo:
Jim Barr
Saddle N Spurs Hat Bar is one of many vendors on site for any Sun Peaks festival.
Day 3: a little R & R (rest and relaxation) with your R 'n' R (rock 'n' roll)
The chairlifts are open at 10am so you can score all the trails you didn’t hit on Day 2 (festivals end here at 11pm).
If you are in lazy mode, take an afternoon chair lift into the alpine and go for a wonder amongst the nearly 30 distinct types of alpine wildflowers. Stroll fields of green, red, blue, yellow, white and connect through colour.
Photo:
Jim Barr
Alpine wildflowers abound on the lift-accessed trails at Sun Peaks.
No rush here as the chairlift spins till 7pm every day, and when you are done experiencing the alpine, you download on the lift and take in a skookum view.
There is something about being at a ski hill in the summer that feeds your stoke for winter.
Where else are you able to shop for skis AND attend a music festival?
Photo:
Jim Barr
Chris Dodd of McSporties and Graham “The Bearded Plumber” explore one of 20 independent stores and shops throughout Sun Peaks Resort.
Dinner? They got you at the festival with a food truck, or perhaps you stepped up your Sun Peaks festival experience and bought VIP tickets that comes with Ohana catering included (local Resort deli all about fresh, good food).
Photo:
Max Whalen
When you go VIP at any Sun Peaks Festival, Ohana Deli has got you covered with all the grub you can eat while on site.
Day 4: festival wind-down
Sleep in, and head home feeling incredibly recharged from both the festival experience and taking in all the stoke from your weekend’s natural surroundings.
Attending a festival at Sun Peaks resort makes for connections way beyond community.
Typically, when you attend a festival, new friends can be made. Here just 45 mins from Kamloops, hitting this resort for a fest adds another layer and the ability to connect with that new crew while also renewing your natural connections.
Upcoming festivals at Sun Peaks
County Music fans? As a Sun Peaks Insider, score 15% off your GA weekend tickets for the Resorts’ upcoming Heartland Country Music Festival, Aug 7 - 9.
Paws in the Peaks is calling all dog lovers Aug 15-17 (dog parade, and the Resort has always been home to a strong array of pooch friendly patios – there’s nine of them across the village).
Alpenglow Arts Festival is coming in September—with more details later this month.
Becoming a Sun Peaks insider, it puts you in their circle, scoring deals and information that will make your stay even more connected. https://www.sunpeaksresort.com/events-things-to-do/sun-peaks-insiders
The full festival menu at Sun Peaks is right here.
Let us know what you find, be sure to tag @sunpeaksresort and @festivalseekers in your posts so we can share in your discoveries.
