Free or Low-Cost

The new Penticton Outdoor Skating Rink, located north of City Hall’s parking lot, opens Saturday, December 21, 2024. The rink, measuring 40 by 14 meters, operates daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Family skating happens on odd calendar days with no hockey, pucks, or sticks allowed—perfect for beginners and casual skaters. Even calendar days are for shinny hockey, open to all ages, with safety gear required and fair play encouraged. Bring your own skates, as rentals are not available. Run by volunteers, the rink is open to everyone all season long, with no private bookings allowed.

Explore the Interpretive Centre at Allan Brooks Nature Centre, featuring interactive exhibits, artwork, and hands-on activities in the Habitat and Discovery Rooms. For birthdays, enjoy a themed 2-hour party with guided programming, picnic time, and free exploration.

The Armstrong Outdoor Pool is a fantastic place to visit if you enjoy swimming outdoors. The pool is heated, so you can swim comfortably even when it’s chilly outside. Their schedule includes allocated time slots for adult and senior lap swimming, aquatic fitness classes, parent and tot swimming, youth swimming, and registered lessons.

Located at Highland Park Elementary School, this free, drop-in program is for children 0-5 years old and their caregivers. The program follows the SD83 calendar and is open for drop-in.

Centennial Outdoor Rink in Vernon offers free outdoor skating throughout the winter season, with a range of public skate sessions, family-friendly times, and dedicated Shinny games for various age groups. Helmets are mandatory for skaters under 10 and all Shinny players, and additional equipment requirements apply. Youth Shinny players must pre-register and display a color-coded helmet marker provided by the Recreation Centre. The rink also offers rental and private booking options, making it a versatile spot for winter fun. For the latest schedule updates or closures, visitors should check online.

Davison Orchards is a fun family destination with farm-fresh produce, a bakery, and plenty to do. Kids can play at the Crazy Cow Kids Corral, feed friendly farm animals, and explore vintage tractors. The Farmhouse Café serves homemade meals and fresh apple juice, while The Old Brick Press offers real fruit ice cream. Visitors can shop for local treats at the Country Village gift shop or take a tractor-pulled Johnny Popper Farm Tour through the orchards.

The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) is an exciting destination for families curious about space and science. Their seasonal guided tours will showcase powerful telescopes like CHIME, which explores the vast universe, and the observatory's role in monitoring solar activity and studying the stars.

Located within the John Pritchard Memorial Sports Complex, Enderby Arena offers a full season of public skating from September to March. Weekly public skate times are available alongside seasonal skating lessons for various skill levels. The arena also hosts the Enderby Ice Hawks hockey sessions for different age groups. With a capacity for 900 spectators, the arena provides bleacher seating, a concession, dressing rooms, and washroom facilities. Private bookings are available at reduced rates during non-prime hours, including special holiday rates in late December.

StrongStart is a free school-based program that provides play-based early learning opportunities for children (0 to 5 years old) and their parents or caregivers. This program is located at M.V. Beattie Elementary School and follows the SD83 calendar.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am to Noon, walk indoors at Hassen Arena. Bring your indoor shoes and walk the loop where approximately 6.25 times around equals 1 kilometre.