Holidays at the RCA
As the holiday season brightens up the streets with twinkle lights, and stores fill with shoppers looking for the perfect gift, we are preparing to bring craft fairs, dance shows, and theatre performances to Kelowna. If you are looking to engage in some festive cheer with the whole family, look no further than the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
Craft Culture: Holiday Magic Market
November 18 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
November 19 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Start your holiday shopping early at the Holiday Magic Market at the RCA! It’s your one-stop destination for unique, locally handmade items from over 80 talented vendors at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
Admission by cash donation, with partial proceeds benefiting the Kelowna Salvation Army.
Artisan Showcase: Magical Christmas
December 2 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
December 3 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Artisans Showcase will be featuring some of the finest Local Artisans and Specialty Foods from the Okanagan Valley. We are also hosting a young Entrepreneur Market as part of the Magical Christmas Market.
They will be accepting Food Bank donations of non-perishable food items as well as unwrapped toys.
New Vintage Theatre Presents: Elf - The Musical
November 30 - December 6 | 2:00 pm / 7:00 pm
Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Directed by Bonnie Gratz; Music Direction by Neville Bowman; Choreography by Larissa Campbell
Tuba Christmas
December 8 | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Gather together as many tuba and euphonium players as you can, bring out the Christmas music and you have Tuba Christmas! 2023 marks the 49th anniversary for events which are presented throughout the world. Admission is free.
Family Holiday Crafts
December 9 | 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Join the RCA for a morning of Holiday Crafts with the whole family! We will be making hand made printed wrapping paper and Holiday cards. No previous artistic experience is required. Please wear clothes you can get messy in. All supplies are included in the registration fee. This course is intended for families of all ages.
This workshop will be led by Kaylyn Hardstaff and Angela Roy, Program Coordinators at the Rotary Centre for the Arts. They are also instructors who teach at the RCA in the Arts Discovery school program, the RCA Youth and Adult programs, and in the RCA Arts Blast Camps.
Soulful Blues and Xmas Tunes
December 10 | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
We are lucky to have the ever-so-popular Kenny Wayne playing with the School of Blues for a special holiday visit. If you ask around the RCA community, you'll quickly find that one of our most well-loved programs is School of Blues, a free/by-donation blues night that runs in the South Atrium on the third Thursday of every month. Aside from the outstanding music and relaxed, casual atmosphere, what has set School of Blues apart are the singular talents of its hosts, Sherman "Tank" Doucette and Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne.
Join us Sunday, December 10 and hear some of your favourite Christmas songs with a blues twist.
Christmas Brass - Brass Quintet
December 12 | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Add 'a touch of brass' to your festive Christmas experience this year! Come and listen to the Christmas Brass, a brass quintet plus 1. Christmas Brass is a six member brass group that will be performing Christmas music in the RCA Atrium, including arrangements from the well known "Canadian Brass”.
Free to attend!
The Kore Dance Project Presents: You're A Mean One
December 9 - 10 | 2:00 pm / 7:00 pm
A Magical Journey Told Through Dance - Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot. But the Grinch on the mountain most surely DID NOT! He HATED all Christmas and the whole Christmas Season. Skip ahead in the story and enjoy all the magic. Maybe through dancing it won't be so tragic.
Kelowna City Concert Band: Christmas Concert
December 13 | 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
We are sorry but this event has sold out. Please check back Dec 11-13 for any released tickets.
Join the Kelowna City Concert Band for a free concert in the Mary Irwin Theatre! Made up of 60+ musicians of all ages from throughout the Okanagan, the band plays at a variety of local functions including annual Remembrance Day ceremonies, Canada Day Folkfest celebrations, Rutland May Days, public concerts in parks, seniors’ homes, and more.
RCA Presents: Cod Gone Wild Neighbourhood Rounds Christmas
December 14 | 7:30 pm
The Rotary Centre for the Arts welcomes Cod Gone Wild to the Mary Irwin Theatre for a special performance of their Neighbourhood Rounds Christmas Tour. Cod Gone Wild is an energetic, modern Celtic band based out of the Okanagan Valley in beautiful British Columbia.
RCA Presents: Country Christmas - Songs of the Southern Belles
December 16 | 7:30 pm
RCA Presents is excited to welcome back Southern Belles for a Country Christmas. Santa has renamed his reindeer to Dolly, Loretta, Patsy, Kitty, Alison, Carrie, Tammy, Connie and Brenda. Kinga Heming and Shamma Sabir sing the songs of the great women of Country along with this fantastic band under the direction of Sean Bray.
Mission Dance: The Nutcracker
December 20 - 22 | 7:30 pm
Come and join Mission Dance Company as they present this performance featuring their accomplished and passionate dancers, magical growing Christmas tree plus narration to enhance the understanding of this classic story. You are taken back in time with the majestic dancing of the party guests and lively seasonal celebrations.