Kamloops sits where the North and South Thompson rivers meet, ringed by sage-covered hills that turn gold and then dusty white as the year winds down. Late fall and winter here are dry and bright, which makes this a fine season for a riverside stroll, a hillside hike or a night under thousands of lights. These Kamloops date ideas mix open trails, downtown culture and a few holiday traditions worth circling on the calendar.
A Riverfront Afternoon at the Confluence
Riverside Park: This downtown park at 100 Lorne Street runs along the bank of the Thompson River beside the Sandman Centre, and it is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Follow the multi-use pathway past the quiet beach, wander through the Uji Friendship and Rose Gardens, and watch the water slide past on its way west. It is an easy, free plan for a crisp afternoon, and the washrooms make it comfortable to linger.
Riverside Park Outdoor Skating and Multi-Use Loop: Once the weather turns cold enough, the loop becomes a free outdoor skating path with no registration needed. Winter hours run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, weather permitting, and lights come on in the evening. The City has not announced an ice date for this winter, so look at its page before you lace up.
Sagebrush Switchbacks on Mount Dufferin
Kenna Cartwright Nature Park: Covering almost 800 hectares of Mount Dufferin, this City nature park has more than 55 kilometres of trails, rated from easy to extremely difficult. Climb high enough and you can see the city, Kamloops Lake and the spot where the two rivers join. Start from the 2000 Hillside Drive entrance, where parking is free. Trails stay open in winter but are not cleared, so wear proper footwear, and pack your own water because none is available in the park.
Gallery Thursdays and Museum Stories on Seymour
Kamloops Art Gallery: At the corner of Victoria Street and 5th Avenue, the gallery keeps 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours from Tuesday through Saturday and stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, when admission is free. On other days adults pay $5. It shuts on Sundays, Mondays and stat holidays, and again from January 1 to 6 for inventory.
Current exhibitions at the Kamloops Art Gallery: Two shows run until January 9, 2027. In the Central Gallery, Laura St. Pierre's All that You Change Changes You is a touring exhibition from the MacKenzie Art Gallery. The Cube holds In the rear-view mirror, a group show curated by Craig Willms. Pick a favourite piece each and explain your choice over dinner.
Kamloops Museum and Archives: The museum at 207 Seymour Street welcomes visitors from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is by donation, with $4 per adult suggested. Upstairs, Encore! The KSO at 50 runs until January 16, 2027, tracing five decades of the Kamloops Symphony through photographs, artifacts and interactive pieces.
Curtain Calls at the Sagebrush and the Pavilion
Son of a Preacherman: Ins Choi, the creator of Kim's Convenience, shares songs and stories about growing up as a preacher's kid in this Western Canada Theatre show, on stage at the Sagebrush Theatre, 1300 9th Avenue, from November 18 to 29, 2026. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. in the evenings, with 2 p.m. shows on Saturdays and Sundays. It runs 80 minutes with no intermission, which leaves time for a late dessert afterward.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: From December 3 to 20, 2026, the Pavilion Theatre at 1025 Lorne Street stages Ron Reed's adaptation, in which Lucy and Peter, now grown up, return to the old country house and remember Narnia. Evening curtain is 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on weekends. Neither show plays on Mondays.
Kamloops Symphony: Northern Sunrise: The orchestra performs Northern Sunrise on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Kamloops Alliance Church. Pair it with a morning visit to the Encore! exhibition for a full day of local music history.
Lights, a Parade and the First Chair of Winter
Downtown Kamloops Santa Claus Parade: The 46th annual parade fills downtown on Sunday, November 22, 2026, with the theme Merry and Bright putting the focus on lit floats. It travels from 2nd Avenue and St. Paul Street along Victoria Street toward 6th Avenue, and it is free. Before the parade, the Paramount Theatre hosts a free screening of A Christmas Story at 2 p.m.
Kamloops Christmas Market: From November 27 to December 6, 2026, the Heritage House parking lot near the river turns into a holiday market filled with local artisans. Admission is ticketed, so check the market site for times and tickets, then shop for one small gift for each other with a strict budget.
Wildlights at the BC Wildlife Park: From December 11, 2026 to January 3, 2027, the park opens for Wildlights every day except Christmas, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., with last admission at 8:30 p.m. During that stretch the park sells Wildlights admission only. Wear warm boots, walk the glowing paths slowly and take turns choosing which display to see next.
Sun Peaks Resort: Sun Peaks plans its Winter Opening Day for November 21, 2026, starting with First Chair, Harry Bear and Cinnamon Buns from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. If you would rather wait for deeper snow, the Holiday Kick-Off runs from December 11 to 13. Ski together, or simply ride up for the views and walk the village afterward.
Harper Mountain: About 20 minutes from Kamloops, this smaller hill offers night skiing and snowshoeing. Its 2026 to 2027 opening day has not been posted yet, so follow the opening day update on its site.
Sample Date Itineraries
1. Free Thursday downtown: An early evening at the Kamloops Art Gallery while admission is free → a walk down to the river at Riverside Park → dinner on Victoria Street.
2. Theatre and history Saturday: A morning at the Kamloops Museum and Archives → a 2 p.m. matinee of Son of a Preacherman or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe → a stroll through the Uji Friendship and Rose Gardens afterward.
3. Hilltop to holiday lights: A late morning hike on the easier trails in Kenna Cartwright Nature Park → a warm lunch in town → Wildlights at the BC Wildlife Park after 4 p.m., between December 11 and January 3.
Pro Tips for Memorable Dates
Thursday is the free day at the Art Gallery, and it stays open late that night; on Sundays and Mondays its doors stay shut.
Western Canada Theatre has no Monday performances, and Son of a Preacherman skips its evening show on Saturday, November 21.
Check the parade start time on the event page the week before, since listings have shown more than one time.
Kenna Cartwright has no water in the park, so carry a bottle and wear boots with grip once snow arrives.
Wildlights is closed on Christmas Day, and last entry each night is 8:30 p.m.
Kamloops rewards couples who get outside even when it is cold. Pick a trail, a show or a string of lights, and let the dry winter sunshine set the mood.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Photo credits: Riverside Park, Kamloops by Kiyoteru Awaji, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Downtown Kamloops by Acmacaulay, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Kamloops Museum and Archives by Silver Dovelet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.