Route revealed for Kelowna’s new downtown holiday parade this weekend

If you’re having trouble getting into the festive spirit this year, a trip downtown on Saturday should help in that regard.

The Kelowna Rockets Teddy Bear Toss game is at 3 pm and it will be almost immediately followed by the inaugural downtown edition of the Parade with a Purpose.

The holiday parade got its start in Kettle Valley in 2020 and has enjoyed four successful years in the quiet southeast Kelowna community.

It will step into the spotlight this year, as it moves downtown and takes on a whole new life as what is hoped to be a signature holiday event in Kelowna for years to come.

We now know the parade route, as the City of Kelowna revealed today that it will start at 6 pm from City Park.

The parade will make its way east down Bernard Avenue to Bertram Street before hanging a couple rights and head west on Lawrence Avenue back to its starting point.

To accommodate the event, there will be road closures and parking restrictions in effect along the parade route from 4 pm until around 9-10 pm:

• Abbott Street between Leon Avenue and Bernard Avenue
• Bernard Avenue between Abbott Street and Bertram Street
• Lawrence Avenue between Bertram Street and Abbott Street

The City notes that the north/south crossings along the parade route will be closed and motorists are encouraged to detour to Richter Street.

In addition, parking will be restricted on Bernard Avenue and in the parking lot at City Park for the entirety of Saturday.

Anyone driving downtown for the parade is advised to look for parking in one of the city’s three downtown parkades – Chapman, Memorial or Library Plaza.

Residents are also urged to reduce traffic and parking congestion by choosing various modes of active transportation like biking, walking, carpooling or taking transit.