2008 Events
Events at Whitewater Ski Resort 07/08
Please click here for Discovernelson's 2008 events calendar
Please click here for our i love Nelson 2008 events calendar
Previous evennts
May 2005
May 21-22
Kaslo May Days
Includes restored and antique car / roadster / motorcycle show, loggersports events and beer gardens. For more info call 353-2525
May 28
Kootenay springtime Wine Festival
Capitol Theatre fundraiser. Taste wines from over 20 BC Wineries, bid on original artwork, listen to great music and eat nibblies from some of Nelson's best restaurants.
For more info call 352-6363
May 28-30
Selkirk College fine woodworking year end show.
Held in the Nelson Trading Company at 402 Baker Street
For more info call 354-3265
June 2005
June 17-18
Ameri-Cana International relay
The longest relay on the North American continent,
Running and walking from Nelson to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
1-866-88-RELAY
June 19
Annual Stressless Father's Day Regatta
1-250-352-3747
July 2005
July 1
Canada Day in the park
1-250-355-2662
July 3
Salmo Car Derby
Demolition Derby.
Salmo Ski-hill.
1-250-357-9638
July 3-9
World Mid-Summer Bonspiel
For 60 consecutive years Nelson has hosted curlers from around the world for a fun week of curling and socializing. The Alpine is the closest motel to the rink and last summer, hosted curlers representing Canada, United States, and Europe.
For more info call the Nelson Curling club 1-250-352-9704
July 9-10
Kootenay Storytelling Festival
Procter Arts Center
1-888-422-1123
July 9-10
Starbelly Jam Music Festival
Crawford Bay Park
1-250-225-3333
July 9-10
Annual Loggers' Sports Competition
Slocan City
1-250-355-2247
July 22-23
Fat Tire Festival
FRIDAY JULY 22ND
6:00 pm PARADE!
Dress up and show off your ride! Begins at The Sacred Ride Bike and Board Shop, corner of Baker St. and Falls St. Bike trailers welcome!
Mandatory registration for weekend events follows parade. Pre-registration is available online or at Gerick Cycle and Sacred Ride, both located on Baker Street. Race Plates available for those who pre-register.
SATURDAY JULY 23RD
8:00 am Mountain Station Cross Country
Race begins in the Gore St/Cherry St parking lot. To access from Baker Street, turn uphill on Stanley Street for 9 blocks and turn left on Gore Street for 6 blocks to reach the parking lot. MASS START begins at 9:00 sharp! Marianne will be selling coffee and muffins for you early risers.
Age Categories: 9-12, 13-15, 16-18, and 19+ years of age
Gender Categories: Male / Female
Crazy Factor: Sane (one loop) Insane (three loops) (Approximate time for sane loop on a x-country full suspension bike is 1 hour)
A modified mellower route is available for 9-12 years. (Parents may accompany their children)
11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm Flow Shows!!!!
Let The Flow Begin! Watch Dangerous Dan Cowan and the Flow Riders style it up in the North Shore way - with the Flow Show. Location to be announced.
Admission is by donations with proceeds going back in to the Nelson Cycling Club projects
1:00 pm and 3:00 pm Shuttles with Gravity Adventures
First time in Nelson: Meet at Gerick Cycle and let Mirek shuttle you to the top of one of our classic
Nelson trails. $12/person
6:00 pm Fat Tire Criteriums
Come do the "Crit!" Zany, fun, fast and furious!!!!
Age Categories: little rippers who want to go for the glory, 6-8, 9-12, 13-18, 19+ yrs
Gender Categories: Male/Female
Bike Categories: Suspension, 16" wheel, Clunker/cruiser
SUNDAY, JULY 24th
Morning Mountain: Triple Headers Downhills! Kid's Races! Speed Trials! Great Food!
Arrive in Style!
8:30 am and 10:00 am shuttles available with Gravity Adventures to Placenta Descenta trail head; leaving from Sacred Ride. Let roots, rocks and rhythm guide you down to the Morning Mountain festival site.
9:30 – 11:30 am Pre-Runs for Downhill
One mandatory pre-run; one truck shuttle only!
10:30–11:30 am Kid's Cross Country
Cross-country racing for tykes on trikes as well as little rippers age 6-8 yrs
Check out the Portable Climbing Wall!
12:00 – 4:30 pm Triple Header Downhill
Age Categories: 9-12. 13-15, 16-18, 19+ years
Genders: Male/Female
Guaranteed two runs
5:00 – 6:00 pm Mandatory Speed Trial Practice and Grom's Speed Trials
Grom's Speed Trials—berms, ladder bridges and skinnies for the young set
Big Kidz mandatory practice…almost as fun as the real thing
6:00 – 7:00 pm Speed Trials
13+ years of age only – race 'yer buddies over a flowy course of bridges, teeter totters and drops
Experienced and advanced riders only thanks.
Winners determined by averaging 2 runs.
DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM HERE!
July 23
FlightFest 2005
Hosted by the Nelson Pilots Association
Gates open at 8 am
Show runs until 6 pm
There will be many vintage, antique, historical and home built aircraft.
Helicopter and airplane rides will be available.
Pancake breakfast from 8 11 am by the Knights of Columbus
BBQ lunch from 11 - 3pm by the Aircadets.
Flying demonstrations, classic cars, flying model aircraft, heritage bus tours - all make it an event the whole family can enjoy!
July 28-30
"Annie Get Your Gun"
Wild West Show filled with beloved songs
Capitol Theatre
1-250-352-6363
July 31
Cyswog'n Fun Triathlon
19th Annual one quarter Ironman triathlon.
Swim 1km, Bike 44km, Run 10km.
For more info call 354-4622
July 30- Aug 1
Kaslo Jazz Festival
Jazz-lovers can enhance their experience of the charm of Kaslo during the Kaslo Jazz Festival over the August long weekend. Great acoustics, superb musicians, the unique floating stage set just offshore from the sandy beach, and the great views all combine to make the festival a fabulous annual event.
Jazz Festival Dates: • Saturday July 30 th • Sunday July 31 st • Monday August 1 st
"Early Bird" Tickets (Before July 15th): $35 per day
Regular Tickets: $45 per day.
July 1-Sept 30
Artwalk
A Nelson summer tradition as gallery venues showcase the works of some of our finest regional artists. There are opening receptions the first Friday of each month that locals and visitors can attend, enjoying refreshments, and meeting the artists. Artwalk is a terrific walking tour that is presented by the Nelson & District Arts Council.
Call for more info 352-2402
August 12-14
Shambhala Music Festival
DJ's and musicians from around the world perform near Salmo.
August 19-21
Raid the North 36 hr Adventure Race
The city of Nelson in British Columbia plays host to this year's edition of Raid the North in Canada's west. This is a truly awesome landscape dominated by mountains and water. The rugged Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges define the western boundary of the region while the eastern limit is one of BC's largest bodies of fresh water, Kootenay Lake. For 36 hours in August of 2005, teams will go back in time and experience their plight as they trek, mountain bike, and paddle their way back to the host site of Nelson.
Canada's favourite sprint-distance adventure racing Series! With over $10,000 in prizing, your team does not want to miss the fun. Distance: 40+ km, 5-8 hrs Format: 3-person teams, unsupported. Disciplines: trekking, paddling, mountain biking Come for the race and stay for the party, experience the best of Canadian Wilderness Racing.
August TBA
Nelson Summer Songfest
A weeklong feast of classical music featuring guest artists from BC and beyond.
1-250-352-0941
July 1-Sept 30
Artwalk
A Nelson summer tradition as gallery venues showcase the works of some of our finest regional artists. There are opening receptions the first Friday of each month that locals and visitors can attend, enjoying refreshments, and meeting the artists. Artwalk is a terrific walking tour that is presented by the Nelson & District Arts Council.
Call for more info 352-2402
September 2005
Sept 3-4
28th Annual Grey Creek Sailing Regatta
Info 1-250-352-0554
Sept 9-10
Road King Classic Car Show Nelson BC Canada
....
The Alpine motel offers off street parking in front of your room.
Show and shine, burnout contest, flame show.
250-354-1317
Last year's (2004) Queen City Cruise was a big success with close to 250 classic cars attending this 3 day event which started on Friday with a wine and cheese get-together at Bogustown Pub followed by the parade through town ending up at the airport for the burnout/flame show. This show started at 4pm and finished after ten.
The Burn Out Contest ran for over 2 hours and there was everything from show cars to serious 4x4 monsters.
Saturday was the Show & Shine stretching almost all blocks of historic Baker Street in downtown Nelson. Starting time was 10 am and it finished at 4pm with over 200 autos from out of town including many from Washington, Idaho, and Alberta.
Saturday night was spectacular with food and entertainment. The Time Benders performed a lively show with plenty of talent, fun, and interaction with the 800 people that attended.
The Queen City Cruise 2005 - tentative
Friday, September 9, 2005
4 pm — registration at Bogustown Pub
7 pm — city cruise thru town to the airport
8 pm — burnout and flame throw competition
Saturday, September 10, 2005
9 pm — show parking and registration on Baker Street
10 pm — show and shine downtown ( all day prize giveaway )
4 pm — trophy presentation
5 pm — poker run to balfour and back
6:30 pm — poker run prize presentations.
6 pm — Dance with food available. The Time Benders on the roof of the Nelson Parkade.
Back by popular demand.
September 11
18th annual West Kootenay Toy Run
This annual event takes place on the second Sunday in September. The Toy Run began in 1987 and more join the fun each year. Local motorcycle enthusiasts gather in Castlegar for a day of fun and charity. The toy run starts off with a pancake breakfast and a ride through downtown Castlegar. A 30-minute ride takes participants to Nelson where we pick up more riders. Baker Street is taken over by the approximately 400 Bikes. At noon the motorcycles stop in Salmo at the Fire Hall. From there they travel to Fruitvale, Trail and up to Rossland. A short stop at the Annual Rossland Golden City Days and a pass through downtown then back to Castlegar. Raffle tickets on a new 2004 Harley Davidson Softtail Standard can be purchased starting in May at local merchandisers. This annual event raises money for local Christmas food hampers and many local charities.
For more info call 250-365-6363
July 1-Sept 30
Artwalk
A Nelson summer tradition as gallery venues showcase the works of some of our finest regional artists. There are opening receptions the first Friday of each month that locals and visitors can attend, enjoying refreshments, and meeting the artists. Artwalk is a terrific walking tour that is presented by the Nelson & District Arts Council.
Call for more info 352-2402
Fat Tire Festival TBA
Come out for a great day of mountain biking events at Morning Mountain . This family friendly event includes: Kid's Races, Downhill, X-Country and Trial races. Brought to you by the Nelson Cycling Club.
For more info call:354-3831
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
December TBA
Kootenay Artisan's Christmas Market
3 Days of jewellery, pottery, candies, food, instruments, clothing, metalwork, soaps, aromatherapy and live entertainment
For info call 1-250-352-2402
A little bit of Nelson area history
The Region (from south to north)
Nelson grew quickly as a result of the frantic mining activity started in 1867 when gold and silver were found in the area. Dozens of other mining communities sprang up along Kootenay Lake, two railways were routed through Nelson and noted architect Francis Rattenbury came to design granite-hewn, chateau style civic buildings. By 1910, Nelson had its own hydro generating station, streetcars, sewer system, and police force. Englishmen came to plant lakeside orchards, and Russian Doukhobors, sponsored by Tolstoy and the Quakers, tilled the valley bench lands.
Education became a new focus for Nelson when Notre Dame College was opened in 1950 and the B.C. Vocational School (with Kootenay School of the Arts) was established in 1960. Now the Notre Dame buildings house Selkirk College and the affiliated Music School . The former Vocational School is now a campus of Kootenay School of the Arts. Nelson's heritage potential was realized in 1977 with the designation of over 350 heritage buildings.
Kokanee Creek is a 235-hectare park situated on the north shore of the west arm of Kootenay Lake . Its huge sandy beach and delta area is backed by a gently rising upland, giving way to the forested slopes of the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains . There is a spawning channel where visitors can observe the remarkable transformation that spawning kokanee undergo in late summer. Their bodies become a deep crimson color and their heads turn emerald green. Like other Pacific salmon, they die after completing their fascinating spawning activities, drifting downstream to the lake, their bodies enriching the area. In the native Ktunaxa language 'kokanee' means 'red fish', the name given to these land-locked salmon.
Kokanee Glacier Park is located in the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains , between Slocan Lake and the north arm of Kootenay Lake . It is a mountain wilderness of 32,035 hectares, most of which lies above 1,800 meters, with half at elevations above 2,100 meters. Protection of significant grizzly bear habitat was the main reason for an expansion of the park in 1995. The glacier, for which the park is named, clings to the slopes of the 2,774-metre Kokanee Peak at the center of the park.
The Kokanee Glacier is one of three glaciers within the park that feed over 30 small lakes and form the headwaters for most of the park's waterways. The area is extremely rugged and is composed of an immense system of granite rock known as the Nelson batholiths. As the earth cooled, pressure forced slower cooling minerals into holes and cracks in the granite. These deposits and finger-like veins of minerals rich in gold and silver were discovered in the late 1800s, attracting prospectors from afar. Small mining operations sprung up in the area during this time. Several mines were quite profitable, but only operated for a few years. Many of the park's trails that exist today were built for miners hauling ore and supplies.
Kaslo enjoys the distinction of being called British Columbia 's Prettiest Town and the Switzerland of the Americas ...and justifiably so. Elegant Victorian era buildings, tree-lined streets and magnificent lake and mountain views give credence to these titles. This quaint little hamlet is nestled on the shores of Kootenay Lake , between the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains . With a history rich in mining lore, Kaslo was actually originally staked as a sawmill site in 1889, becoming a silver ore mining and transshipment boomtown in the 1890s, with a population peak of 6,000. With the decline of mining activities, forestry continued to sustain the community, and has remained the mainstay of the local economy till today, along with tourism.
Steeped in history and surrounded by parks and wilderness, this is one of the most pristine areas in the world. Summers are sheer magic, with fabulous camping, scores of hiking trails, excellent fishing, swimming and boating of all kinds. No visit to Kaslo would be complete without a look at the SS Moyie, a Canadian Pacific Railways sternwheeler that plied the waters of Kootenay Lake from 1898 until 1957. Beautifully restored, the Moyie is designated as a national historic site, and is the oldest remaining vessel of her type in Canada . Located on the waterfront in Kaslo - the Moyie is also a monument to the determination of Kaslo residents and craftspeople that brought her back to her former glory.
Weather Click here for Nelson's latest Weather
During the summer months, the weather in the Kootenays could not be better. Mid-summer trips enjoy "t-shirt and short " weather throughout the long hours of daylight. Temperatures may range from 22-35 degrees Celsius (70-90F) but lake breezes have a gentle cooling effect. Evenings are generally mild and ideal for sleeping. In the summer, extended periods of rain are unlikely as the heavy precipitation responsible for the large amounts of winter snow falls primarily in the months of November to March. Water temperatures remain cool year-round – about 10 degrees Celsius (55F) so we generally swim around the warmer sand bars and back eddies.
Valhalla Provincial Park is a magnificent world-class wilderness, encompassing 49,600 hectares of natural landscape and 30km of the pristine shoreline along Slocan Lake . According to Norse mythology, Valhalla was a palace roofed with shields, wherein lived the bravest of the slain Norse warriors. There, under the leadership of the god Odin, they lived a happy life waiting for the day when they would be rallied to march out of the palace and do battle with the giants. The spirit of Valhalla lives on in the splendor of this portion of southeastern British Columbia , where great palaces of rock call forth majestic images with names such as Asgard, Gimli and Thor.
The Valhalla Range is a dramatically diverse area in the Selkirks. Deep river valleys, large sub alpine lakes and granite peaks of up to 2,827m grace this park. The peaks are truly magnificent. In the northwest, New Denver Glacier at 2,758m dominates the landscape, while the block-shaped Devil's Couch at 2,667m and Hela Peak at 2,717m define the central area. Along the southwestern boundary is an outstanding group of spires including Mount Dag , the Wolfs Ears, Gimli, Asgard and Gladsheim – all over 2,660m. Numerous cirque basins, several larger deep lakes and chains of small lakes surround the ridges. Slocan Lake sits at 537m, well below most of the park, forcing waterways to cut deeply in the landscape as it descends some 2,000m before reaching the lake - numerous cascades and waterfalls are scattered throughout the park.
Backcountry wilderness hiking and camping are the main recreational activities in this park. The park is a rugged wilderness area without supplies or equipment of any kind. We prefer to kayak on Kootenay Lake , as Slocan Lake is known for strong crosswinds that may blow up suddenly. The shoreline of Slocan Lake is for the most part a rugged combination of bluffs and large rocks interspersed with beautifully isolated pebble and sand beaches. Pictographs on the rock bluffs overhanging the lake are reminders of former native inhabitants, while overgrown trails and logging flumes mark the passing of the local mining boom that brought Europeans to this area a century ago.
The Alpine - Quiet Location - 1 Minute from Down Town
The Alpine - Quiet Location - 1 Minute from Down Town