The Penticton Kiwanis Music, Dance and Speech Arts Festival was founded as the Okanagan Valley Music Festival in 1926. Today, Penticton alone annually hosts over 1600 competitive and non-competitive young amateur performing arts entries in 9 disciplines. These include strings, guitar, woodwinds brass, piano, classical voice, musical theatre, speech and dramatic arts, and dance.  Respected adjudicators from Western Canada and the United States critique each performance and numerous scholarships and awards are presented at two Highlights Concerts held in late April or early May.

Archives held at the Penticton Library & Museum Archives

Historical Trophies on Display at the Penticton Museum, during Festival run in March & April. 

1996, 2007, 2014, 2023 Penticton hosted the BC Performing Arts Provincial Festival.

2015 Winner of the Supporter of the Arts, from The Penticton and District Arts Awards