Valley Culture
The Columbia Valley is packed with artistic talent, from painters and glass blowers to musicians and sculptors.
Pynelogs Cultural Centre in Invermere is the heart of central valley arts and culture. It’s home to the Columbia Valley Arts Council, a cafe, gift shop and art gallery. The unique, 97-year-old log building is a popular venue for workshops, concerts and private functions.
Every summer, the council, or CV Arts as it’s commonly known, co-ordinates any a number of events, exhibitions and festivals. Among them is Tour of the Arts, which combines fascinating local sightseeing with art appreciation. Visitors can enjoy demonstrations, discussions with artists or buy their own little piece of the valley to take home. The Mountain Mosaic Festival at Kinsmen Beach on Canada Day is another standout event filled with art, music and family-friendly activities.
For film buffs, the CV Arts delivers Cinefest, a monthly independent film series shown at Pynelogs and offered in association with the Toronto International Film Circuit. The films are both Canadian and international and range from dramas and features to documentaries and shorts.
Music lovers will find a calender filled with musical performances and festivals offered throughout. Musicians come from all across Canada to entertain audiences with folk music, jazz, rhythm and blues, Celtic, classical music, vocal harmonies, piano solos and more. Some key events to watch out for include the Steamboat Mountain Music Festival in Edgewater; Pynestock, part of Summerlude in Invermere, and the Columbia Valley Chamber Music Festival
During the summer, visitors can enjoy Music on Main every Friday and Saturday in Radium Hot Springs. Local musicians entertain the crowds on the village’s Main street throughout July and August. Live local entertainment can also be heard every Saturday morning in downtown Invermere at the weekly farmers’ market.
Art enthusiasts seeking pieces to purchase should try Village Arts, Artym Gallery, Black Star Studios or Effusion Gallery, all in downtown Invermere.
Unique hand blown glass art can be found at Bavin Glassworks on Athalmer Highway on the way into Invermere.