The Revelstoke Wildflower Festival will soon be in full bloom, returning to the B.C. mountain town from July 25 to 28.
Shuttles will run from downtown to the summit area of Mount Revelstoke National Park, free to those with a Parks Canada pass. The three-day event includes plenty of activities, including:
- Wildflower Colouring Contest: This event is for all ages. Line illustrations of wildflowers will be provided, and those participating are encouraged to customize them. Colourings can be picked up at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre and must be returned to the Revelstoke Visitor Centre by 1 p.m. on Saturday July 27.
- Wildflower Window Walk: Businesses will have their windows painted in celebration of the festival from July 25 to 28. Participating businesses include, Terra Firma’s Kitchen, Birch & Lace Salon, Silverwinds Office Supply, Visitor Centre, Emo’s Pizza & Grill, Left Field Floral, Fable Book Parlour, Dose Coffee, Balu Yoga & Wellness, Royal Lepage Revelstoke.
- Subalpine Guided Wildflower Walks: This free event will run on July 25 and 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. A park naturalist will lead the tour around the summit area of Mount Revelstoke where participants will learn how alpine plants have adapted to live in a cold place covered in meters of snow for half the year.
- Edible Invasives Plant ID Walk: This event will take place from July 25 and 26, from 3 to 4 p.m. During the one hour walk, folks will walk around the Illecillewaet Greenbelt Trails and identify invasive species along the way.
- Speed Weed Invasive Species Pull: On July 26 at 5:30 p.m., weed pullers will be put to the test in a speed contest. At designated plots along the Illecillewaet Greenbelt trails, teams will put their weed-pulling skills to the test to see how many weeds they can pull out in five minutes.
- Green Me Instead Gardening Presentation: On July 27 from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at the Grizzly Plaza, the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society will provide an educational presentation about insightful discussions on common misconceptions surrounding wildflowers and seed mixes.
- Summit Watercolour Station: On July 27 and 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be a watercolour station set up at the Balsam Lake Picnic Shelter near the summit of Mount Revelstoke. All supplies will be provided. The event is free with a Parks pass.
- Local Food Initiative’s (LFI) Garden Intro Walk: On July 27 from 10:30 to 11 a.m., the LFI will be putting on a short talk about the intersections of native pollinators, gardens, wildflowers, and local food. Participants will meet at the gazebo at Grizzly Plaza.
- Bioblitz Plant ID on the Greenbelt: On July 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, the Illecillewaet Greenbelt Society is inviting folks to learn how to identify wildflowers using technology they’re already carrying and contribute to a global scientific database.
- Mount Revelstoke Hike: Hiking guide, Tim Patterson of Zucmin Guiding will be leading an exploration of the trails and wildflower meadows at the summit of Mt. Revelstoke National Park on July 28 from 10 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. The cost is $55.
To learn more and plan your visit, visit seerevelstoke.com/event/revelstoke-wildflower-festival
