Artists, museums, art galleries, heritage sites and more will open their doors to the public—for free—during the Columbia Basin Culture Tour. A total of 85 venues, located in communities and rural areas throughout the Columbia Basin, are featured in the 18th annual tour, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In the Elk Valley, visitors can explore three participating venues. Fernie Forge at Eye of the Needle, at 260 5th Street in Fernie, will feature felting and crochet demonstrations, metalwork and locally produced yarn. The Fernie Arts Co-op, at 572 2nd Avenue, will showcase pottery, photography, textile art and paintings. In Sparwood, the Sparwood Museum, located at 141B Aspen Drive across from the Visitor Centre, will share the history and culture of Sparwood and the former mining communities of Michel and Natal.
“It’s so exciting that year after year the public is able to enjoy arts, culture and heritage in such a significant way through the Culture Tour,” said Kallee Lins, Executive Director of the Kootenay Regional Arts Council. “There’s a huge range of options—something to appeal to everyone—throughout the event. We invite people to take a look at the venues and start planning a fabulous weekend!”
A project of the Kootenay Regional Arts Council, the Columbia Basin Culture Tour is supported by Columbia Basin Trust, with additional support provided by Nelson and Kootenay Lake Tourism.
Through exhibitions, artwork displays, creative-process demonstrations and performances, each venue offers a new experience. The tour is self-guided and suitable for all ages.
One 2025 participant commented, “How there are so many talented people in our area? I thought the Columbia Basin Culture Tour was great—never been to one before. I would go next year. Thank you for having this event.”
Another 2025 participant said, “I very much enjoyed seeing the artists in their home environments and having the chance to chat with the various artists. I also liked the demos!”
To learn more about the Culture Tour, discover the venues and view a map of locations, visit cbculturetour.com. Printed copies of the Columbia Basin Culture Tour directory are also available around the region in locations like art galleries, visitors’ centres, chambers of commerce, hotels and cafés.
Image: Vince Mo
