Swimmers prepare to cross Okanagan Lake in longstanding Kelowna tradition

More than 1,200 swimmers are expected to take the plunge in Kelowna this weekend for one of Canada’s largest and longest-running open-water swimming events. The 78th edition of the Across the Lake Swim Kelowna takes place Saturday, July 18, offering participants the choice of a 1.5-kilometre or 2.1-km point-to-point swim across Okanagan Lake.Swimmers will start [...]

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More than 1,200 swimmers are expected to take the plunge in Kelowna this weekend for one of Canada’s largest and longest-running open-water swimming events. The 78th edition of the Across the Lake Swim Kelowna takes place Saturday, July 18, offering participants the choice of a 1.5-kilometre or 2.1-km point-to-point swim across Okanagan Lake. Swimmers will start near the old ferry docks in West Kelowna before making their way across the lake to Hot Sands Beach in Kelowna’s City Park.

The annual event began in 1949 as part of the former Kelowna Regatta. It has since grown from roughly 200 participants to more than 1,200 swimmers and is described by organizers as the largest and longest continuously running open-water swim event in Canada. Registration was still open as of Thursday, July 16, but swimmers do not have much time left to secure a spot.

Organizers said registration closes at midnight tonight. Younger swimmers can also participate in the free Kids Shore Splash at City Park on July 18. The shoreline event offers children between five and 12 years old a choice of a 25-metre or 50-metre swim.

Kelowna is just one of several communities hosting an Across the Lake Swim this summer. The organization runs events throughout the Thompson-Okanagan and elsewhere in British Columbia, with distances designed for beginners, recreational swimmers and experienced endurance athletes. The 2026 Thompson-Okanagan schedule includes: Registration links and additional information about each swim are available through the Across the Lake Swim website.

Registration remains open for the later events unless a distance reaches capacity. News from © iNFOnews.ca, .