As winter settles in and the village fills with snow, Sun Peaks comes alive with the energy of the holiday season. From festive markets to early-season skiing, the community welcomes visitors and locals alike to celebrate the start of winter. This holiday kick-off weekend Dec. 12 to 14 brought together artists, returning guests and familiar faces, each experiencing Sun Peaks in their own meaningful way.
A festive start at the holiday market
For artist Linda Scarfo, the holiday market marks both a celebration and a seasonal milestone. Scarfo returns to Sun Peaks every summer to take part in the Sunday markets and makes a point of coming back for the Christmas market each year. With her son and his family living in the area, Sun Peaks has become a familiar and special place.
Although she’s participated in a few winter markets elsewhere in B.C., the Sun Peaks Christmas market is the largest and her final one of the season. Her artwork, particularly winter photography, resonates strongly during the holidays. Visitors often purchase these pieces as keepsakes, especially those visiting in summer who enjoy seeing what Sun Peaks looks like blanketed in snow.
While winter itself can be challenging, Scarfo values the season for the time it allows her to spend with family and the welcoming atmosphere of the market. She also credits the Tourism Sun Peaks team for helping make the event run smoothly, offering support during setup and throughout the day. For Scarfo, the holiday market is not just about sales, but about connection, creativity and community.
Returning visitors celebrate the snow
The holiday kick-off weekend also welcomed familiar faces returning to enjoy the first real snowfall of the season. Allison, a visitor originally from England, has been coming to Sun Peaks for years and continues to return at the start of winter.
“This weekend has been great,” she said. “The snow was fabulous.”
Early-season skiing is one of the highlights of her visits.
“It’s really nice early season skiing,” Allison said. “We even get to ski our little race courses sometimes.”
Beyond the slopes, she appreciates the overall village experience. “The restaurants are great, the staff are great,” she said. “The guest services take care of us really well.”
With many friends living in the area, Sun Peaks feels familiar and welcoming.
“We have a lot of friends here, so we always come and visit a lot of people,” she said.
A first season on the mountain
For Jack Nelson, this holiday season marks his very first winter at Sun Peaks. Originally from Australia, Nelson moved to Kamloops in July and quickly made Sun Peaks his go-to mountain.
“I really like it,” Nelson said. “It’s been really good up here at the moment.”
This is Nelson’s first season skiing at Sun Peaks and he’s already looking ahead.
“I’m looking forward to the whole mountain being open, which should be pretty soon,” Nelson said.
Living nearby made the choice easy.
“When you live in Kamloops, it’s probably the closest big mountain,” Nelson said. “But it’s also just a super nice village and a nice resort.”
Asked about his favourite spot so far, Nelson didn’t hesitate.
“At the moment, West Bowl,” Nelson said. “I really love it up there.”
Welcoming winter together
From long-time artists and returning visitors to newcomers experiencing their first season, the holiday kick-off in Sun Peaks sets the tone for winter ahead. With fresh snow, festive markets and a strong sense of community, the start of the season is a celebration of everything that makes Sun Peaks feel like home.
What did you think of this story?
Sun Peaks Independent News is your essential source for community news in Sun Peaks. Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you.
