Thank you so much to everyone for supporting and attending the 2024 Ryga Arts Festival! Stay tuned as we begin to plan for 2025.

Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival

The Ryga Festival Society honors the legacy of George Ryga (1932–1987), one of Canada’s influential writers, by hosting an annual arts and culture festival in Summerland, BC. Known for The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Canada’s most renowned English-language play, Ryga’s work spotlighted the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and continues to inspire with its focus on social justice.

Your donation helps us celebrate the arts through inclusive performances, arts education, and opportunities for local talent to collaborate with national artists. Together, we can keep George Ryga’s spirit alive in our community!
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The Government of Canada has extended taxable donations until February 28, 2025.  You can still donate to this year's festival and claim it on your 2024 income taxes.  An anonymous donor will match all donations up until February 28, 2025 to a maximum of $5000.  Get your 2024 tax receipt today by donating now to help support our 10th Anniversary!

Support the Festival

Celebrating Creativity: Highlights from the 2024 Ryga Arts Festival and What’s Coming in 2025!

The 2024 Ryga Arts Festival in Summerland was a vibrant celebration of creativity and culture, uniting a diverse group of artists and performers to honour George Ryga’s legacy through community and art. With incredible live performances and a unique blend of music, theatre, literature, and workshops, the festival was an unforgettable experience for locals and visitors alike. Attendees immersed themselves in the thriving arts scene of the Okanagan, celebrating the immense talent that made the event truly special. As we look ahead to 2025, excitement is building for another year of showcasing a dynamic range of artists and creating unforgettable moments. Explore this year’s featured talent on the Artist page of the Ryga Arts Festival website and get inspired as we prepare for another fantastic celebration.

Testimonials

You ran a beautiful festival. We felt cared for and the vibe was calm and generative and fun - so good work! And congrats!
- Emelia Symington-Fedy, Writer • Radio Broadcaster • Theatre Maker
 I love the Ryga Fest. Its community-minded focus on justice, equity, and social change make it one of my favourite arts festivals ever. I look forward to returning again and again, and I can't wait to see where the team takes Ryga Fest over the next 10 years.
- Andrea Warner, author of Rise Up and Sing! Power, Protest, and Activism in Music, The Time of My Life: Dirty Dancing and We Oughta Know: How Céline, Shania, Alanis, and Sarah Ruled the '90s and Changed Music.
Sharing my work at the Ryga Arts Festival was an absolute dream: seamless logistics, a beautiful venue, and a warm & attentive audience made for an unforgettable experience.
- Meghan Fandrich, author of Burning Sage: Poems from the Lytton Fire