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Vernon runs a farmers’ market three days a week, which gives you plenty of options for building a day around the Vernon Passport Tour. The Vernon Farmers’ Market runs Mondays and Thursdays at the back lot of Kal Tire Place on 43rd Avenue, and the Saturday Summer Satellite Market sets up on Kalamalka Lake Road. Pick your day, fill your bag, and let the rest of the tour follow from there. The stops span downtown Vernon and a short drive out to an orchard on East Vernon Road, with one outdoor adventure that rounds the whole day out on the shores of Kalamalka Lake.
Don’t forget to download the BC Farmers’ Market Trail app before you go! Checking in at select stops unlocks exclusive discounts available only to Passport visitors.
With up to 120 vendors during peak season, the Vernon Farmers’ Market is one of the North Okanagan’s most established markets. Set up in the back lot of Kal Tire Place on 43rd Avenue, this farmers’ market runs rain or shine with a full lineup of in-season fruit and vegetables, baked bread and pastries, meat, prepared meals, fresh cut flowers, handmade pottery, jewelry, and more. Hot food and live entertainment round out the morning. The Thursday bread truck is a standing favourite, selling award-winning European-style artisan breads that tend to sell out early. Even in the off-season, at least 40 vendors show up, making this a farmers’ market worth visiting well beyond the summer months.
Open Mondays and Thursdays, 8am to 1pm.
On Saturdays through summer, the Vernon Farmers’ Market runs a second location at the Kal Tire Administrative Office parking lot on Kalamalka Lake Road. Same vendors, same quality, different neighbourhood. A good option if the weekday schedule doesn’t work, or a reason to come back twice.
EATology
A short drive from Kal Tire Place into downtown Vernon, Eatology has been a fixture on 30th Street since 2015, housed in a former Greyhound station with a diner aesthetic that mixes chrome chairs and pedestal tables with modern wood floors and a genuinely warm atmosphere. The menu spans classic diner staples with a contemporary spin: Eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles, shakshuka, Buddha bowls, and a Mexican skillet with a loyal following. About 90% of the food is made in-house, with vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options always available. Order at the counter and find a seat. No reservations required.
Ratio Coffee & Pastry
Around the corner from Eatology on 29th Street, Ratio Coffee and Pastry is set inside Vernon’s historic former rail station, which gives the space a bit of character that a standard coffee shop can’t replicate. The espresso is made with Drumroaster beans and consistently praised for getting the ratios right, as the name implies. The pastry lineup rotates daily: galettes on Mondays, eclairs on Tuesdays, cakes on Wednesdays, strudels on Thursdays, donuts on Fridays, and sticky buns and family-friendly treats on Saturdays. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
La Carraia Gelateria
On 29th Avenue in downtown Vernon, La Carraia serves 60 flavours of authentic Italian gelato, all made in house. The flavour list runs from the classics like pistachio and stracciatella to the unexpected, including fig and cheese and ricotta and pear. It is a direct line to Florence, and a very good way to end a morning in downtown Vernon.
Passport offer: Check in on the app on any farmers’ market day (Monday, Thursday, or Saturday) for 10% off a one-scoop cup.
Wedge Cheesery
Also in downtown Vernon on 30th Avenue, Wedge Cheesery is a cheese lover’s stop in the fullest sense. Step up to the cut-to-order counter and work your way through a curated selection of local artisanal cheeses alongside options sourced from around the world. The staff know their product and are happy to guide you through a tasting before you commit. A natural pairing with the farmers’ market haul already in your bag.
Cambium Cider
A short drive from downtown on East Vernon Road, Cambium Cider is set on a third-generation certified organic orchard that has been farming this land since 1946. Owners Dave and Melissa Dobernigg started making cider from apples grown right here, and have since brought in Chef Christian Scott to build a full restaurant around the experience. The wood-fired kitchen turns out seasonal dishes using local BC ingredients, from sharing plates and pizza to short rib, halibut, and rack of lamb. The cider lineup is equally considered, with varieties that range from Traditional Dry and Rhubarb to barrel-aged, Earl Grey, Haskap Berry, and a botanical Lavender Raspberry. Indoor seating, a patio, and picnic tables in the orchard, plus live music on weekends. Reservations recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings. Less than five minutes from the north end of Vernon.
Ancestral Heartbeat Tours
For a more active addition to the day, Ancestral Heartbeat Tours offers Indigenous guided hiking, paddle, and drum tours across some of the most beautiful landscapes in Secwepemc and Syilx territories. The Vernon tours take place at Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, where guides lead participants along trails above the lake’s famously turquoise waters while sharing knowledge about local plants, traditional medicines, and Syilx history and culture through the teachings of their Elders. It is a grounding experience, and a meaningful way to deepen your connection to the land you have been spending the day in.
Passport offer: Show your tour guide the Vernon Passport Tour on any farmers’ market day (Monday, Thursday, or Saturday) in the Tasting Passport app to receive 25% off your tour.
Find your perfect stay in Vernon with options ranging from luxurious hotels and retreats to comfortable hotels and secluded campsites! Check out the accommodation options in Vernon at TourismVernon.com
For more planning resources visit Tourism Vernon.
Get out there and enjoy the Vernon Tour! Download the BC Farmers’ Market Trail App to unlock exclusive discounts available only to Tasting Passport app visitors.