Vernon has two distinct visitor seasons. Summer — July and August — is hot, dry, and sunny, ideal for swimming in Kalamalka and Okanagan lakes, picking fruit at local farms, and exploring the winery trails. Temperatures regularly reach 30°C and beyond. This is also the most crowded period, though Vernon never approaches the congestion of Kelowna.
Winter brings skiing at Silver Star (usually good snow from December through March) and a quieter, more local feel to the town. Spring and early autumn are pleasant but thin on specific activities — May to June is when the cherry blossoms on the orchards are at their best. September and October are the apple and wine harvest months, when the whole Okanagan Valley is at its most aromatic and the roadside fruit stands are piled high.