Ryga Arts Festival

Located at several community locations.

The Ryga Arts Festival, organized by the Ryga Festival Society, celebrates creativity and artistic expression in honour of George Ryga, a renowned playwright known for his works on social issues. Inspired by the lively and welcoming atmosphere of the Ryga family home in Summerland, the festival features storytelling, singing, creative writing, acting, playwriting, and more.

Past festivals have explored themes such as agricultural stories, weathering the storm, the power of music in challenging times and the crisis in Ukraine. The festival promotes accessibility with Pay-What-You-Choose pricing and multi-ticket discounts.

Opening Night Welcome Event:

Date: Wednesday, September 18

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Anona Kampe will start the evening with a traditional welcome, followed by a performance by the Shae Ryga trio, featuring George Ryga's grandson. Harold Rhenisch will share excerpts from his poem "We are George Ryga," and Emilia Symington-Fedy will emcee. Enjoy spoken word performances and soul-stirring music by Frantic and BusStopGirl, inspired by George Ryga's legacy.