Summer Adventure Awaits You in Swift Current, SK

Nestled in southwest Saskatchewan along a fast-moving creek, Swift Current enjoys some of the best weather in all of Canada. With clear skies, a healthy dose of sunshine, a vibrant town and active community, and a long list of adventures both indoors and out, summertime in Swift Current is one of the best!

From lakes and national parks to cultural museums and several unique festivals (and just about everything in between!), you’ll find no shortage of things to see and do in Swift Current this summer. Book your summer travel now and find out why Saskatchewan is called the "Land of the Living Skies!"

Festivals in Swift Current

Windscape Kite Festival

June 18 -19, 2022

One of the largest kite festivals in the entire country (and certainly the largest in Western Canada!), the Windscape Kite Festival is a beloved annual event held in Swift Current every June.

The multi-day Swift Current event features over 40 national and international celebrity kite performers and kitemakers from every corner of the globe. Windscape is about so much more than simply watching kites, however; guests will also learn all about kite making and participate in workshops. By far the most popular, the Kitebuilding Workshop sends all participants home with a hand-made, custom kite.

In addition to all the kite-related activities, the Windscape Festival features plenty of Swift Current family activities, including a bubble station, straw bale maze, obstacle course, balloon-making, and photo ops galore. Best of all, the festival is completely free to attend!

About the Swift Current event:

• Highlights: 40-plus celebrity kite performers, artists, and makers
• When: June 18 and 19th, 2022 from 10am-5pm
• Cost: Free!

Watermelon Festival in Swift Current

July 17, 2022

The annual Watermelon Festival in Swift Current is a major highlight at the Mennonite Heritage Village. Celebrating and honouring Swift Current’s early history, which included several Mennonite immigrants settling in the area, this relaxed festival highlights architecture and apparel from that time period.

Of course, food is also a major component of the Watermelon Festival (can you guess one type of food in particular?). Aside from, naturally, watermelon being prominently featured in many of the festival’s dishes, other stars of the show include traditional German and Mennonite delicacies.

People come from all over specifically to enjoy Faspa, a large, traditional Mennonite lunch of breads, cheeses, and pastries enjoyed in the late afternoon with family and friends. Faspa is meant to symbolize fellowship, so it’s perfectly suited for the Watermelon Festival. Another popular food at the festival is roll kuchen, a deep-fried pastry treat that’s often served with a slice of cold watermelon.

The festival also features several wholesome activities that the whole family can enjoy, such as watermelon eating and seed spitting contests.

About the event:

• Highlights: Held at the Mennonite Heritage Village and featuring all things watermelon
• When: July 17, 2022 from 2pm-5pm
• Cost: $10 admission, with proceeds acting as a fundraiser for the village

Places to Visit Near Swift Current

Grasslands National Park Saskatchewan

In a country that has some absolutely spectacular national parks, Grasslands National Park is a standout. Not only do bison roam the vast plains freely, but it's also an International Dark Sky Preserve (the darkest in Canada, actually!).

The Grasslands National Park is located 117 kilometres south of Swift Current (about 1.5 hours), and it's well worth the drive. Between the wildlife, the incredibly stargazing, and the noticeable lack of crowds, this is a destination unlike any other in Canada. In fact, Grasslands is the only one of Canada’s national parks that features prairie!

To best explore Grasslands National Park Saskatchewan, take a self-guided driving tour on Ecotour Road in the West Block, hike one of the many scenic trails, or kayak the Frenchman River.

Swift Current Market Square

Swift Current's Market Square is the perfect place to spend a summer Saturday. Open seasonally each summer from mid-June to late September, Central Avenue downtown is lined with shops and tents, offering a unique mixture of indoor and open-air shopping. As you stroll the street, take in all the sights and sounds — Central Avenue has had businesses continually operating since 1880!

Visitors will find a delightful array of local produce, artisan treats like fresh-baked goodies, coffee, and cheese, crafts, live music and other entertainment, and much more. There are often attractions set up just for the little ones (or the young at heart!), including bouncy houses or face-painting artists.

After a busy morning of walking, socializing, and shopping, head to the award-winning Black Ridge Brewery nearby to relax and enjoy a cold beverage. It’s the perfect way to wind down your visit to downtown Swift Current!

Lake Diefenbaker

Just a short 30-minute drive north of Swift Current, you’ll find the largest body of water in southwest Saskatchewan: Lake Diefenbaker. The lake has over 800 kilometres of shoreline!

Lake Diefenbaker is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors, with opportunities for boating, world-class walleye fishing, hiking, golf, and four individual parks, including Sask Landing Provincial Park. The nearby Coteau Hills offer terrain consisting of rugged hills and heavily-forested valleys, providing a unique contrast to the beaches and sandy shoreline.

In addition to an abundance of outdoor recreation, Sask Landing is also home to the historic Goodwin House, which now serves as the park visitor centre. The Goodwin House was a former stagecoach station in the early 1900s and one-time dispatch station for the North West Mounted Police, offering visitors an in-depth look into the area's unique history.

Where To Stay In Swift Current

With so much to explore all year long in Swift Current and its vicinity, you’re going to want to make at least an overnight trip out of it. The Coast Swift Current Hotel is an excellent option, with a convenient location just off the highway and stylish, pet-friendly Swift Current accommodations.

Aside from welcoming pets and being centrally-located, the Coast Swift Current Hotel offers a long list of amenities.

• Free continental breakfast
• Free wi-fi
• Fitness centre
• Mini-fridges and microwaves (some guest rooms also have full kitchens)
• Smiley’s Bar & Grill, open in the evenings and featuring a pub menu, daily Happy Hour specials, and VLT machines
• Beer, wine, and spirits store onsite