Articles · Local Businesses
What Is Armstrong, BC Known For?
Published 2026-10-15 · By Mary Jane Howie
Armstrong is a small farming town in the North Okanagan. People know it for what grows here, what gets made here, and the events that fill the calendar from spring to Christmas. This guide lists the main things and points you to where to find each one.
Farms
Farming is the base of the local economy. Farms in Armstrong and Spallumcheen grow corn, canola, and vegetables. They also raise dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, chickens, and laying hens for eggs. Some farms grow trees.
Many farms sit in the Township of Spallumcheen and use an Armstrong mailing address. Our farms in Armstrong page lists them. Our guide to which municipality your address is in explains why the mailing town and the municipality can differ.
The cheese factory
Armstrong has a cheese factory. It ties back to the dairy farms around town. Locals and visitors stop there for cheese made in the valley. Check the current hours with the business before you go.
The fall fair
Armstrong hosts the biggest agricultural fall fair in British Columbia. It brings livestock, produce, and crafts to town. Exhibitors and visitors come from across the Interior. The dates and ticket prices change from year to year, so check with the fair organizers for the current schedule.
The pro rodeo
Armstrong also holds a pro rodeo. It fits a town where ranching and farming still shape daily life. Look to the rodeo organizers for dates, times, and tickets.
Downtown and western facades
Downtown Armstrong has shops with western-style facades. Bridge Street sits inside the City of Armstrong and is the main place to walk from store to store. The town has quilt shops, which draw visitors who sew. Our list of thrift stores covers the secondhand shops. Our bakeries and restaurants roundups cover where to eat.
Specialty lumber mills
The area has specialty lumber mills. They cut and sell wood for builders and woodworkers. Our construction companies roundup lists related trades.
Churches
Armstrong has many churches for a town its size. Several date back many years. Church halls often host suppers, sales, and community meetings.
Seasonal events
Armstrong keeps a full event calendar. These are the ones residents name most often:
- Easter egg hunt in the park
- Friday night music in the park in the warm months
- Fall demolition derby
- Harvest pumpkin festival
- Town-wide Halloween decorating contest, where homes and businesses decorate for the holiday
- Christmas light up downtown
Event dates shift each year. Confirm the day and time with the organizer before you plan a trip.
For Halloween, see our Armstrong Halloween Ghost Walk page. For the holidays, see the Christmas Tractor Parade 2025 page.
Parks and playgrounds
Armstrong has many green spaces. Families use them for the Easter egg hunt and the summer music nights. Our parks list has 20 of them. Our playgrounds guide covers where kids can play.
A town with a long history
Armstrong grew up around the railway and farming. The old buildings downtown and the farm names around the township trace back to that start. Our history of Armstrong tells how the town developed.
Where to start as a visitor
Pick a weekend with an event. Walk Bridge Street for the shops and stop at a bakery. Drive the rural roads in Spallumcheen to see the farms. Check opening hours before you go, since small businesses and farm stands often close on set days or by season.