The Ryga Festival Society aims to advance public appreciation of the arts by staging an annual arts & culture festival inspired by George Ryga (1932-1987), one of Canada’s greatest writers. 

George Ryga created most of his artistic output in Summerland, BC.  “The Ecstasy of Rita Joe” awakened the country to the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples, and is Canada's best-known English-language play. He also authored several other books, plays, poems, radio programs, and lyrics.

The Society strives to create inclusive and accessible celebrations of words, music, and theatre, in the spirit of George Ryga.

Your contribution supports the festival's mission of agitating for social justice through the arts, and creates opportunities for local talent to perform together with nationally recognized artists! It also furthers arts education, creation, and appreciation in our South Okanagan communities.

We are a registered charitable society.