Some weekends you remember. This one, we’ll be talking about for the next hundred years.
This past weekend, Hotel Eldorado marked a milestone few destinations ever reach. One hundred years on the shores of Okanagan Lake, and we celebrated the only way the El knows how: in style, by the water, with the people who’ve made this place what it is. From the first champagne toast on the rooftop Friday night to the final dance beneath the tent on Saturday, the centennial weekend was everything we hoped it would be, and then some.
Friday: The Elevated Rooftop Party Set the Tone
The festivities kicked off Friday evening with our Elevated Rooftop Party, and what a way to start. The day was sweltering hot, but no one seemed to mind. If anything, it only added to the atmosphere. As the sun dipped over Okanagan Lake, guests gathered above it all with champagne in hand, live music in the air, and curated culinary stations tempting every corner of the rooftop. The dance floor filled early and stayed full, and the energy was electric. There’s something about golden hour over the water, a great crowd, and a glass of bubbly that feels distinctly Okanagan, and Friday captured it perfectly. It was a modern nod to the glamorous social gatherings that have defined the El for a century, proof that some traditions only get better with age.
Saturday: The Grand Ball, The Celebration of the Century
Then came the main event. Saturday night, guests gathered beneath a grand tented setting for The El 100 Grand Ball, the crown jewel of our 100th year. Guests arrived dressed in their finest, and the room came alive with a 19-piece band, exceptional food and drinks, and the kind of glamour you only see once in a hundred years. It was, quite simply, the event of the century.
The wind did its best to steal the show that evening, but if anything, it felt fitting. Hotel Eldorado has weathered a century of storms with grace, and Saturday was no different. The celebration carried on beautifully, a party that felt as timeless as the place itself.
The evening was a celebration of history as much as it was a party. For 100 years, this hotel has been the backdrop for weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, and countless summer memories. On Saturday, all that legacy came alive in one unforgettable night. There were toasts to the generations who’ve watched the sunset from their hotel windows, arrived by boat for dinner, and returned year after year to relive their favourite Okanagan moments. It was equal parts elegant and heartfelt, a fitting tribute to a place that means so much to so many.
None of it would have been possible without the incredible team at Hotel Eldorado. A heartfelt thank you to our staff, whose care and hard work behind the scenes ensured everyone enjoyed a seamless night to remember.
Missed Out? Your Next Chance Is August 22
If reading this has you wishing you’d been there, don’t worry. The celebration isn’t over.
We’re hosting another Elevated Rooftop Party on Friday, August 22, from 6 to 10 PM. Expect the same unforgettable formula: lakeside views, live entertainment, champagne, and the kind of summer-night energy you can only find at the El. Whether you missed the first one or simply can’t get enough, this is your invitation to be part of the celebrations while summer is still in full swing. Tickets are limited, so grab yours before they’re gone.
More Than a Weekend: A Celebration of Okanagan Life
What made this weekend so special is what makes the El special every day: it’s not just about looking back, it’s about celebrating everything that has made Hotel Eldorado an Okanagan icon. A stay here has always been about more than a room. It’s waking up over the lake, strolling with a morning coffee, lakeside dining as the boats drift by, and exploring the water from the Eldorado Yacht Club.
Few hotels in British Columbia ever reach their 100th birthday. Fewer remain as vibrant, beloved, and full of life as this one. This weekend proved exactly why. Here’s to 100 years, and to every unforgettable summer still to come.
