Penticton's race season is set to kick into high gear.

"Duel in the Desert," a canoe event that attracts dozens of teams and around 150 people from across Western Canada, returns to Skaha Lake on Saturday and Sunday (May 10 and 11) to kick off the city's race calendar for 2025.

Also on Sunday, the Peach City Runners host the Blossom 8 Miler. The roughly 13-kilometre race, which is part of the Interior Road Race Series, will see participants run up Vancouver Avenue, Lower Bench Road and along Naramata Road, before returning on the KVR Trail.

The race begins inside Okanagan Lake Park at 8:30 a.m.

In a press release, city officials said there will be no road closures but drivers are reminded to slow down and watch for runners. All routes are expected to clear by 11 a.m.

This weekend's events mark the first of a busy 2025 race season in Penticton.

Here's what's planned in the city until September:

• Okanagan Super Sprints (June 6 to 7)

• Penticton Beer Run (June 7)

• Wildstone’s Colour 4 Kids Run (June 8)

• Okanagan Trestles Tour (July 6)

• Okanagan Granfondo (July 12 to 13)

• Peach Classic Triathlon (July 20)

• Ultraman Canada (July 26 to 27)

• Across the Lake Swim (Aug. 10)

• Length of the Lake — this outrigger race starts in Vernon and ends in Penticton (Aug. 31)

• Penticton Dragon Boat Festival (Sept. 6 to 7)