Many festivals and events on Vancouver Island celebrate locally grown and produced food and wine, while others highlight the region's diverse wildlife and creative arts communities.
Foodies will enjoy events such as the Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival, Parksville Uncorked and the Clayoquot Oyster Festival. Prefer wildlife watching? Check out the Pacific Rim Whale Festival or Brant Wildlife Festival.
The Filberg Festival and Salt Spring Island Saturday Market are great events to see Vancouver Island's vibrant arts communities on display. Other island festivals include logger sports, a giant bathtub race, music festivals and a combination ice carving and chili cook-off.
Summer Festivals and Events (June - August)
Salt Spring Island Saturday Market (May to October): At the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market, sample artisan foods, meet farmers and browse works from jewellers, sculptures, potters and more than 100 other vendors that make Salt Spring Island one of Canada's top small arts towns.
Vancouver Island MusicFest (July): Voted one of the "Top 25 Outdoor Festivals in North America" by Outside magazine, the Vancouver Island MusicFest in Courtenay predominantly features roots and world music. Each year, close to 100 acts – which have included Taj Mahal and Bo Diddley – perform over three days on six stages. The riverside venue offers swimming, fields and forests, art and yoga, and an interactive kid zone.
Filberg Festival (July/August): Shop at the largest juried art show in Western Canada. More than 120 of Canada’s top artisans gather for four days at the Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park in Comox to sell unique crafts such as sculptures, woodwork, musical instruments and leather goods.
Nanaimo Marine Festival and World International Bathtub Race(July): Head to Nanaimo’s waterfront for the chance to see converted bathtubs race through the ocean! The big bathtub race – which can take more than two hours to complete – is the main attraction during four days of free, family events. Other activities include live music, an ocean sail-past parade and one of Vancouver Island’s largest fireworks displays.
North Island Logger Sports and Summer Salmon Sizzler (August): In Campbell River, watch logger sports competitions like axe throwing, log rolling, tree climbing and high-speed power saw cutting. The Summer Salmon Sizzler, a separate event held on the same weekend, is two days of salmon cooking competitions with live music and a beer and oyster tasting.
Fall Festivals and Events (September – November)
Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival (September): Tour the Cowichan Valley and savour food from organic farms and artisan food producers while sipping award-winning wines. Each of the 15 participants offers at least one complimentary tasting or event; there are also options for wine pairings and multi-course feasts.
Clayoquot Oyster Festival (November): Shuck, slurp and celebrate oysters in Tofino. Learn about oysters on an aquaculture tour, find the perfect wine or beer pairing or dance the evening away at the Mermaid’s Ball. The Oyster Gala, the most popular event, features local restaurants preparing oyster delicacies.
Winter Festivals and Events (December – February)
Festival of Lights (November – January): See trees, buildings and poles in Ladysmith come aglow with more than 200,000 lights. Opening night includes a parade, a street party and the arrival of Santa Claus who comes by to turn on the lights!
Parksville Uncorked (February): Parksville welcomes top BC wineries and local chefs that prepare dishes to complement the vintages. Enjoy wine pairing dinners, seminars and Swirl – the signature event with gourmet tapas and more than 20 wineries.
Spring Festivals and Events (March – May)
Pacific Rim Whale Festival (March): Watch from a boat or the shore as up to 20,000 gray whales migrate past Tofino and Ucluelet on the way to the Arctic. There are almost 30 events to choose from: educational seminars and walks, children's activities, a parade, dinners and more.
Fire & Ice Street Festival (May): In Qualicum Beach, artists transform ice blocks into sculptures while island chefs prepare huge vats of chili (available for sampling) at a chili cook-off. Local music acts keep the party atmosphere going.
Brant Wildlife Festival (March/April): The Brant Wildlife Festival is a celebration of Parksville and Qualicum Beach’s diverse wildlife, especially the 20,000 or so black brant geese that migrate here each spring. Film nights, tide pool tours and caving excursions make up some of the festivals more than 20 events.
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