No matter when you visit the Sunshine Coast, there's sure to be something exciting going on. Outdoor festivals celebrate the joys of summer, including the Gibsons and Pender Harbour Jazz Festivals, the Outrigger Canoe Races, the Davis Bay Sandcastle Competition, the Ruby Lake Wood Duck Festival, the Fibre Arts Festival, parades and water-related events such as regattas, classic boat reunions, longboard races, Sea Cavalcade and so much more.

Community fairs, road races, golf tournaments and craft markets amidst glorious seasonal changes welcome autumn to the Coast. In December, our harbours glow with the spirit of the season when the carol ships pay their annual visit.

Plan your visit to coincide with a special event and discover the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast at the same time. See the information and links below for more information, or contact the Visitor Info Centres.

Howe Sound Outrigger Canoe Races held annually in July, is the largest paddling event of its kind in Canada, 18 nautical miles around Howe Sound.

Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival held annually in June, is a 3-day festival of outdoor performances by top jazz musicians and vocalists.

Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival held annually in August, presents a wide range of fibre arts workshops, juried exhibit & sale, demonstrations, tours, and more.

Gibsons Sea Cavalcade held annually in July, is fun for the whole family, with logger sports, parade, free outdoor performances, kids' day fun, salmon BBQ, street dance and fireworks.

Music in the Landing
Free outdoor concerts every weekend, June to September

Creek Daze
Join the fun at Roberts Creek's quirky August festival celebrating everything that makes the Creek so special. A highlight is the higgledy-piggledy parade from the community hall down Roberts Creek Road to the waterfront park. Live music, contests, craft vendors, food and frivolity add up to a delightful day.

Gibsons Landing Salmon Festival
The Salmon run in Gibsons Landing every August. Many downtown businesses feature salmon by local artists. More are arriving every day. Get ready for the must-see hilarious art event of the year - the Gibsons Landing Salmon Festival.

BC Ferry Summer Marketplace
Unique local gifts and crafts on display at the Langdale Ferry Terminal from Sunday to Friday all summer.

Gibsons Sunday Marketplace
Local crafts, jams, art for sale from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm every Sunday at Holland Park in Gibsons Landing.

Davis Bay Sandcastle Competition
Davis Bay beach welcomes sand sculpture artists from near and far for this annual July event.

Farmers' Market
Every Saturday morning from spring to fall, wonderful fresh local produce, fruit, breads, preserves and crafts are available at the Raven's Cry Theatre parking lot.

Festival of the Written Arts
Join Canada's longest running summer gathering of Canadian writers and readers, featuring established literary stars and exciting new voices, with opportunities for writers and readers to mingle amidst Rockwood's heritage gardens, held annually in August.

Sechelt Family Arts Festival
Held annually in August, this festival celebrates the arts, provides free concerts, workshops, juried art exhibit and much more for the whole family in Hackett Park, Rockwood Pavilion and the Seaside Centre.

Halfmoon Bay Country Fair
This popular, old-fashioned community event is held in July at Cooper's Green Regional Park with games, crafts and food booths.

Sunshine Coast Wooden Boat Festival held annually on the BC Day long weekend, this festival celebrates wooden boats and provides fun for the whole family, live music, food, and events. It is held at the Porpoise Bay Government Wharf.

Robbie Burns Night
This January ceilidh for Scots and the Scottish at heart celebrates the birth of the bard with traditional food, music, entertainment and dancing.

Pender Harbour May Day
The second-oldest community May Day celebration in the province features a parade, fly-over, live music, beer garden, arts & craft fair, salmon BBQ and more.

Attack of Danger Bay
The longboard race every May has put Pender Harbour on the map with competitors from all over the world.

Mission Boat Rendezvous
Every second year, Coast Columbia Mission Boats from all over the west coast of North America return to the former St. Mary's Hospital (now the Sundowner Inn) at Hospital Bay.

Malaspina Regatta
The Garden Bay Sailing Club hosts this annual Canada Day weekend regatta, where all classes and sizes of sailboats compete for trophies.
 

Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival
Takes place again on the third weekend of August the 15, 16 and 17th. Our invited musicians this year are the Lafayette String Quartet along with Joan Blackman (violin), Yariv Aloni (viola), Tanya Prochazka (cello), Christie Reside (flute) and our artistic director Alexander Tselyakov (piano). As always, Alexander has designed an interesting, romantic and challenging programme. You will hear an eclectic selection of works from Bach to Brahms, Schubert to Szymanowski and Schafer, Franck, Rachmaninov to name a few.

Bonfire Music Festival
Bonfire is a uniquely British Columbian festival experience. A 3-day, hassle-free, art-infused weekend of exceptional music, camping and fun. Our stellar lineup of musical performers will appeal to a broad range of the Roots, Groove, Jazz, Funk & Folk audience who are known to appreciate the outdoor festival experience.  Aug. 22 - 24, 2008 in Garden Bay
 
Pender Harbour Jazz Festival
A highly popular part of the North American jazz scene. Enjoy world-class jazz in indoor and outdoor venues throughout Pender Harbour the third weekend of September.

International Choral Kathaumixw
International choir festival that features dozens of choirs from all around the world.

The Annual Powell River Film Festival
Held each February, this festival is gaining in popularity each year, as well as garnering respect from filmakers and film buffs alike.  Check the website for details about next year's festival, and plan to take in some unique movies.

Seafair Festival
This annual festival offers a multitude of fun and events for everyone. Starting with a treasure hunt, a children's coloring contest, and a business decorating contest, we build up the community spirit and theme for the event. There are food booths, crafts and information booths, outdoor entertainment, midway, bingo, parade, fireworks, kid's day races, sandcastle contest, talent contest and much more.

Blackberry Festival
The Blackberry Festival is a week long celebration of those wonderfully delectable berries that grow in abundance in the Powell River area. There are different events each day winding up with everyone's favourite, the Marine Avenue Street Party.

Sunshine Music Festival
Expect to see world-class performances in a picturesque setting at Palm Beach Park on the waterfront. Shop at the craft market and enjoy some tasty treats from the many food vendors. Year after year, the festival gets better and better!  Hope to see you there, and don't forget your
beachwear!

Summer Curling Bonspiel
Fun for all!  Come out and enjoy Aug. 7 - 10, 2008.  Theme--Sportster Spiel
Wear your favorite team jersey or sports outfit.

Texada Island Sandcastle Weekend
Held every year in August.  Come out and enjoy the artistic creations, or create some yourself!

Lund Dayz
Annual festival of children's events, fishing derby, Nanaimo Bathtub racers.  Held annually in August.

Lund Annual Shellfish Festival
Daily events and shellfish delights are planned each May along the harbourfront.  Enjoy the music, the tours, the food booths, the presentations, and special menu items at the restaurants. Stay overnight and enjoy special rates offered by Lund's accommodation providers.  Bring the family - there are activities for everyone!