Summer 2025 is just around the corner! Make the most of the season with festivals and events that celebrate every facet of life on the Sunshine Coast. From oceanside concerts to a celebration of the written arts, we've rounded up a few of the exciting events you can check out this summer.
Remember to visit our calendar of events and use the date filters to see what’s happening during your visit.
Local Markets, ongoing over the summer
The Sunshine Coast is full of farmers’ markets, both year-round and seasonal. Read our round-up blog for details on local farmers’ markets, which play host to produce vendors, bakers, makers, and more in communities like Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Gambier Island, and Powell River.
Gibsons also has a community market called the Kins Hut Market on alternating Fridays, and Powell River hosts Thursday Night Markets on select dates from June to August.
Tip: Community markets are a great place to pick up food supplies for your adventures and gifts or souvenirs to take home with you! Check out our calendar of events for details.
Pender Harbour May Day, May 17, 2025
This year marks the 79th anniversary of the Pender Harbour May Day event. This year’s theme is “Flashback '45 (Back to Our Roots),” and the festivities will include a parade, a fishing derby for kids, a pancake breakfast, the crowning of this year’s May Queen, a classic car display, live music, food trucks, and more.
Tip: Looking to dance the night away? Adults can opt to purchase tickets to an evening dance on May 18, held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Madeira Park; tickets will be on sale soon.
Sunshine Coast Pride Festival, June 1, 2025
The Sunshine Coast Pride Festival kicks off at Davis Bay Pier in Sechelt with a parade and pride walk at 12:00pm (noon) that ends at Mission Point Park. Hosted by the Sunshine Coast Pride Society, the festival will run from 1:00pm - 5:00pm.
Tip: Arrive early for a walk along beautiful Davis Bay beach—the perfect way to kick off a fun day!
Pender Harbour Blues Festival, June 6 – 8, 2025
There's nothing to feel blue about when you attend this energizing, community-loved festival. This concert series brings blues music to venues like the Lagoon Restaurant at Painted Boat, the Royal Canadian Legion, and Pender Harbour Community Hall, along with the Backeddy Pub in nearby Egmont. The lineup of fantastic blues musicians from near and far is the main attraction, but the enthusiastic crowds add some extra magic to this festival scene. The Pender Harbour Blues Festival is guaranteed to be a dancing, swinging, rousing good time.
Tip: Stay in the area for the easiest access to all the different performances and venues. Download the Coastal Rides app to book safe passage to and from the events if you plan on consuming a drink or two.
Taste of Sechelt, June 7, 2025
Foodies, take note! This exciting culinary experience lets you try the best that downtown Sechelt has to offer. Taste of Sechelt kicks off at 12:00pm (noon). Purchase a branded wine glass for $25 (2 pieces of ID required) on the corner of Wharf and Cowrie Street or in front of the Lighthouse Liquor Store, get your hand stamp, and then sip, shop, and eat your way through Downtown Sechelt. Your purchase includes samples of wine at participating shops, and there will also be $8 curated bites on offer at participating restaurants and eateries.
Tip: Bring your branded wine glass from last year and save $5.
Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival and Beyond, June 7 - 15, 2025
What was once a Gibsons-based event has expanded into more communities. Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival and Beyond includes Jazz Week in Gibsons, Roberts Creek, and Sechelt, and a weekend of outdoor fun as bands take to the stage at Hackett Park in Sechelt on June 14 and Winegarden Park in Gibsons on June 15.
Tip: Stop by local Visitor Centres (the Gibsons and Sechelt locations are close to the event venues) to get intel on restaurants, outdoor activities, and more during your visit.
Powell River PRISMA Festival, June 16 - 28, 2025
Get ready for a musical extravaganza by the sea during the annual PRISMA Festival. Each year, international music students come together to study with principal players from top orchestras around the globe. They take to the stage in an epic symphonic spectacle that is enjoyed by music lovers, residents, and visitors alike. Over two weeks, you can take in performances ranging from indoor concerts to a family-friendly music performance set right on the shores of Powell River's Willingdon Beach. Guest appearances have included members of the LA Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Montreal Symphony, and more. It's a music event like no other! General ticket sales are open now.
Tip: Visitors from Vancouver Island can purchase tickets for a special “Sail to the Symphony” matinee on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Tickets include walk-on ferry passes from Comox to Powell River, bus transportation to the venue, lunch, and a musical performance.
syíyaya Days, June 21 – July 1, 2025
syíyaya Days first took root in 2022 as a partnership between the District of Sechelt, the shíshálh Nation, and the syíyaya Reconciliation Movement. This multi-day event kicks off on June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, and is followed by 10 days of awareness building, learning, and cultural celebration. The event culminates in an inclusive Canada Day event on July 1, that features a parade, live music, and family fun. Stay tuned for full event details!
Tip: During your visit, we encourage you to engage in cultural exploration and learning—participating in events such as this one is a great way to do that. You can also support local Indigenous tourism operators during your visit.
Outdoor Music Series, July to early September (dates vary by community)
Throughout the summer, you can catch live music performances in various venues across the Sunshine Coast. Gibsons plays host to Music in the Landing, an outdoor concerts series that sees musicians take to the stage in Winegarden Park and at the gazebo in the Gibsons Harbour. Sechelt’s Summer Music Series is set to take place at the Hackett Park stage in July and August. And Powell River hosts a Music in the Park series at Willingdon Beach, with 2025 dates and bands to be announced soon.
Tip: Heading out to enjoy some music? Grab food to go and make it a picnic in the park as well.
International Choral (Kathaumixw), July 1 - 5, 2025
Now in its 20th year, the International Choral q̓at̓ᶿaymɩxʷ (Kathaumixw) is a 5 day choral festival in Powell River & qathet that takes place once every two years. The name was gifted by the Tla'amin people and means 'A Gathering Together of Different People.' The event includes concerts, common song singing, choral and vocal solo competitions, conductor’s seminars and social events. Concerts are held at a variety of locations like the Evergreen Theatre Max Cameron Theatre, and draw music lovers from all over the world.
Tip: Tickets go on sale May 5, 2025. Consider purchasing a festival pass to ensure you don't miss out on the many great performances!
Powell River Logger Sports, July 12 & 13, 2025
Powell River Logger Sports takes place at the Loggers Memorial Bowl in Powell River. The amphitheatre is located in Willingdon Beach Park, on Marine Avenue, and overlooks the beautiful Salish Sea. Chainsaw carvers will start their work on July 9, with final artwork on display during the event. This is a sanctioned event through the Canadian Loggers Sports Association (CANLOG), and the competitions are expected to be fierce. Check out our Guide to Powell River Logger Sports for more background on the event.
Tip: Be on the lookout for chainsaw carvings throughout Powell River. This unique art form is celebrated each year at Logger Sports.
Supper Club at Shady Hazel Farm, select dates from July 19 to September 6, 2025
Shady Hazel Farm's Supper Club returns for its fourth season with a unique farm-to-table dining experience in Gibsons. Each dinner includes a five-course menu made from locally sourced ingredients, served under twinkling lights beside blooming flower fields. Featured chefs include Chef Danny Smiles of Le Violon (Montreal), Chef Jesse Grasso of Pichai (Montreal), Chef James Coyle of Salle Climatisée (Montreal), Michelin Star Chef Joël Watanabe of Kissa Tanto, Bao Bei, and Meo (Vancouver), and Chef Warren Barr of Pluvio Restaurant (Ucluelet).
Tip: Purchase your tickets as soon as possible; these dinners tend to sell out!
Texada Annual Fly-In and Fling, July 26 & 27, 2025
The Texada Annual Fly-in and Fling kicks off with a dance at the Royal Canadian Legion on July 26 (with cover by donation), followed by a day of fun at the Texada Airport on July 27. The day starts with a traditional pancake breakfast, followed by a car, plane, and bike show and shine, flight demonstrations, a BBQ lunch, and more. Don't miss the Texada Aviation Museum and Library, which includes aviation displays and paintings, and an amateur radio room.
Tip: The AirBuzz flight simulator is a major attraction, and will be available to try out by donation.
Sunshine Coast Slow Food Cycle, July 27, 2025
The first Slow Food Cycle took place in 2023, and was a big hit. Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast (TraC) will be hosting the event again this year, which sees hundreds of cyclists explore the Gibsons area as they stop at various locations highlighting local food producers. While the date has been set, more details (including online registration) are still to come.
Tip: You can also check out local food producers and more at both seasonal and year-round Farmers’ Markets.
Sleepy Hollow Rod Run and Show n’ Shine, August 8 & 9, 2025
Presented by the Coaster’s Car Club, the annual Sleepy Hollow Rod Run and Show n’ Shine is a popular annual event. On Friday night, over 400 classic cars make the 30km Rod Run trip from Sechelt to Halfmoon Bay. Spectators along the way have been known to make signs, dress in costumes, and chill out on lawn chairs as they cheer on the drivers. The Saturday portion of the event includes a Show n’ Shine along Cowrie Street in Sechelt, with trophy presentations in the afternoon.
Tip: On August 10, 2025 you can watch drag racing at the Sechelt Airport. Gate admission is $10, but note that children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. The races feature different classes of vehicles like hot rods, street machines, and more.
Texada Island Sandcastle Weekend, August 9 & 10, 2025
Texada Island’s Sandcastle Weekend is designed for family fun and entertainment. The sandcastle competition is the main event, with a small entry fee and categories for different age groups. But that’s not all: the weekend typically includes a parade, food court and vendors, beer garden, pancake breakfast, and more. In previous years there have been some fun extras like bed races, a lip sync contest, and even a dog show! Stay tuned for details on the 2025 event.
Tip: Texada Island is a great spot for a getaway. Book a spot at a campsite next to the beach or stay in a tiny home surround by forest at Rocky Valley Resort.
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, August 14 - 17, 2025
The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts is Canada's longest running literary festival, celebrating a diverse roster of literary voices (and readers). What started as a one-day inaugural festival has grown to a nationally recognized event that attracts writers from across the country. In past years, the lineup has included local publishers, acclaimed writers, and celebrated poets—and 2025 will be no different. Take in author readings, panel discussions, musical performances, and more, all set in the stunning gardens of Rockwood Centre in Sechelt. Some of the confirmed writers for this year include Brent Butt, Naomi Klein, Grant Lawrence, and Waubgeshig Rice.
Tip: Fans of the written word will want to stick around the Art & Words Festival happening at the Gibsons Public Market from August 22 - 24, 2025.
Blackberry Festival, August 15, 2025
Blackberries are juicy, ripe, and abundant—you can pick them in patches all over the Sunshine Coast, from Langdale to Lund. Powell River’s Blackberry Festival pays homage to these beloved berries every August, and during the course of the festival, blackberries make their way into both sweet and savoury foods of all kinds. The festival kicks off at 6:00pm on Marine Avenue and runs until 11:00pm, and features live music, food, art exhibitions, interactive performances, and more.
Tip: You can purchase blackberry items year-round in Powell River. Look for the house-made blackberry jam at Edie Rae’s Cafe, or the Blackberry Gin from Salish Sea Distillery (just in case you miss the festival, or simply want to take something home with you).
qathet Studio Tour, August 23 & 24, 2025
Experience the diversity and excellence of the art community on the northern section of the Sunshine Coast. The qathet Studio Tour is a free, self-guided event featuring artists from Lang Bay to Lund. A brochure with a map will be available at various locations in Powell River & qathet, leading you to the homes and studios of local artists. The event aims to connect art makers and art lovers, and is a great way to explore Powell River, Lund, and beyond while supporting the local artists.
Tip: Local artists are often inspired by the Sunshine Coast’s beautiful landscapes. Book a stay in Powell River or Lund, and get outside—spend some time paddling, hiking, biking, exploring local beaches, and more.
Sunshine Music Festival, August 30 & 31, 2025
The Sunshine Music Festival takes place over the Labour Day weekend, in beautiful Palm Beach Regional Park. Enjoy live music on the beachfront stage, take a refreshing swim in the ocean, find unique treasures in the artisan market, and fuel up for more fun with some delicious food. The 2025 lineup is out, and includes performers with a variety of musical styles like Christy Vanden, Club Voltaire, Clanna Morna, Current Collective, and more.
Tip: Arrive prepared with the essentials, since many amenities are a bit of a drive from the venue. There is no overnight camping available at the park, so it’s important to book accommodations and make your travel plans well in advance.
These are just some of the events happening on the Sunshine Coast this summer! Visit our calendar of events to learn more about what's happening during your visit.
