CALENDAR

Remember back in the spring of 2020,when we all hoped this Covid thing would be over soon? Well, here we are, more than two years later, and it looks like events are finally coming back. Real, live ones. The ones where we gather in one place, a lot of us, all together, with one shared purpose: fun.

HERE ARE A FEW FESTIVE EVENTS FOR VENTURING FORTH INTO THE LATTER PART OF SUMMER 2022.

PARKSVILLE

JUL 15 - AUG 21... BEACH FESTIVAL CLOSE TO HOME, CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS

Fairwinds is so fond of the Parksville Beach Festival—aka BeachFest—that we’ve signed on as a “King of the Hill” sponsor this year.

Roaring '20s Sandsculpting Competition & Exhibition

BeachFest is a celebration of sun, sand, art, and music. But it’s also a celebration of community. At the heart of BeachFest is the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition. In 2019, the last year before the pandemic, this event welcomed 126,000 visitors. Open daily, entrance is by donation and a large portion of funds raised go to local causes. On the nights of August 19 & 20, the sculptures will be illuminated from sunset until 11 pm for the Coastal Community Credit Union Light Up! event.

Throughout the festival, buskers perform at the waterfront gazebo (11 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 3 pm) and the Mid Island Co-op Rock the Park Music Fest, featuring acclaimed tribute bands and other crowd-pleasers, takes place from August 5 to 7, and the Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series—free evening concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 pm—take place on the festival’s other Friday and Saturday nights. This year will welcome the opening of Parksville’s brand-new Outdoor Theatre for the Performing Arts, an inclusive, multi-functional outdoor performance stage located by the water.

NANAIMO

AUG 11 - 14... SUMMERTIME BLUES FESTIVAL

The Summertime Blues Festival is held annually in the heart of beautiful downtown Nanaimo. You’re welcome to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets to the open-air stage in Maffeo Sutton Park for a casual listen. AUG 26 - 28... VIEX

The Vancouver Island Exhibition takes place each August at Beban Park, celebrating the best in agriculture, local food, and entertainment from across Canada.

VIEX

VICTORIA

AUG 24 - SEPT 4... FRINGE FESTIVAL

While the word “eclectic” is often overused, this festival is one event that truly merits the moniker. Performers in theatre, music, comedy, magic, dance, spoken word, and more are selected by lottery; shows are uncensored and open to all; and the artists get 100% of the box office revenue.