I like celebrations – I like festivity – So I recognize a kindred spirit in the Tofino inhabitants – They like festivity and celebrations too and they know how to celebrate all aspects of life. From the Pacific Rim Whale Festival, to their Food & Wine Fest, to the Lantern Fest, the Mushroom Fest and numerous Music and Art Festivals, each event is a uniquely amazing adventure. With natural landscapes like the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, the Tofino Botanical Gardens and the Pacific Ocean itself as the backdrop for some of these events it’s hard to imagine how they could get any better.Here’s some info on just a few of the festivals that you can look forward to:
Pacific Rim Whale Festival
Ushering in the spring season for thousands of years, the Gray whales migrate north, snuggling up to the west coast shore of Vancouver Island, pausing in the Tofino waters, giving viewers an amazing sight. Approximately 21,000 Grays, their numbers thankfully increasing due to conservation efforts, make the trek and many can be viewed during the March festival, either from shore, or if you’re like me, you’ll want to hop onto one of the charter boats and take a little drive out to get a bit more up close and personal with these magnificent creatures.
Tofino Food & Wine Festival
Wine tastings, Winemaker’s Dinners, nibbling haute cuisine in the Tofino Botanical Gardens are a ‘foodies’ dream come true and just a few of the wonderful events the Tofino Food & Wine Festival serves up for your pleasure. Jointly hosted by local restaurants and wineries, the festival celebrates the union of food and wine harvested from its richly sustainable sources. I can hardly wait to be saying “Bon Appétit” this June.
Pacific Rim Summer Festival
A mainstay on Tofino’s festival circuit, the Pacific Rim Summer Festival presents diverse performances which include: Jazz, Classical, Celtic, Blues and Rock music performances, Visual Art, Spoken Word, Modern Dance, and First Nations performances in venues in Tofino, Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim National Park.
Tofino Art in the Gardens
“Art in the Gardens”, a two day festival held at the Tofino Botanical Gardens is a celebration of both visual and performing arts. A favorite of the local artists, as well as the patrons, it’s a time when the artists relax as they share their works with one another and us. And of course, the amazing background settings can’t be beat.
Tofino Film Festival
Celebrating its 12th anniversary, the Tofino Film Festival is a week-long homage of film in all its genres running the gamut of Hollywood and foreign features, to animations and documentaries and everything in-between. Who wants to walk the Red Carpet with me this year?
Tofino Oyster Festival
There is an embarrassment of Oyster riches in November, nicknamed Oysterember, by locals in the know. With everything Oyster for this brief period of time, you can attend a Wine & Beer Tasting while slurping the raw oyster bar; tour oyster farms; party in themed-costume; and for the Grand Finale, the Oyster Gala has it all, dancing, dining, contests and oysters, oysters, oysters. With event names like the Mermaid’s Ball and the Oyster Gala, I am so there
For more information on The Festivals of Tofino:
• Pacific Rim Whale Festival: March
• Tofino Food & Wine Festival: June
• Pacific Rim Summer Festival: July
• Tofino Art in the Garden: September
• Tofino Film Festival: October
• Tofino Oyster Festival: November
Hey, if you’ve been to any of the Tofino Festivals let us know which ones you enjoyed the most.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.