• Friday, May 17th – Coombs Country Opera. This Country Jam brings all sorts of local talent out of the woodwork so grab your guitar, fiddle, mandolin or whatever tickles your fancy and join us for a great time.
• Friday, May 17th – Vince Vaccaro, a popular Victoria singer/songwriter returns to the Errington Hall stage with a solo acoustic performance. Tickets are $15 from Cranky Dog in Parksville, Heaven on Earth in Qualicum Beach or the Errington General Store. Coffee and refreshments available.
• Saturday, May 18th – Errington Farmers Market. From 10am to 1pm with great selections of veggies, baking, plants, crafts, live music and the famous “sticky buns”. 
• Saturday, May 18th – Qualicum Beach Farmers Market. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, or are a lifelong resident, a visit to Veteran’s Way and Memorial is where you’ll find the best in fresh fruits, vegetables and berries, plants and cut flowers, fresh baked goods, jams and jellies, fish, chicken and pork, as well as a wide range of local crafts.
• Saturday, May 18th – Sunset Paddle. The best way to unwind after a busy day. paddle into the sunset. Gaze at the glow of the setting sun, breathe deep and relax. Sat, May 18 from 7:15-9:30pm, $50/1. Pre-register with RDN, Recreation and Parks 250-248-3252.
• Saturday, May 18th – Wild Edible Plants & Mushrooms Workshop – Turn trees into teas, brighten salads with wildflowers and find nature’s band-aids during this hands-on workshop with biologist Jessica Wolf. Advance registration is required and limited to 15 people. Register at www.jessicawolf.ca or call 250-327-6931.

Celebrate B.C.’s first ever Family Day weekend here at beautiful Sunrise Ridge Resort! KIDS RIDE FREE on BC Ferries this weekend! Parksville Qualicum Beach advenutes await, book online today or call 1-877-977-8669.  Click here for more information on the Kids Ride Free program.

February 2013:

• Timberline Dance (Every Wednesday)
• Bobs and Lolo Live on Tour (February 2)
• Qualicum Beach Seedy Saturday (February 2)
• H.M.S Pinafore Production at the Village Theatre (February 14-March 3)
• Parksville Uncorked Wine & Food Festival (February 21)
• Burrowing Owl Winemaker’s Dinner (February 23)
• Road 13 Winemaker’s Dinner (February 23)
• Bubbles Brunch (February 24)

March 2013:

Check out the Coombs Bluegrass Festival from Thursday, August 2nd to Sunday, August 5th. Enjoy slow pitch jams, an instrument raffle, & numerous workshops on how to play bluegrass or your instrument.

The Oceanside Overdrive Car Show is happening all day on Beachside Drive on August 5th. This is one of the biggest car events on the Island, with nearly 400 cars and about 8,000 car fans who come down to Parksville Beach every year. There will be food vendors, car-affiliated vendors, and a D.J. playing classic car tunes throughout the day.

Also, don’t forget about the Quality Foods Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition that will be happening until August 19th. Be sure to bring your camera to this amazing event as the sculptures won’t be here forever! The exhibition is located in Parksville’s Community Park, next to the Lion’s Venture Land Playground and Water Spray Park.

The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend so come play and enjoy everything the area has to offer!

It is time to take a break from the big city life and enjoy some good old fashioned holiday fun. What better place to make that happen then in Parksville. Check out just a few of the activities happening in and around Parksville/Qualicum Beach throughout the coming month.

• Christmas In Coombs:  November 11th – 13th, 2011

• Qualicum Beach’s Moonlight Madness: November 17th, 2011

Join in the community’s official kick-off to Christmas. The fun starts at 5:30pm with the Christmas tree light up festivities and the Christmas tree light up at 6 p.m. Santa, carolers, entertainment for one and all will be on hand. Carriage rides will take place through beautifully lit streets. Merchants will showcase Moonlight Madness specials in their shops.

• Beach Flicks

A non-profit group actively seeking to present Canadian and International films in the Oceanside Region. Beach Flicks has partnered with the Toronto International Film Festival and Film Circuit in order to showcase award winning films on a monthly basis. There will be seven films including: A Sunshine of Rainbows (Oct. 15); The Trotsky (Nov. 19); Babies (Jan. 14); Mao’s Last Dancer (Feb. 11); Nowhere Boy (Mar.4); The Debt (Apr. 15); Made in Dagenham (May 13). Location: Eaglecrest Golf Club hall – 2035 Island Hwy West, Qualicum Beach, Tel: 250-752-6311 Showtime: 7pm Tickets are $6. at the door or series package for $35. Contact Karen 250-752-1583

• Milner Gardens Maple Tapping: November 19, 2011

Join Bram Lucieer and Harold Macy at Milner Gardens & Woodland for their information session on tapping the Bigleaf maple, the Island’s newest hobby. Learn from two of the pioneers that got it started, a retired film technician turned maple wine vintner and a forester turned writer, utilizing our own Acer macrophylla, Canada’s native maple.

• Kris Kringle Craft Market:  November 24 – 27th, 2011

The 18th Annual craft market is being held in its new home, the Parksville Community and Conference Centre’s Gathering Place. The fair features more than 150 high quality BC artisans in a beautifully decorated setting. There will be daily roving Kringle entertainers, face painting, gingerbread cookie decorating and pictures with the Kringle family. The tradition of free carriage rides through the city with hot chocolate in hand will also be available.

• Village Christmas Art Fair: November 25-27th, 2011

Held at the Qualicum Beach Community Hall. Here you’ll find glass, pottery, quilting, jewelry, and everything in between. Admission is free and a shuttle service is available.

• The Qualicum Beach Artisans Winter Festival: November 25-27, 2011

The festival kicks off at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre this year. This newly minted festival will feature high quality artisan works from across the spectrum and on-site painting demonstrations, as well as act as a fund raiser for the Salvation Army and the Toy Drive. 

• Winter Victorian Tea: November 25-26, 2011

There will be two sittings daily 1:00 and 3:00 on Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26 in the main gallery. We invite you to revisit the charming tradition of tea in the afternoon. Delicate finger sandwiches, tender scones, rich cakes, fancy pastries and the finest teas are all lavishly presented using vintage and antique tableware including delicate teacups, fine linens and silverware. Quiet piano background music playing seasonal tunes will round out the experience. The Old School House Arts Centre has teamed up with the Qualicum Beach Historical and Museum.

• Milner Gardens Christmas Magic: December 2 – 4, 9 – 11 and 16 – 21.

Runs from 5pm to 8:30pm, and admission is by donation. This is a very family oriented festival of lights and music in the Garden. Santa will be here but there will also be a Silent auction, storytelling, musicians, Tea Room and teddy bear cottage.

• Christmas Bazaar: Decemeber 3, 2011

Runs  in the main lounge of The Gardens at Qualicum Beach. A scrumptious Christmas Tea will be held from 1-3 pm with proceeds going to a local charity.

• The Parksville Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, December 3 at 5 p.m.

• Parksville & District Community Choir presents “Christmas Treasures”: December 4th at 2:30 pm

 There will be all kinds of Classics and Carols, at Knox United Church .

• Qualicum Beach Christmas In the Village: December 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Breakfast with Santa who will then take you on a tour of Storybook Village. There will be photos with Santa and hayrides with Tiger Lily Farm on Primrose Street. There will be craft tables, face painting, entertainment, candy floss, and popcorn fun for everyone. A true family Christmas.

• Tiger Lily Farm: Open December 17-24 for a special event

“Christmas in the Country.” Come out for quality family fun and take a pony drawn wagon or sleigh ride. You can visit the animals and enjoy some home baking together

All of this and so much more await on Vancouver Island. Come out to Parksville and join in on the holiday spirit.

Still haven’t had time to visit the best that Vancouver Island has to offer? Well no fear, there is still plenty of time to take in the sites of Parksville and Qualicum this summer. Take time to witness the beautiful landscape and rolling beaches or take part in the many exciting activities the area has to offer. Maybe you would like a good way to start your Saturday morning? Stop by the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market running 8:30 to 12:00 and taste the fresh-picked goodness and flavour of local vegetables and fruit, free range eggs, meat, cheese, seafood, baked goods, preserves and honey. Or experience the power of wildlife by attending the North Island Wildlife Recovery Center Raptor Presentations

Wednesday to Friday that showcase glove trained raptors such as Bardo the owl, Sandor the eagle or Emily the Saker Falcon. With limitless opportunities and so much to explore and experience, Parksville and Qualicum offer a retreat with a little something for everyone.

Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina is situated in the secluded village of Sooke, BC on the west coast of Vancouver Island just a 35 minute drive from Victoria. This resort offers 34 boutique-style townhome condominiums located just steps away from the resorts’ private marina. Every beautifully appointed 2 or 3 bedroom vacation home offers spectacular ocean views and comes equip with gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, two private outdoor living spaces, in-suite laundry facilities, high speed internet, and much more. Resort amenities comprise of 2 outdoor hot tubs, waterfront fire pit and picnic sites, private 84-slip marina, coffee bar, and on-site tour and charter companies.

Take time to unwind or feed your sense of adventure. The laid back atmosphere and incredible scenery of Sooke set the stage for relaxation, but a world of recreational opportunities – including some of the finest charter fishing in the world – makes it a hub of ecotourism.

We are happy to have them on board!