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.

True Key Hotels & Resorts Welcomes its 4th Property, Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina to the Family!

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!

After months of anticipation, summer has finally arrived! With weather that would make anyone jealous, Vancouver Island is starting to perk up with summer activities for the whole family. Among those is the renowned and ever entertaining Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition held at the Community Park in Parksville from July 15^th to 17^th. Bring the whole family down to enjoy the breathtaking views of Parksville, all while witnessing amazing sand sculptures come to life.

Your visit to Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort just got a little greener. As of July 1^st, 2011 the Resort development officially joins the EcoStay^TM program. EcoStay^TM is a national initiative that helps resorts measure their carbon footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies and balance off their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.

Under the program, Sunrise Ridge will collect two dollars per night from resort guests. Funds will be used to purchase carbon offsets in support of emission-reducing projects across the country such as renewable energy, sustainable farming, energy efficiency, composting and recycling – making each night completely ‘carbon neutral’. The guest’s contribution offsets 86kg of CO₂-e (or carbon equivalents). That’s about the same as taking 7 cars off the road for the day. All EcoStay^TM Carbon Offset Projects are registered on the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) GHG CleanProjects^TM Registry ensuring ISO 14064-2 reporting and independent ISO 14064-3 verification. In addition, each offset tonne is uniquely serialized by CSA to ensure proper retirement and avoid double counting.

But that’s not all. The program also supports on-site environmental upgrades and renovations, further reducing the resort’s impact. A typical 150 room Canadian resort can produce three tonnes of greenhouses gases each day. That’s the same as driving 200 cars, heating and lighting 100 homes or taking 5,000 airplane flights. Guests at Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort now know that they are helping to significantly reduce these emissions.

Parkville is such a place of beauty with a ton of sandy beach to explore. With spring upon us now it’s time to explore the wonder of Parksville! The Resort is located near Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. Old trees, and sandy beaches make this park a perfect place to relax and rejuvenate on your Parksville holiday! At low tide the ocean recedes almost a kilometer, providing an ideal place for visitors of all ages to play in the sand and explore the shoreline. When the tide rolls in the warmed water is unbeatable for swimming and salt water fun. Explore the park, pack a picnic, and plan to spend the whole day at this incredible destination on Vancouver Island!

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