Foodies flock to Vancouver Island throughout the year to attend festivals celebrating locally grown and produced food and wine. We have listed our favourites here by month. Got an event you’d like to see on our page? E-mail us your event!
January 2013
Victoria Whiskey Festival Jan 19th-20th -Whiskey lovers flock to the capital to indulge in a spirited night. The two day long festival features tastings, whiskey school, master classes and more!
February 2013
Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival (Duncan) -Feb 2nd - Taste maple syrup from Vancouver Island at the Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival! Participate in mini-workshops including tapping cooking demonstrations, presentations, and displays. The festival features a maple syrup competition with judging by celebrity chefs from Vancouver Island.
Victoria Tea Festival -Feb 9th - The largest public tea exhibition in North America, hosted in the tea capital of Canada! The event features premium beverage tastings, delectable food selections, complimentary presentations, and opportunities to purchase various products and exquisite tea wares. Be sure to check out the coffee exhibitors, new this year, on the mezzanine level!
Parksville Uncorked -Feb 21st-24th -A once a year opportunity to savour and sip. Mingle, mix and learn from renowned chefs, sommeliers, vintners and restaurateurs’ from all over British Columbia. This 4 day festival includes Parksville Untapped -Feb 21st, a regional showcase of local breweries and features beer paired with delicious regional cuisine. Other highlights like the Swirl Signature Event, the Winemaker’s Dinners and Bubbles & Brunch make the drive totally worthwhile!
March 2013
Wee Tipple Single Malt Scotch & Spirits Festival (Nanaimo) -Mar 9th -Enjoy a variety of exquisite single malt scotches, specialty spirits, local wines and craft brews paired with sumptuous, creative tapas dishes. Scotch Whisky aficionados will delight in the names and labels making rare appearances.
Culinare (Victoria) -Mar 21st -The fourth-annual Culinaire will feature the most diverse selection of unique restaurants and purveyors of fine foods and beverages Lower Vancouver Island has to offer. Guests can sample delicacies from more than 60 exhibitors and interact with chefs and restaurateurs to receive first hand information about their food ideals, menu concepts, business and location.
April 2013
Nanaimo Kinsmen Beer Festival -April 12th -Nanaimo Kinsmen Beer Festival is the Mid-Island’s largest celebration of local craft brews. Beer, bratwurst and live music. All proceeds goes to fund community projects in Nanaimo.
May 2013
EAT! Vancouver Food & Cooking Festival May 24th-26th- EAT! Vancouver encompasses unique food experiences, opportunities to learn behind-the-scenes culinary magic from professional chefs, dynamic entertainment through celebrity chef cooking demonstrations and culinary competitions, diverse food, beverage and cooking related exhibits; and of course fantastic shopping opportunities.
Cowichan Bay Spot Prawn Festival -Date TBA -Enjoy cooking demonstrations, a Prawn Boil, music, entertainment, kids face painting, boat raffles, souvenirs, tours of the new Maritime Centre, Most importantly, sample on wine & prawn pairings with local wineries,
June 2013
Tofino Food & Wine Festival June 7th-9th – Tofino Food and Wine Festival celebrates the a marriage of food and wine, showcasing local culinary talents and British Columbia wines in the beautiful Tofino Botanical Gardens.
Organic Islands Festival (Victoria) June 10th & 11th-Discover provocative, inspiring education about health and sustainability, and how to effectively make it part of everyday life. Get expert advice on greening your home, garden, body and soul at the Expo and on the Main Stage. Sample organic food, fair trade coffee, chocolate, beverages and enjoy farm fresh produce from forty exhibits.
B.C. Shellfish Festival (Comox) June 14th & 15th- The BC Shellfish Festival is the largest shellfish festival on the West Coast. On the third weekend of every June, the town of Comox hosts a two-day event that brings people from near and far to meet farmers, sample a delectable array of food from the sea, and learn the tips of pros during our day-long cooking demos.
July 2013
Cowichan Valley Grape Escape July 6th & 7th- Celebrate British Columbia’s newest wine region by bike! Hundreds of cyclists enjoy a carefree weekend in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. Come experience its wine, cuisine, art, and breathtaking scenery and pedal towards a cure for multiple sclerosis.
Taste: Victoria’s Festival of Food & Wine July 18th to 21st- Taste uncorks with an evening tasting of more than 100 British Columbia wines and local cuisine prepared by top Vancouver Island chefs. Not just a wine festival, this culinary tourism experience is an extra long weekend of tastings, seminars and events…a festival with a culinary conscience! Event tickets sell quickly!
August 2013 -N/A
September 2013
The Great Canadian Beer Festival -Sept 6th & 7th- The Great Canadian Beer Festival has become one of the worlds’ must-attend beer events that links beer drinkers to craft brewing excellence. A two-day event held in the beautiful seaside city of Victoria, B.C. with over 50 brewers and over 170 beers from across BC, Canada, the US and Europe.
Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival (various locations around the Cowichan Valley)-Sept 7th-15th -spectacular views, farm-fresh food, outstanding entertainment & a mix of the valley’s best wines, ciders & epicurean delights await visitors. Savour local cuisine prepared by world-class chefs or dance the night away at a variety of soirees. Each location will offer at least one complimentary activity or tasting
Feast of Fields Vancouver Sept 8th & Vancouver Island Sept 22th- Feast of Fields is a gourmet wandering harvest festival. With a wine glass and linen napkin in hand, you can taste the very best of BC from chefs, vintners, brewers, farmers, fishers, ranchers and food artisans from across the province
October 2013
Art Of The Cocktail (Victoria, various locations) -Oct 19th-21st -The Art of the Cocktail is a 3 day journey into the art, craft and tradition of cocktails held at various venues in Victoria. The Grand Cocktail Tasting will open the door to a world of elegant spirits, while the Cocktail Workshops will pique your inner mixologist and the professional bartender competitions will impress even the most seasoned cocktail enthusiast.
Nanaimo Wine Festival Date TBA -Nanaimo celebrates the 21st Anniversary of the Nanaimo Wine Festival which has grown into one of the largest of its kind on Vancouver Island. Featuring over 200 wines from around the world the festival is a great opportunity to taste, compare, and discuss wines in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere and will appeal to novices and connoisseurs alike.
