O C T O B E R

Raincoast Education Society Event
Feast of the Forest
October 30, 2008

Feast of the Forest, at Middle Beach Lodge. A five course meal celebrating the culinary delights of wild foods. There will also be an interpretive event on Saturday with a guest speaker. All proceeds support Raincoast Education Society Programs.

N O V E M B E R

Clayoquot Oyster Growers Festival
November 14-15, 2008

The Clayoquot Oyster Festival is a hodge-podge of oysters, literature, cooking, island music, fine wines and of course the ultra-competitive oyster slurping contest where festival guests vie for titles in a number of categories. Local chefs from ten restaurants will each take 200 Clayoquot Oysters, supplied by the festival committee, and whip up their best oyster appetizer to compete for the People’s Choice Award. Throughout the festival’s main evening, the appetizers are intermingled with music, wine tasting, cooking demo’s and storytelling. Last year about 4,000 oysters were consumed during the evening!
Mermaid's Ball is on Friday night. Oyster Gala is on Saturday. oystergala.com

Christmas Craft Fair
Saturday November 2008

Ucluelet Recreation Hall

Local artists and artisans create an impressive array of gift items. A popular event sponsored by the Pacific Rim Arts Society for locals and visitors.

D E C E M B E R

Breakfast with Santa December 2008

A fun event for kids of any age! A Tofino and Ucluelet event.

J A N U A R Y - F E B R U A R Y . 2 0 0 9

Storm Watching Season

Regular high winds off the west coast are delighting storm-watchers with really impressive waves.
Click here for a special storm page.

Watch the breathtaking beauty and power of a winter storm, followed by fine dining and a cozy room. The ideal winter get-away!
The west coast is GREEN year round and coastal breezes keep the temperatures mild. Room rates are low and the beaches are empty.

Mild west coast weather becomes punctuated with wildly powerful storms. Rainbows, surf pounded beaches, mists and storm clouds alternate in beauty.
Click here for Current Weather Forecast

Click here for regional weather www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.com
(use the marine forecast to see wind speeds - also an indicator for waves)

M A R C H

Pacific Rim Whale Festival
March 14-22, 2009
Gray Whales have heralded the coming of spring along the west coast of Vancouver Island for thousands of years. Grays travel close to shore, pausing to feed in shallow waters, providing excellent viewing opportunities from strategic shore locations or get aboard a whale watching tour.

As well as the unique opportunity to see these huge marine mammals, the festival offers daily educational and fun events in Pacific Rim National Park, and the communities of Ucluelet and Tofino designed to involve the whole family. Ocean scientists and whale researcher present programs about whale migration, biology and the conservation efforts that have brought the Gray whales back from the edge of extinction. There will be lots to see, do and learn, so come on over to the wild west coast to see the Gray Whales on Parade! Click here for an action packed calendar of events: pacificrimwhalefestival.org

A P R I L

Great Gray Whale Migration

Thousands of Gray whales pass the west coast of Vancouver Island during their annual spring migration. Best time of year to see groups of whales with young. Later in the year resident whales are typically seen. The best way to see whales is on a nature tour.

The Month of the Flying Geese

In the Nuu-Chah-Nulth language, April is aptly known as the Month of the Flying Geese. In addition to the thousands of Gray Whales that migrate past our shores in April, tens of thousands of birds and wildfowl reach the West Coast in their annual migration. Gray Whales continue to pass the shoreline as well .

5th Annual Earthday Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, April 19th, 2009

On April 20th the Tofino masses will gather together to scarf down stacks of hemp pancakes and gulp mugs of hemp coffee to celebrate Earth Day ­ a day to rekindle commitments to building a cleaner world. Earth Day is meant to broaden support for environmental programs and build community activism worldwide through events like the flea market and the Tofino pancake breakfast and silent auction fundraiser hosted by two local businesses ­ The Raincoast Café and Fiber Options. Although Earth Day is officially on Wednesday April 22,  the breakfast will be on Sunday ­ to make sure as many people as possible can attend. All funds generated through donations will go to the Raincoast Interpretive Centre ­ a non-profit centre aimed at educating both children and adults about the natural environment.

11th Annual Shorebird Festival
Late April 2009

Tens of thousands of birds and wildfowl reach the West Coast in their annual migration. Ucluelet/Tofino is directly in the path of the Pacific Flyway, and is an ideal location for nature watchers. Overhead large flocks of birds fill the sky. The estuaries along Barkley Sound and Clayoquot Sound are resting places for the flocks. Join the Raincoast Education Society for slideshows, guided birdwatching, a photography workshop and a Mudflats Stewardship celebration! Learn more about these amazing birds that stop on our local mudflats and beaches for just a few days during a journey thousands of kilometers long.

www.raincoasteducation.org

M A Y

7th Annual
George Fraser Day & Heritage Fair
Saturday, May 24, 2009

Celebrate West Coast pioneer George Fraser, and the beautiful rhododendrons that are our heritage. Welcome ceremony at 10:30 am. Interpretive Garden Walking Tour starts at 11:30. Enjoy a stroll beginning on Fraser Lane to view heritage gardens/property where George Fraser lived and planted his heaven on earth! Also see the Heritage Fair at 12:30 with lunch, historical displays; Old Time Fiddlers; Silent Auction; Raffles; Door Prizes; and plant sale.

J U N E

Tofino Food & Wine Festival
early June 2009

The festival will showcase BC's fine wines and Vancouver Island food accompanied by Tofino's finest culinary talent, featuring live jazz quartet, Zoop!, and local Artist in Action. At the unique Tofino Botanical Gardens. June 6-8 2008 or June 5-7, 2009.  www.tofinofoodandwinefestival.com 

Edge to Edge Marathon June 6, 2009

The Edge to Edge Marathon has just been selected by Attractions Canada as the #1 Athletic Attraction in all of Canada!

Run the official marathon distance between Tofino and Ucluelet. Take on the challenge of the West Coast! Starting at the small village of Tofino, you will run a slightly undulating scenic course through Pacific Rim National Park, finishing in the District of Ucluelet - a perfect Marathon distance through a perfectly "natural" course. Register early. Contact the Edge to Edge Marathon or call the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce for details (250-726-4641).

Long Beach Golf Tournament
June 2009

June 11th Cops for Cancer, June 18th, West Coast Shootout. Everyone welcome. Sign Up at the golf course or call 250-725-3332.

Aboriginal Days
June 21, 2009
Aboriginal Day celebrations at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve · Native performances of dance and music. Guided Nuu-chch-nulth Trail tour· Lunch provided by donation

Children’s Events:
· Face painting
· Language game
· Stealing Sticks game on beach

Artists-in-aciton:
· Numerous Artists demonstrate their crafts

Other Events:
· June 20, celebration and BBQ at Tin-Wis Best Western, Tofino 10 am to 4 pm

Van Isle 360 (Yacht Race)
June 24-27, 2009

The Van Isle 360 is an international yacht race circumnavigating Vancouver Island.
International attention will be focused on ten communities on Vancouver Island who have been designated host ports. As the host port on the longest portion of the race, the layover in Ucluelet has scheduled activities for both racer and spectators. The start/finish line for this leg of the race can be viewed from Amphitrite Point Lighthouse in Ucluelet or from spectator boats. This will be a spectacular event you won't want to miss. vanisle360.com

Summer Surf Jam
June 2009

BC Surfing Association competition will attract national and international surfers to Cox Bay Tofino. DJs, BBQ and food. Free for spectators. This highly anticipated event is a two-day judged surf contest and music jam. A visually exciting and crowd pleasing event attracts fans and spectators from across BC and the rest of the country as well as competitive surfers from California, Hawaii, Australia, Brazil and around
the world surfing head-to-head against Canada’s best.

J U L Y

Canada Day July 1, 2009

The West Coast's annual celebration of Canada's Birthday. Festivities include Colour Guard Parade, children's crafts and activities, sand castle competition, beach volleyball, free family BBQ and more! Sponsored by Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, activities will take place on Wickaninnish Beach and in Ucluelet.

Maritime Festival
July 2009

Check the Tonquin Foundation Website www.tonquinfoundation.org for updated information and events.

Ukee Days July 24-26, 2009

A weekend of fun for the whole family! The fun starts on Friday with a Salmon Barbecue on the Village Green followed by an entertainment event. Saturday events include a parade, Lions Club pancake breakfast, Logger Sports, Ukee Days Dance, kids games, face painting, live entertainment, exhibitors, contests, prizes and much more. The highlight of Sunday activities is a great lineup of live music.

A U G U S T

Golf Tournaments
August to September

World Championship Qualifying Tournaments are held at the
Long Beach Golf Course near Long Beach, Pacific Rim National Park

Lantern Festival
Rainforest Interpretive Centre Event
August 23, 2009

Come join the enchantment! Build a paper lantern at the Rainforest Interpretive Centre then bring your creation to the festival at the Tofino Botanical Gardens for a walk through magical forest paths and reflecting pools. Performers add music from the shadows. Not to be missed! Visit www.tofinoRES.com for more info.

S E P T E M B E R

Golf Tournaments
September, 2009

World Championship Qualifying Tournaments are held at the
Long Beach Golf Course near Long Beach, Pacific Rim National Park

Arts in the Garden
September 12-13, 2009

The 5th Annual Art in the Gardens festival is a day long celebration of musicians,
performers, painters, writers, and craftspeople of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Region!
Tofino Botanical Gardens hosts a celebration of the Arts in the beautiful setting of a unique garden.

Terry Fox Run
September 20, 2009

Third Sunday in September, held on the Wild Pacific Trail