Media Releases

Friday, October 5, 2012

Don’t be a turkey by missing out on all that Whistler has to offer in October

Tourism Whistler media release                                                                                                             

For immediate release - October 4, 2012

 

Don't be a turkey by missing out on all that Whistler has to offer in October


 

Suggested tweet: October in #Whistler: legendary #Whistler #TurkeySale this weekend followed by festivals, performances and photography and art exhibits

 

Whistler, B.C. - From a turkey sale to a mushroom festival, art exhibits and musical performances, October is anything but quiet in Whistler.

 

Thanksgiving weekend, October 5-8 is a rite of passage in Whistler. The mountains may not be open for skiing and riding but preparations are underway and the anticipation of winter is in the air. What better time to explore Whistler, take advantage of the many special offers and pick up all the gear you need for the upcoming season?

 

The precursor to the winter season, the legendary Turkey Sale and Whistler Mountain ski and board swap, kicks off the month of activities at the resort. The annual event is a mainstay in Whistler, offering pre-season sales beginning at noon on Friday, October 5 at the Blackcomb Daylodge and continuing throughout the weekend. The Whistler Mountain ski and board swap offers quality pre-owned equipment and a variety of clothing and accessories from Whistler retailers all under a tent at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. Additionally, many Whistler retailers and restaurants offer their own unique specials to coincide with the Turkey Sale.

 

Welcoming aspiring and accomplished writers alike, the Whistler Readers and Writers Festival returns to Whistler October 12-14. The three-day festival, which has become a staple on Whistler's events calendar, features panel discussions, guest speakers, development workshops and reading events. Headlining this year's festival is award-winning Alistair Macleod, one of Canada's most distinguished writers. Guest authors include Stella Harvey, Lawrence Hill, Zsuzsi Gartner, Susan Juby, Margaret Macpherson, Jack Whyte, Miranda Hill and John Burnside.

 

The Fungus Among Us mushroom festival takes place October 12-13 and features mushroom-themed walks, talks and tastes. Presented by the Whistler Naturalists', this event begins on Friday, October 12 with Silvia Bergensen (Dyeing with mushrooms) and Paul Kroeger (Spores of the Outer Coast) speaking at Myrtle Philip Community School. On Saturday, expert-led mushroom walks start at 8:30 a.m., leaving from Myrtle Philip Community School. The event wraps up with gourmet mushroom tasting.

 

Also in October, don't miss the Barney Bentall Quartet at Millennium Place October 6, the Out of Bounds, Tales from the Backcountry launch party October 11 (photography exhibit in the Scotia Gallery at Millennium Place runs through the month of October) and Shane Koyczan and Ivan Coyote at Millennium Place October 18.

 

Also on display at Millennium Place is a collection of local art expressing the lifestyle and culture of Whistler. Local ski and board manufacturer, Prior, has partnered with the Whistler Arts Council to display the collection until October 31, asking people to vote on the pieces that they believe should become part of Prior's winter 2013/ 14 product line. All voters will be entered in a draw to win custom Prior skis or snowboard. Voting closes October 21; an opening reception will be held October 5 at 6 p.m. at Millennium Place. There is no charge for admission.

 

The Nita Lake Lodge Artisan Market with local vendors takes place at the Nita Lake Lodge in Creekside on Fridays from 3-7 p.m. Saturday October 6 and Sunday, October 7 marks the final Whistler farmers' market of the season, featuring vendors from the region and beyond in the Upper Village.

 

Whistler offers a robust year-round calendar of events. For complete details, visit www.whistler.com/events for the most comprehensive Whistler events listing.

 

Enter for a chance to win

Tourism Whistler launched its Signature Nordic Contest October 1 featuring a prize package valued at $5,400 CAD. The grand prize winner and one guest will receive:

·         Roundtrip airfare between a major city airport and Vancouver International Airport

·         Roundtrip ground transportation from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler

·         Four nights' accommodation in Whistler in a dual occupancy suite from February 22 to 26, 2013

·         One $100 dinner certificate at an award winning restaurant in Whistler

·         Two 1-day passes for the Lost Lake Cross Country Ski Trails

·         Two 1-day Ski Callaghan passes (includes Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country)

·         A pair of Salomon Cross Country equipment including skis, boots, bindings and poles courtesy of Salomon for the winner and their guest

·         Two Sigge's Payak buffs and two complimentary entries to Sigge's P'ayakentsut Cross Country Ski Event at Whistler Olympic Park on February 23, 2013

 

 

Book early and save for winter. Book your winter vacation at www.whistler.com by November 15 to save up to 39 per cent on stay and ski packages. Whistler-based travel consultants at whistler.com can customize vacation packages, taking care of flights, ground transportation, accommodation and activities. Whistler.com offers the largest selection with no booking fee for accommodation and activities. Call 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.

 

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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.

 

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

 

Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.

 

Broadcasters: Whistler now has the capability to take you live with our enhanced fibre network.  The significantly expanded network of more than 200 kilometres of fibre optic cabling throughout the resort allows instant transmission of HD signals to any location at any time.  Details on how to access, and book the fibre are available on our media site. http://media.whistler.com/contact-us/filming-in-whistler/

 

Media Contact

Tourism Whistler
Mary Zinck
Coordinator, Media Relations
T: 604.938.2702
E:
mzinck@tourismwhistler.com


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