Inaugural Whistler Outdoor Festival Adds to Vibrant Fall Event Lineup in Whistler
Whistler, B.C. – A new celebration of mountain culture is coming to Whistler this fall, with the inaugural Whistler Outdoor Festival happening on Thanksgiving Weekend, October 9–11, 2026. The festival takes place as Whistler makes the most of fall while looking ahead to winter, with outdoor activities, arts and culture, great dining deals and a full calendar of events among the season’s highlights.
"The inaugural Whistler Outdoor Festival is the perfect addition to Whistler’s diverse events calendar and a great way to celebrate the seasons converging,” says Bree Eagles, Events Manager at Tourism Whistler. “The organizers have pulled together an incredible lineup, bringing together an impressive breadth of outdoor talent through world-class films, workshops and speaker panels. Attendees can expect to be inspired though stories and knowledge sharing, connect with the outdoor community, and get prepared for the winter season ahead. We’re looking forward to seeing the festival grow into an anticipated part of Whistler’s events calendar for years to come”
Hosted by Mt Waddington Outdoors, Whistler Outdoor Festival will bring together outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, industry professionals, brands and the wider mountain community for three days of films, speaker events, hands-on workshops, outdoor activities, live music and more. From guided runs and yoga to ski boot fittings and adventure writing workshops, the festival is designed to be accessible to everyone from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts to those looking to try something new.
The Whistler Conference Centre will serve as the festival’s Basecamp, featuring the Brand Basecamp & Adventure Expo with some of the latest outdoor gear and product releases, alongside workshops, speakers and other programming. Additional events and activities will take place throughout Whistler Village.
Anchoring the festival program is the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, bringing a selection of adventure films from around the world to Whistler. The weekend also includes Whistler Blackcomb’s HOME film premiere and winter kickoff event, speaker panels featuring athletes, academics and outdoor industry leaders, programming with Protect Our Winters Canada, and the Whistler Turkey Trot, with five- and 10-kilometre race options.
Adding to the anticipation for winter, Whistler’s annual Turkey Sidewalk Sales see local retailers offering winter equipment at great prices, giving visitors the chance to gear up for the season after getting inspired at the festival.
Beyond Thanksgiving weekend, the festival is part of a full calendar of arts, culture and culinary events that continue through the fall. Whistler Wine Walk takes place Fridays throughout October, followed by the Whistler Writers Festival November 5–8, Cornucopia November 5–15 and the Whistler Film Festival December 2–6.
Tickets for the inaugural Whistler Outdoor Festival are now on sale, with options to attend individual events or bundle festival experiences with a Saturday Core Pass or full-weekend Ultra Pass. Visitors can also make more of a fall stay with a special Whistler.com offer: stay three or more nights and receive a $100 dining voucher to use at participating Whistler restaurants. For festival programming, tickets and further information, visit whistler.com/events/whistler-outdoor-festival/.
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Whistler is Canada’s premier year-round mountain resort destination, located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, on the shared traditional territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler is home to Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski resort, with two side-by-side mountains connected by the world-record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Whistler offers an extensive range of accommodations, dining, shopping and wellness experiences, as well as year-round and seasonal activities including skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, golf, hiking and lake recreation, complemented by a vibrant arts, culture and events scene. Home to a community of approximately 14,000 permanent residents, Whistler welcomes more than three million visitors each year.
Tourism Whistler is the official not-for-profit, member-based destination tourism organization representing the resort of Whistler. Its mandate is to support a thriving visitor economy while balancing economic, social and environmental interests. Tourism Whistler operates the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club and Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com – Whistler’s official source for visitor information and bookings. Formally accredited by Destinations International as a leading global tourism organization, Tourism Whistler represents more than 8,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on Whistler’s designated Resort Lands, including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retailers.
Media can visit whistler.com/media for Whistler news, facts, media releases, story starters and access to images and B-roll.
Media Contacts:
Tourism Whistler
Jessie Boyd
Specialist, Communications
+1.604.938.2721 | jboyd@tourismwhistler.com
W: www.whistler.com/media
F: www.Facebook.com/GoWhistler
I: www.Instagram.com/GoWhistler
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