Whistler Vibe
Welcome to Tourism Whistler's monthly media newsletter, featuring what's new, what’s happening, and what makes Whistler a top year-round destination.
September 2017
Click to Tweet: Fall for Arts in #Whistler with @Whisbeerfest, @artswhistler Hear and Now music fest, @BCCultureDays activities, @whistlerwriters fest
UPCOMING EVENTS
Whistler Classic - North American Enduro Tour | September 9-10
RBC GranFondo Whistler | September 9
Whistler Village Beer Festival | September 16-17
Whistler Blackcomb Foundation’s TELUS Golf Classic | September 15
Sea to Sky All British Rally | September 23
Thanksgiving & Turkey Sale Weekend | October 6-9
Whistler Writers Festival | October 11-15
Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival | October 13-14
Whistler 50 Relay & Ultra | October 14
What's New & Happening
Five things to love about fall in Whistler
Fall in Whistler is the wonderfully colourful season between September and snow, where the pace is as laid-back or action-packed as you make it. Seasons only change for the better in Whistler and fall is no exception with its own festivals, specials and activities. Here are five things to do this fall in Whistler:
1. Immerse yourself in the abundant arts and culture scene and check out the special events for Fall for Arts - a celebration of art and adventure in Whistler. Discover local First Nations history and culture at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, and the works of renowned BC artists and special exhibits at the Audain Art Museum.
2. Rain or shine, get your adrenaline pumping with a zipline tour above the valley or an ATV or UTV adventure.
3. See Whistler’s forests and rivers transform along the vast network of hiking and biking trails, that are in top condition and quieter than usual. Favourite fall hikes include Cheakamus Lake, Brandywine Falls, Garibaldi Lake and the Train Wreck.
4. Explore the many health and wellness options - rest and rejuvenate with a spa experience, take a yoga class or workout session.
5. Try something new… like axe throwing and e-biking, or work your way out of an escape room.
Whistler Blackcomb releases trailer for feature film, Magnetic
Magnetic, a Whistler Blackcomb feature film created by Origin Design & Communications with the support of Telus, is the first-ever, full-length, ski and snowboard movie filmed entirely within a single ski area. Due out in fall 2017, the film was shot 100% on location at Whistler Blackcomb and highlights the mountains’ incredible ski and snowboard terrain alongside the best local athletes.
Whistler Writers Festival, October 12 - 15
The Whistler Writers Festival returns for its 16th year, bringing together top Canadian and international authors and publishers for a weekend packed with readings, workshops, speaker panels, spoken word events, music and more. Confirmed for 2017 are 60 authors and publishers, including major Canadian literature contributors Doug Saunders, Frances Itani, Lee Maracle, Terry Fallis, Helen Humphreys, Barbara Gowdy, Michael Harris and Drew Hayden Taylor. These authors have tackled topics of immigration, love, hate and a whole kaleidoscope of risky subjects, giving rise to this year’s festival theme of risk-taking.
The festival is for both readers and writers alike; there are events specifically for book clubs, as well as workshops for aspiring, emerging and experienced authors, including writing for young readers and writing memoir. The popular day-long publishing workshop returns featuring publishers Taryn Boyd (Touchwood Editions), Anita Chong (McLelland & Stewart), Don Gorman (Rocky Mountain Books), Karen Haughian (Signature Editions), Lynn Henry (Penguin Random House), Vici Johnstone (Caitlin Press) and Suzanne Sutherland (Harper Collins). Full festival schedule and tickets available at Whistler Writers Festival.
Whistler Blackcomb Turkey Sale, October 6 - 9
Whistler Blackcomb's legendary Turkey Sale at the Blackcomb Daylodge offers huge pre-season savings on top brands in ski and snowboard outerwear, accessories and equipment under one roof. This is the weekend to get ready for the upcoming winter season for less than you’ll find in store. Sell your pre-owned gear at the Whistler Mountain Ski and Snowboard Swap or enjoy savings on quality pre-owned equipment.
Whistler Village Beer Festival, September 13 – 17
The Whistler Village Beer Festival is a fun filled five day festival of craft beer and cider featuring two days of tasting events at Whistler Olympic Plaza plus cask nights, seminars, foodie nights and more. Mingle with fellow beer enthusiasts and sample from some of the best breweries and cider mills in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Master Crafters is a festival favourite, where choice breweries bring their best sour for guests to blindly sample before casting votes to decide the champion. Top placing breweries at the festival win draught beer contracts with Whistler venues.
Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival, October 13 – 14
The forests of Whistler are filled with more than 350 mushroom species, many edible, some poisonous and all identifiable by volunteers who make up the Whistler Naturalists Society. The two-day annual Fungus Among Us festival, held October 13 – 14, includes a foraging session in and around Whistler, education on various mushroom varieties, cooking demonstrations and tastings, and how to dye fabric and yarn with mushrooms.
Image courtesy of Whistler Naturalists facebook
September Events
SEP2
The North Face Valley To Peak Race: September 2
The North Face Valley to Peak trail running race challenges participants with the full vertical climb of Whistler mountain in a 22.5 km course, with over 1,800 m of elevation gain.
SEP9
RBC Granfondo Whistler: September 9
RBC Granfondo Whistler is a 122 km road-cycling event from Vancouver to Whistler, offering spectacular ocean views in a fully dedicated lane and well-stocked aid stations.
SEP13-17
Whistler Village Beer Festival: September 13 – 17
The five day Whistler Village Beer Festival features two days of tasting events at Whistler Olympic Plaza, cask nights, seminars, foodie nights and more.
Whistler Arts & Culture
Whistler offers a multitude of cultural offerings from engaging art exhibitions, live music and dance performances, and international film and culinary events making it a vibrant arts and culture destination.
Hear and Now Festival, September 23 - 24
Hear and Now is Whistler’s free local music festival and is back for its second year on September 23 – 24 at the Whistler Village Square. This two-day festival celebrates the local music scene and is packed with rising stars, fan-favourites and Sea to Sky talent. Stay tuned for the lineup announcement and festival schedule.
BC Culture Days, September 28 – October 1
Whistler’s Audain Art Museum hosts the provincial launch for the 8th annual BC Culture Days on the evening of September 28 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Culture Days is a collaborative, Canada-wide volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. The celebration will carry on from September 29 to October 1 with a variety of events, including a live art-making challenge for youth, an evening of free access to the Audain’s impressive art collections, local musicians, a family dance and more.
Whistler Stories
Zero Waste Heroes program helps event organizers minimize waste footprint
Whistler’s spectacular scenery and unique mountain culture has made it a popular destination for festivals and events, many large in scale with hundreds or thousands of attendees. The environmental impact of hosting such events has moved local environmental charity AWARE (The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment) to launch its Zero Waste Heroes program.
The program works with events to minimize their waste footprint and devise waste management plans that aim to divert over 90% of waste from garbage to landfill. This can mean reconsidering giveaway items such as water bottles or, in one instance, it involved handing out fruit instead of yogurt cups at the end of a race, avoiding hundreds of discarded foil lids, plastic tubs and spoons.
The Zero Waste Heroes team also provides event day support by hosting waste segregation stations, acting as waste collection points and providing an opportunity to educate attendees and promote the zero waste goal.
Since its launch two years ago, the program has implemented successful zero waste programs with The North Face Whistler Half Marathon, Whistler Farmer's Market, Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra, Canada Day Celebrations and new for 2017 are working with RBC GranFondo Whistler and Whistler Village Beer Festival.
Image by Deanna Campbell at the 2016 Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra.
Save the Date
November Events
Get further information about these events at whistler.com/events