September 19, 2025
Plan Your Fall Stay Around These 3 Events
Running on Long Beach | Kyler Vos
Want to have a truly West Coast experience during your fall visit?
There is so much to do in Tofino in the fall, especially with shoulder season rates on your stay! Here are the main events happening this October, November & December that you won’t want to miss:
Kyler Vos
Johann Vincent for Tofino Oyster Fest
Salted Shutter for Tofino Hot Cocoa Trail
October: The 25th Edge to Edge Race
The Edge to Edge half-marathon and 10 km races are back again this year, on Sunday, October 19, in Ucluelet. This is a beautiful race that takes you through the winding paths of the Wild Pacific Trail, past Amphitrite Lighthouse and the Artist Loop (for the half-marathon).
Make it a long weekend: Book off Friday to feel rested and ready for race day and Monday, for a full day of recovery post-race.
- Accommodation: Plan something that has all the amenities on-site for a self-care day pre- and post-race
- Book a hotel room that has a sauna or a hot tub
- Get a vacation rental with a woodstove to get cozy after the race or in the evenings
- Stay near the beach: give yourself a shake-out run along Chesterman Beach (about 5 km from one end to the other and back – plus the tombolo (sandbar)) or go a little further by beach-hopping with the multi-use path (MUP) in between!
- Fuel up! Think:
- wood-fired pizza from Basic Goodness Pizzeria,
- a classic steak dinner at Shelter Restaurant, or
- a hearty pasta from Ombré
- Pre-book a massage for Sunday afternoon or Monday
- Book an excursion for Saturday or Monday: have some extra time on Monday?
- Get out to Hot Springs Cove to soak your sore muscles post-race in the warm pools of mineral water overlooking the ocean.
- Want a more mellow adventure before the race? Book a yoga class, visit the Roy Henry Vickers and Contemporary Art galleries in town, or rent an e-bike to move the legs a bit, without overexerting yourself!
- Other things to do in town for you and/or your cheer squad?
- The Jon & Roy show at the Tofino Legion, October 18
- Dustin Searcy comedy show at the Long Beach Lodge Resort Surf Club – two shows (6:30 PM and 8:30PM) on October 19
November: Tofino Oyster Fest
Tofino Oyster Fest is a 3-day shell-ebration happening November 21 – 23 in honour of a beautiful and delicious mollusk: oysters!
- Friday kicks things off with the Mermaid's Ball dress-up party and bottomless, freshly shucked oysters
- The Oyster Gala, on Saturday night, is a glamorous evening of different oyster amuse-bouches from local restaurants
- Sunday is the high-energy, all-ages ‘Shuckers Showdown’ – where professional and amateur oyster shuckers alike throw down to battle it out for the title of Tofino’s Best Shucker 2025 – also includes bottomless shucked oysters.
- This year, the profits of the event will go towards the Food Bank on the Edge and Redd Fish Restoration Society – two incredible organizations on the coast.
While the Tofino Oyster Fest is mainly in the evening, that means that you have all day to enjoy the beaches and trails.
You could:
- Book a surf lesson and hop in the water! November tends to bring bigger swell, so lessons are highly encouraged – feel the force of the ocean for yourself with certified instructors
- Immerse yourself in culture outside with the self-paced art walk through the Tofino Arts Council’s new map – choose between two different routes (the downtown core or along the MUP) and listen to recordings describing the public art pieces
- Do some pre-holiday shopping at shops around town. There are so many local artisans to support for gift-giving to the special people in your life:
- hand-made candles and soap from the Hobbyist Tofino
- beautiful, contemporary pieces from Lisa Fletcher Jewellery
- treats for your doggo from Bad Dog Tofino
- kelp seasonings for the foodie from Naas Foods
- Coastal libations like the kelp stout from Tofino Brewing Co. or the Old Growth Cedar gin from the Tofino Distillery
- Take time to learn! There are lots of free and paid learning opportunities:
- Visit the Tofino Clayoquot Heritage Museum to find out more about Indigenous culture and the early days of Tofino
- Take a break from your beach walk and step into the Kwisitis Visitor Centre in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve at Kwisitis or Wickaninnish Beach for natural history and Nuu-chah-nulth cultural displays.
- Head to the Redd Fish Supply Co. in Ucluelet – the learning hub and coffee shop at Redd Fish Restoration Society, where there are educational displays about salmon, the impacts of erosion, river systems and more.
- Wander the Ucluelet Aquarium to see what lives below the tideline, in the kelp forests and in tidepools in this part of the Pacific Ocean. As Canada’s first collect-and-release aquarium facility, all the animals go back to the ocean where they were found at the end of the season (the last day of the season is November 30).
December: Tofino Winter Nights
Tofino Winter Nights is a series of events that happens throughout December. Some of the banner events for Winter Nights include:
- Tofino Hot Cocoa Trail – a self-paced hot chocolate festival happening from November 28 – January 4 (2026), where local eateries will offer their own coastal twist on a winter classic! You can sign up for the Tofino Hot Cocoa Trail Pass for your chance to win prizes or a Tofino mug to take home with you!
- Jingle Into Christmas – a late-night shopping opportunity with lots of discounts to kick off the holiday season! This year, it will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, from 5 PM until late. There will also be a daytime Winter Market for artisan and craft goods from 10 AM – 2 PM at the Tofino Community Hall.
- Sea of Lights – The Christmas Tree and boat light-up happens on December 6 at the Tofino Resort + Marina with carollers and merrymaking! Start the day off with Breakfast with Santa at the Tofino Community Hall from 9 AM until noon.
Check back in November for the full list of events happening this December!
Some other activities to add to your list:
- Storm watching – while storm season is hard to predict, you are likely to see big waves coming from the open Pacific Ocean and crashing into the shoreline. Make a reservation for brunch at The Pointe Restaurant at the Wickaninnish Inn for a front row seat to the action.
- Slow dining – the nights are long this time of year, so what better way than to spend them luxuriating in a multi-course meal – no rush, a few plates at a time, and the chance to relish in the company around the table.
- Hot & Cold therapy – while we typically think of hot and cold therapy as sauna and cold plunging cycles, there is also the getting outside to feel the elements and nestling back into a plush couch near a warm fire afterwards part. With the wind billowing all around you as you wander yaaqsis | Long Beach, the promise of a tea, some appies and boardgames near the fire in the sunken living room at Hotel Zed’s restaurant, ROAR (named for the roaring fire that the chefs use in the kitchen), is a welcome invitation. Adding a sauna session at Tuff City Saunas – with the option to jump into the ocean – is also a great way to experience cozy season on the coast.
For a full list of all the upcoming events - like free beading workshops, the Tofino Adventure Film Fest, concerts and more - visit our Events & Festivals calendar.
