Record Number of Festivals and Events Celebrate Tofino’s Year-round Allure

Dozens of Culinary, Arts, Cultural and Outdoor Events Attract Visitors to
West Coast Vancouver Island Destination

Tofino, BC, March 11, 2015 –Tourism Tofino today unveiled the complete list of 2015 festivals and events to be held in Tofino – the iconic oceanfront destination on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

The record number of events — most of them with free admission — includes:

March 14-22: Pacific Rim Whale Festival and ArtSplash!
Inspirational talks, interpretive walks, children’s fun, culinary events, First Nations cultural workshops, and spring art show.

April 10-12: Pacific Rim Tea Festival
A variety of fun and educational events exploring the world of tea.

April 23-26: Tofino Film Festival
Known for its array of thought-provoking films and guerilla film contest.

May 8-24: Feast Tofino
Annual boat-to-table culinary extravaganza featuring locally caught seafood in a variety of coastal settings.

May 1-3: Tofino Shorebird Festival
Celebrating the annual migration of thousands of shorebirds stopping in Tofino to feed and rest on their journey from South and Central America northward to Arctic breeding grounds.

May 16-September: Tofino Public Market
Tofino’s Village Green buzzes every Saturday with handmade goods, edibles, and live music.

May 29-31: Rip Curl Pro Tofino
Canada’s national surfing championship.

June 5-7: Tofino Food & Wine Festival
A weekend of events frames “Grazing in the Gardens” marrying local culinary talent and British Columbia wines and beer in the whimsical Tofino Botanical Gardens.

June 21-July 1: Pacific Rim Summer Festival
Music, dance, theatre, film, and art in Tofino and Ucluelet.

July 4-5: Tofino Saltwater Classic Fishing Derby
Former National Hockey League (NHL) player Brendan Morrison’s annual fundraising fishing derby supporting local community initiatives.

August 16: Tofino Lantern Festival
A fundraiser for the Raincoast Education Society with imaginative hand-made lanterns dotting the forested pathways of the Tofino Botanical Gardens.

August 21-22: Otalith Music Festival
Showcasing more than 30 musical acts on outdoor stages and a sprawling green lawn at the outdoor Main Stage.

August 28-September 13: Carving On the Edge Festival
Culturally diverse event celebrating the Pacific Rim’s rich wood carving scene and history.

September 19: Bruhwiler Kids Surf Classic
A day at the beach with competitive and non-judged events for young Canadian surfers of all ages, organized by Tofino’s Bruhwiler family.

September 19-27: Cultural Heritage Festival
A “Surfing the West Coast” theme leads this series of art exhibits, demos, and family events in Tofino and Ucluelet.

October 2-4: Queen of the Peak
Western Canada’s all-female surf contest includes longboard, shortboard, and under 16 “Princess of the Peak” categories with cash prizes.

October 23-25: Tofino Paddle Surf SUP Invitational
A fun, competitive event for talented and committed standup paddle surfers from Canada and beyond.

November 19-22: Clayoquot Oyster Festival
Popular event featuring oyster farm tours, oyster and wine tastings, educational seminars, Mermaid’s Masquerade and Oyster Gala.

Early December: Jingle Into Christmas
This pre-holiday preparation weekend is when Tofino shops, boutiques and art galleries open their doors late into the night.  Soak in the holiday cheer and deals as Tofino Jingles Into Christmas.

Early December: Winter Celebration Artisan Festival
This one-day event is a Tofino tradition, with gifts, beautiful things and treats, all made in and around Tofino.

About Tourism Tofino www.tourismtofino.com

Tourism Tofino is a destination marketing organization (DMO) promoting Tofino’s extensive attributes, local events and hospitality industry businesses. Tourism Tofino also partners with other tourism organizations to create awareness of regional tourism initiatives for visitors worldwide.

Media Contact

Lynda Kaye, Kaye Public Relations for Tourism Tofino
lynda@kayepr.com 250-266-5293