Festivals & Events

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November Events Around the Pacific Northwest

November 6, 2012 in Festivals & Events by Deirdre | No comments

Photo: Rachel Sapp Creative Commons Licensed via Flickr

November is the start of the holiday season! From tree lightings to craft and gift shows to wine and beer events to film festivals, there’s fun for families, couples and friends all around the Pacific Northwest this November.

(event links open in a new window)

Whistler:

Cornucopia (Nov. 7-11)
Opening Day (Nov. 22-30)
2012 Whistler Film Festival (Nov. 28-Dec. 2)

Seattle to Whistler Overnight Packages start at $297 pp/do in November.

Vancouver to Whistler Overnight Packages start at $140 pp/do in November.

Seattle:

Dine Around Seattle (every Sunday-Thursday in Nov. except Thanksgiving)
Veterans Day Recognition at Museum of Flight (Nov. 11)
Slack Key Festival: Music from “The Descendants” (Nov. 11)
20something-The New Vintage (Nov. 17)
etsyRAIN Handmade Holiday Show (Nov. 23-24)
Seattle Center Winterfest (Nov. 23-Jan 6.)

Vancouver to Seattle Overnight Packages start at $134 pp/do in November.

Victoria to Seattle Packages start at $149 pp/do in November with our 2 for 1 Super Sale.

Vancouver, Portland and Victoria, BC November 2012 events are after the jump!

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Happy Haunting: Halloween & October Events in Vancouver, Portland, Seattle & Victoria

October 3, 2012 in Festivals & Events, Local Happenings, travel portland, Travel Seattle, Travel Vancouver BC, Travel Victoria by Deirdre | No comments

Leavenworth, Washington

The Pacific Northwest is famous for fall weather year round and if you like fall, there is no better time to visit the northwest than October. In October, we have a very German-like Oktoberfest in the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, a Portlandia themed corn maze outside of Portland, a Haunted Victoria tour telling the history of the haunted city and a Ghost Train through Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC plus plenty of other fall events to keep you busy.

Vancouver:

BC Craft Beer Month (October 1-31)
Vancouver International Film Festival (through October 12)
Ghost Train in Stanley Park (October 5-31)
Creatures of the Night (October 5-31)
UBC Apple Festival (October 13-14)
Vancouver Writers Fest (October 16-21)
Eco Fashion Week (October 16-19)
Fright Nights at the PNE (October 17-31)

Seattle to Vancouver packages start at $137 pp/do for travel October-December.

Portland, Seattle and Victoria events after the jump.

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Victoria Ghost Tour: A Spookier Peek into History

September 26, 2012 in Festivals & Events, Travel Victoria by Deirdre | No comments

The first day of fall might mean time for Pumpkin Spice lattes, a scenic drive to see the fall colors changing or for many people a countdown to their favorite holiday– Halloween. If you grew up loving ghost stories around a campfire, the Haunted Victoria Tour is the perfect fall tour for you!

The two hour walking and motor coach tour takes you through Victoria’s haunted history including Pioneer Square (home of Victoria’s first cemetery), Bastion Square (site of notorious public hangings), the Maritime Museum and haunted homes in James Bay where ghosts of Emily Carr and John Helmcken are rumored to occasionally make an appearance.

The tour only departs October 19, 20, 26 & 27 and since it is a night tour it must be booked as part of an overnight package. For more information and to book this spooky fall getaway, visit the Haunted Victoria Tour & Hotel Package page. Read the rest of this entry »

Victoria Dragon Boat Festival (August 17-19, 2012)

August 9, 2012 in Festivals & Events, Travel Victoria by Deirdre | No comments

Pink Carnation Toss at the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival / Photo creative commons licensed by flickr user Jay-P

Every August, 90 dragon boat teams from across North America race across a water course in Victoria’s Inner Harbour for the annual Dragon Boat Festival. In addition to the race, there are also many other traditions to take part in at the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival starts with an Eye Dotting Ceremony with Taoist priests to awaken the dragon. There is also a Lights of Courage Lantern Celebration where lanterns can be purchased with a $2 donation to the BC Cancer Foundation. You can write a message on your lantern before displaying the lantern among thousands of others along the Inner Harbour. Additionally, there are free walking tours of Chinatown (Victoria’s Chinatown is Canada’s oldest), the Paddlers’ Air Band Contest, a beer garden, live music and the Breast Cancer Survivors’ Race & Pink Carnation Toss. Read the rest of this entry »

Music Monday: Bumbershoot (September 1-3, 2012)

August 6, 2012 in Festivals & Events, Travel Seattle by Eric | No comments

Bumbershoot 2011 / Photo: Bumbershoot

Every summer there are a few local happenings that the whole northwest can get excited for, and Bumbershoot is definitely one of those events. The extremely central location of The Seattle Center combined with the fantastic timing of Labor Day weekend makes for a city bursting with good spirits and great music! From September 1st to the 3rd, the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival will draw thousands to downtown Seattle all with the goal of immersing themselves in the culture that comes along with the festival. Over the years Bumbershoot has become more and more diverse offering performances in all genres so there is truly something for everyone. This festival has grown so much that I hesitate to refer to it only as a music festival. Standup comedy, a film festival, theatre, and other art forms have made their way into this festival adding a whole new dimension of fun and creativity to the Labor Day festivities. Read the rest of this entry »

Pacific Northwest Events: August 2012

July 31, 2012 in Festivals & Events by Deirdre | No comments

Downtown Vancouver in Summer / Photo: Guilhem Vellut

It is peak season in the Pacific Northwest for fun, so we’ve made a roundup of many of the events happening in Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, San Juan Islands and Portland. Check out what is going on in your backyard, or take the opportunity to explore one of the great destinations in the area.

Seattle:

Red, White & Brew (August 1)

Seafair Fleet Week (August 1-5)

Seafair Parade of Ships (August 1)

Seafair Weekend (August 3-5)

Seattle Tattoo Expo (August 10)

Seattle Founder’s Day Festival (August 11-12) Read the rest of this entry »

Music Monday: The Victoria Symphony Splash 2012

July 23, 2012 in Family Time, Festivals & Events, Travel Deals, Travel Victoria by Eric | No comments

Victoria Symphony Splash 2011/Photo: Victor Chong

The Victoria Symphony is once again escaping the theatre to bring its captivating music to the Inner Harbor of downtown Victoria for the annual Victoria Symphony Splash. On August 5th the Victoria Symphony will be performing on a barge in the harbor for all of Victoria to enjoy, but the concert itself is only a portion of the festivities on the 5th. Families tend to arrive at the harbor earlier in the day for the Symphony Splash Family Zone that is open from 1-5pm. This is a great place to bring the whole family for a day outdoors and to expose your kids early on to the magic of the symphony. This show is typically a day long affair where people get there early with everything they need for the day which usually consists of a few chairs and blankets, vendors will be set up in the area all day. This day of musical appreciation attracts around 40,000 people ranging in age from small children to the elderly that have been coming to the festival since its first year in operation. One of the coolest things about this concert in my opinion is the seating arrangement. Not only can you bring a chair and set up your relaxation station for the day, you can also use a kayak or other small boat to float in front of the barge and enjoy the show from the water! Oh and let’s not forget about the fireworks show that accompanies the grand finale of the concert; this is always a crowd pleaser and an amazing spectacle. If you are looking for a more formal experience, the Fairmont Empress is hosting Symphony Splash from the best view in the city. Reserve your table starting at 7:20 pm from $175 per person which can be applied to food and beverage. This special event is sold out, but there is a waiting list. Read the rest of this entry »

Music Mondays: Vancouver Folk Music Festival

July 9, 2012 in Festivals & Events, Travel Vancouver BC by Eric | No comments

2011 Vancouver Folk Festival/Image: Vancouver Folk Festival

Do you ever think about the creative direction that the music industry is going and find yourself saying, “I miss the good old days?” The Vancouver Folk Music festival brings us back to a time when the music we listened to brought people together and gave a voice to those not often heard. This year from the 13th to the 15th of July, Vancouver will embrace this music while celebrating the festival’s 35th year in operation. This festival will include unique and influential musicians from all over the world with backgrounds as diverse as the music they will be playing. With this much talent packed into one place the festival is sure to have a fantastic 35th birthday. There will be Veteran musicians such as Lucinda Williams and rising stars such as The Head and the Heart, and also artists from around the world that you may not be aware of. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Sequim Lavender Farm Faire

July 5, 2012 in Day Trippers, Festivals & Events by Dan | No comments

Join Clipper Vacations as we make our annual trip to Sequim to celebrate the beauty of Lavender!

Located on the Olympic peninsula, in a rain shadow created by the Olympic Mountains, Sequim, WA has the perfect microclimate for growing lavender. In fact, the lavender fields in Sequim have often been compared favorably to those in the south of France!

Here in Seattle we only get a small taste of what lavender season is all about, but you don’t have to go far to really immerse yourself in it. Just hours from Seattle, Sequim, Washington is the lavender capital of the world and has been hosting a celebration centered on lavender going on 15 years now.

Held on July 20, 21 & 22 this year, the Sequim Lavender Farm Faire is about both visiting the picturesque lavender farms and attending a lively street fair made up of over 150 vendors. On your stop at Sequim’s celebrated lavender farms, you can roam the rows of the lavender fields and learn about the plant, its uses and recipes from the growers. At the street festival, inspect booths of lavender goods and crafts as well as listen to live music and more. Read the rest of this entry »

Pacific Northwest Events: July 2012

July 3, 2012 in Festivals & Events, Travel Seattle, Travel Vancouver BC, Travel Victoria, Travel Whistler by Deirdre | No comments

Break out your sunglasses, summer is finally coming to the Pacific Northwest! The sun usually comes out right after the July 4th holiday which means all the best outdoor festivals and events in the Pacific Northwest are scheduled for July, August and early September. Here is a round up of can’t miss July events in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, the San Juan Islands, Victoria and Whistler: