Markets · festivals · fairs · live music
The Vancouver Island events calendar.
Markets, festivals, live music and community events across all nine Island regions — every one verified with its organizer before it’s published.
September 2026
September 4, 2026 to September 5, 2026
Greater Victoria Food & Drink
Great Canadian Beer Festival
Canada's original craft beer festival — 90+ breweries and 200+ beers pouring at Victoria's Topaz Park.
September 5, 2026 to September 7, 2026
Greater Victoria Fairs & Exhibitions
Saanich Fair
Celebrate Labour Day weekend at the 158th Saanich Fair, September 5 to 7, 2026, at the Saanich Fairgrounds in Saanichton. Running since 1868, the fair brings livestock and horticulture exhibits, competitions in dozens of categories, amusement rides, food vendors and live entertainment.
September 5, 2026 to September 7, 2026
North Island Festivals
Port Alberni Salmon Festival
A Labour Day tradition on the Alberni Inlet: anglers chase big prizes in the Tyee Club's salmon derby while the waterfront fills with food, live music, local art and family fun celebrating the valley's salmon heritage.
September 10, 2026 to September 13, 2026
Pacific Rim Fairs & Exhibitions
Alberni District Fall Fair
Running since 1946, Vancouver Island's classic four-day agricultural fair returns to Port Alberni with livestock shows, exhibit halls, a midway, food vendors and live entertainment.
September 12, 2026 to September 13, 2026
Gulf Islands Fairs & Exhibitions
Salt Spring Island Fall Fair
Salt Spring's beloved agricultural fair returns for an anniversary weekend with livestock, prize produce and crafts, local vendors, live music, demonstrations and homegrown food, with a free shuttle running from Ganges.
September 12, 2026 to September 13, 2026
Parksville–Qualicum Fairs & Exhibitions
Medieval Fall Faire
A medieval-themed weekend at the Coombs Fairgrounds with armoured combat, archery, an artisan market, period music and hands-on history, staged by the Society for Creative Anachronism.
September 18, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Cowichan Valley Fairs & Exhibitions
Cowichan Exhibition
Join the 158th Cowichan Exhibition, September 18 to 20, 2026, at Cowichan Exhibition Park in North Cowichan. This agricultural fair features logger sports, a Kid's Corral, live entertainment, judged catalogue entries from produce to quilts, and vendors and concessions across the grounds.
September 18, 2026
Campbell River Live Music
Quadra Concerts: Aysanabee
Acclaimed Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee opens Quadra Concerts' 2026/27 season with an intimate island performance blending alternative folk, soul and storytelling.
September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Gulf Islands Fairs & Exhibitions
Salt Spring Island Fall Fair
A classic Gulf Islands country fall fair — livestock, produce, homegrown crafts and island entertainment at the Farmers' Institute.
September 19, 2026 to September 20, 2026
Pacific Rim
Port Alberni Toy Run
The 42nd annual charity motorcycle Toy Run rolls through Port Alberni, with a decorated-bike parade collecting toys, food and cash for local families ahead of the holidays.
September 20, 2026
Comox Valley Fairs & Exhibitions
Foggy Mountain Fall Fair
Cumberland's free end-of-summer community fall fair fills Dunsmuir Avenue with local vendors, artisans, food, live music and family activities, supporting the Cumberland Community Forest Society.
September 25, 2026 to September 27, 2026
Nanaimo Fairs & Exhibitions
Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEX)
Nanaimo's country fair returns for three days at Beban Park with agricultural exhibits and livestock, a midway, mainstage concerts, the SuperDogs, a lumberjack show, food trucks and family entertainment across the fairgrounds.
September 27, 2026
Gulf Islands Festivals
Salt Spring Island Apple Festival
A one-day self-guided driving tour of Salt Spring orchards on the last Sunday of September, showcasing hundreds of apple varieties, tastings, cider and farm stands.
October 2026
October 1, 2026 to October 4, 2026
Comox Valley Festivals
Cumberland Fungus Fest
The 7th annual Cumberland Fungus Fest celebrates fungi and forest ecology across the village of Cumberland from October 1 to 4, 2026, with talks, guided forest walks, films, a Science Pub, an art night and kids' activities. Festival pass required; proceeds support the Cumberland Community Forest.
October 3, 2026
Greater Victoria Food & Drink
Victoria Tea Festival Revival
The 11th Victoria Tea Festival Revival brings farm-to-cup teas, tastings, a symposium, live music and a world tea championship to Nootka Court in downtown Victoria on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Admission is by donation; bring your own cup.
October 11, 2026
Greater Victoria Sports & Outdoors
Royal Victoria Marathon
One of Canada's premier oceanside road races — marathon, half, 8K, 5K and kids' run through Victoria on Thanksgiving weekend.
October 17, 2026
Nanaimo Live Music
Vancouver Island Symphony: Arabian Nights
The Vancouver Island Symphony opens its 32nd season with Arabian Nights, a full orchestral concert at Nanaimo's Port Theatre on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Tickets are sold individually or by season subscription.
October 24, 2026
Greater Victoria
Art of the Cocktail
Victoria's premier cocktail and spirits tasting at Crystal Garden, with 40-plus exhibitors, seminars and small bites. A 19+ fundraiser for the Victoria Film Festival.
November 2026
November 13, 2026 to December 23, 2026
Cowichan Valley Arts & Culture
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Chemainus Theatre Festival)
Chemainus Theatre Festival's holiday production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, a warm Pride and Prejudice sequel by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Runs November 13 to December 23, 2026.
November 17, 2026
Nanaimo Live Music
Crash Test Dummies: Jingle All the Way
Juno-winning Canadian band Crash Test Dummies bring their Jingle All the Way tour - 1990s hits plus seasonal favourites - to Nanaimo's Port Theatre on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, with opener Logan Richard.
November 19, 2026 to November 29, 2026
Nanaimo Arts & Culture
Cedar & Yellow Point Country Christmas Arts Tour
A free, self-guided studio tour through Cedar and Yellow Point where visitors meet local artists and shop handmade holiday gifts across festive late-November weekends.
November 20, 2026 to November 22, 2026
Comox Valley Community
Holiday by the Harbour
Downtown Comox's free festive weekend pairs a tree lighting with a winter market of local artisans, makers and food vendors, kicking off the holiday season in the seaside town.
November 26, 2026
Cowichan Valley Festivals
Ladysmith Festival of Lights
One of the Island's grandest holiday light displays, launching with a free Light Up parade and fireworks in historic downtown Ladysmith. Light Up night is November 26, 2026.
November 27, 2026 to November 29, 2026
Pacific Rim Festivals
Tofino Oyster Festival
Tofino's oldest-running festival celebrates Clayoquot Sound oysters over three November days, with the Mermaid's Ball, an Oyster Festival Gala and the family-friendly Shucker's Showdown.