Summer Arts Guide 2024: Out-of-town festivals for culture vultures
From winery concerts to waterfront wood carving, there’s an abundance of events happening throughout B.C. this sunny season
Mission Hill Family Estate Concert Series.
SUMMER’S THE SEASON for road trips, all the better when there’s a cultural connection. B.C. is booming when it comes to fests, concerts, and events happening outside of Greater Vancouver. Here’s a glimpse at some of them.
INTERIOR
Cascade Peaks ChamberFest
June 18 to 24
Presented by the Langley Community Music School, this inaugural fest features resident ensemble the Borealis String Quartet performing works by Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák, Gilliand, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Ravel, and Schubert, including the latter composer’s Cello Quintet in C Major, D. 956. Then there’s a newly commissioned piece by composer-in-residence Marcel Bergmann. Joining the Borealis String Quartet as faculty guest artists will be violinist Jonathan Crow, concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; cellist Roman Borys, founding member of the Gryphon Trio; Juno award-winning clarinetist James Campbell; and pianist Libby Yu, member of the renowned Aurora Piano Trio. It all takes place at the lakeside RockRidge Canyon Resort, located in Princeton, B.C.
Silver Star Summer Music Series
June 22 to September 14
Centrally located in the heart of B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, Silver Star sits in the Monashee Mountain Range. Local talent will take to the stage every Saturday afternoon from 2 pm to 5 pm from June 22 to September 14. Among the acts are Jesse Roper, who kicks off the series on June 22; Indigenous songwriter Francis Baptiste on June 29; The Boom Booms on July 27; and DJs Joanna Magik and Neon Steve on August 3.
Gord Bamford Outdoor Concert at District Wine Village
June 27
The District Wine Village in the South Okanagan was a Canadian first, with 13 wineries, a brewery, a distillery, and an eatery all on a single site. The village also has a 610-person amphitheatre, where country star Gord Bamford will perform on June 27. Bamford has received multiple Juno nominations and nearly 30 Canadian Country Music Association awards.
Mission Hill Family Estate Summer Concert Series
July 4, 15, and 29
You might as well be in Tuscany—this stunning winery sits on a hill overlooking Lake Okanagan and has an intimate 900-seat amphitheatre. The Barenaked Ladies play on July 4; Melissa Etheridge and Jewel perform on July 15; and Sarah McLachlan graces the outdoor stage on July 29. Optional culinary experiences include a wine-paired, three-course dinner in the winery’s al fresco restaurant, The Terrace.
Tk’emlúps 2 Rivers Remix
July 5 to 7
2 Rivers Remix is a free, three-day celebration of Indigenous arts and culture taking place in Kamloops. DJ Shub, who won the 2022 Juno award for contemporary Indigenous artist of the year, is one of this year’s headliners.
Crush Deck Concert at Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards
July 7
Jim Cuddy and his band will play two sets on the outdoor stage at the winery located between Peachland and Summerland. The Blue Rodeo member just released a new album, All the World Fades Away. Audiences with dinner tickets will get to dine at the on-site 19 Bistro, which will also be offering deli sandwiches, a cheese and charcuterie box, and more.
The Bear and the Proposal
July 9 to August 4 at 7:30 pm at 4886 Salmon River Road, Armstrong
Caravan Farm Theatre presents this historical fiction romance in two acts. The saucy take on Anton Chekhov’s plays is set in the Okanagan circa the 1800s and features a Bridgertonesque contemporary pop score.
Tiny Farm, Big Table
July 14 and August 13
This seven-course long-table dinner series happens at One Tiny Farm in the heart of Roberts Creek. Live music by local artists will fill the air at the event presented by One Straw Society.
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival
July 26 to 28
Sarah McLachlan, Five Alarm Funk, and Amanda Marshall are among the featured artists who will be performing under the Shuswap sky at the 32nd annual fest.
Mountain Music Series at the Sea to Sky Gondola.
SEA TO SKY
Mountain Music Series at the Sea to Sky Gondola
Fridays to September 13
Live music accompanies dazzling sunsets in this Squamish series that takes place 885 metres above sea level. On the lineup for 2024 are The Hairfarmers, Queer As Funk, Mazacote, Jocelyn Pettit, and more.
Mountain Muse Festival
June 22 and 23
Presented by the Pemberton Arts Council, the annual music fest features local bands, DJs, and solo artists.
Whistler Summer Concert Series.
Whistler Summer Concert Series
July 1, then Thursdays and Fridays from July 4 to August 30
Free outdoor performances at Whistler Olympic Plaza all kick off with a live DJ set at 6:30 pm before the 7:30 pm headliner. Some of the main acts this year include the Juno-winning Walk off the Earth, Aysanabee, The Sheepdogs, Colin James, Ibibio Sound Machine, New Breed Brass Band, Astrocolor, The Suffers, Fort Knox Five LIVE, Trans-Canada Highwaymen, Ocie Elliott, and Boy & Bear with special guest Boo Seeka. Plus, on August 29, it’s Drag in the Mountains, a family-friendly night full of drag performances with stars from Canada’s Drag Race including the winner of Season 4, Venus, and stars of Season 2, Kendall Fender and Synthia Kiss. They’ll perform alongside Vancouver’s Next Drag Superstar winner Androgynass and Genesis, Drag Derby winner Dolly H, Tiffany Ann Co, Bibi Souphresh, Batty Banks Hazel and more.
Wild Blue Long Table Dinner Series
July 7 and August 18
Taking place at The Range at the Whistler Golf Club, the four-course dinner features local, seasonal ingredients prepared by chefs Alex Chen and Derek Bendig, accompanied by expert wine pairings.
Squamish Arts Festival
August 5 to 17
Formerly the Squamish Wind Festival, this annual event is a fusion of art, film, performance, and music. One of the highlights is the live art, from large-scale paintings and aerial silks to poetry and origami.
Araxi Longtable Dinner
August 11
This Instagrammable soiree takes place at Pemberton’s North Arm Farm, where chef James Walt, a farm-to-table pioneer, will lead the culinary-arts extravaganza.
PRISMA Festival.
SUNSHINE COAST
PRISMA Festival
June 17 to 29
The Pacific Region International Summer Music Association produces the PRISMA Festival in Powell River every June, attracting more than 5,000 concertgoers to daily musical events, including chamber-music concerts, student recitals, and more. The PRISMA Festival Orchestra performs four full symphony concerts, while a perennial highlight is PRISMA on the Beach, an outdoor performance featuring collaborations with Tla’amin Nation singers and dancers.
Pender Harbour Blues Festival
July 7 to 9
The Paperboys, Marcus Mosely, and Joani Bye are just some of the artists making up the 2024 program. Venues include the Pender Harbour Community Hall, Pender Harbour School of Music, John Henry’s Marina, and Royal Canadian Legion. Dinner shows happen at Upper Deck Cafe in Secret Cove and at Madeira Park’s Harbour Spirit Centre and The Restaurant at Painted Boat.
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts
August 15 to 18
Now in its 42nd year, the Sechelt-based fest is the longest-running summer gathering of Canadian writers and readers in the country. The 2024 roster includes Brent Butt, Naomi Klein, Grant Lawrence, and Waubgeshig Rice.
qathet Studio Tour
August 24 and 25
A free, self-guided event featuring artists from Lang Bay to Lund, the qathet Studio Tour has been around since 2004, with hundreds of visitors dropping into artists’ homes and studios.
Sunshine Music Festival
August 31 and September 1
The fest has been going strong for more than 40 years, drawing performers to the oceanfront stage at Palm Beach Regional Park. Among the artists taking part this year are Saltwater Hank, Tambura Rasa, and Cousin Harley.
Lucinda Williams. Photo by Whitten Sabbatini/New York Times/Redux
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Tofino Jazz Festival
June 26 to 30
Sadé Awele & Serengeti; psychedelic cumbia and salsa band Las Empanadas Ilegales; gypsy-jazz trio The Islanders Hot Club; and Métis vocalist, rapper, and guitarist Wylie Mar are among the acts booked for this five-day celebration of music. Concerts take place at Clayoquot Sound Theatre, Tofino Legion, and outdoors by the water.
Transformations on the Shore
June 26 to 30
Campbell River is home to this festival that sees dozens of wood carvers transform tree stumps and log piles into works of art all along the waterfront and throughout the city.
Vancouver Island MusicFest
July 12 to 14
Lucinda Williams, Locarno, and The High Bar Gang featuring Barney Bentall and Shari Ulrich are just some of the acts taking to the stage during this musical weekend in Courtenay. Presented by the Comox Valley Folk Society, the fest focuses on roots, folk, and global music.
TD Art Gallery Paint-In 2024
July 20
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria hosts this annual event, now in its 35th year, which sees about 10 blocks along Moss Street transform into an outdoor exhibition space for scores of local artists.
ArtisTREE Festival
July 27 and 28
This juried event will feature around 150 artists exhibiting works on the grounds of Victoria’s historic Government House. On-site live painting, interactive art installations, pop-up performance art, live music, and food trucks are among the highlights.
Sooke Fine Arts Show
July 27 to August 5
The Main Gallery houses some 370 works of original art by artists living on B.C.’s coastal islands, while the Youth Art Gallery features pieces by emerging creatives in the region. Each day there are live demonstrations, artist talks, docent tours, and live music. The on-site bistro will be serving up coffee, baked goods, snacks, and lunch items.
Filberg Festival
August 2 to 4
The Comox celebration of arts and culture is marking its 40th anniversary this year. On the roster are scores of musicians, food vendors, and local artisans—makers of everything from jewellery and cigar-box guitars to fibre art and metal designs. 
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