May is a time when you’re spoilt for choice in Whistler. While skiers and snowboarders wrap up another great season with spring skiing on Blackcomb Mountain until May 19, mountain bikers get padded up and hit the trails in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park on May 16. This means, if you time it just right, you could get both in on the same day, along with a round of golf or a paddle on the lake on those warmer spring days.
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The creativity-filled Whistler Children’s Festival is back for its 42nd season from May 16 to 18. Wow the kiddos (and tire their little brains out) with roving circus performers, magic shows, science workshops, interactive experiences and internationally acclaimed children’s performers during this action-packed weekend! PSA: It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11. Scroll down for a fancy brunch idea!
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Outdoor Adventure
You’ll find us:
- Feeling the burn at the Run Comfy Numb race on May 31. This iconic race covers 25 KM or 50 KM of incredible trails with exhilarating climbs, thrilling descents and countless sweeping vistas along singletrack trails. Are you up for the challenge? Registration is still open!
- Floating on the water with Backroads Whistler, opening on weekends starting May 11th (they’ll be open seven days a week starting mid-June). With rentals or guided tours available on Alta Lake and the legendary River of Golden Dreams, it’s the perfect way to get on the water.
- Tuning up our downhill bikes and hitting the Whistler Mountain Bike Park on opening day, May 16. If you’re new to riding the bike park, check out our blog, Whistler Mountain Bike Park 101 and give it a go! May is a great time to start as it’s cooler, and the trails are tacky and tend to be quieter than later on in the season.
- Getting our final, sun-filled laps of the season on Blackcomb Mountain before putting a good coat of storage wax on our skis and snowboards until November. Whistler Mountain is now closed for winter operations, with spring skiing happening exclusively on Blackcomb Mountain from 9 AM to 4 PM daily until May 19. The last day for skiing and riding on Blackcomb is May 19. Check the Mountain Hours of Operation page for lift hours and status before you make your plans.
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Adventure Lite
You’ll find us:
- Relaxing our bodies and minds during Spring Yoga at the Audain Art Museum. Visit the Audain every Thursday in May at 9:30 AM for one hour of gentle Hatha yoga. Suitable for all levels, these yoga classes continue every Thursday throughout spring and also include access to the galleries, including the brand new exhibition The Coast Mountains: Recent Works by Edward Burtynsky.
- Biking along the Valley Trail following the Natural Wonders tour route on the free Go Whistler Tours app. It’s an 11-kilometre route that takes you from Lost Lake Park out to Green Lake and back around the Whistler Golf Course. You can use the audio function to listen to information on animals, flora and fauna as you ride.
- Hitting an early season round of golf at Big Sky Golf Club, now open for the season. The Whistler Golf Club and Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club are set to open on May 9, and Nicklaus North Golf Course on May 10.
- Putting on a pair of waders and wading along the lakes and rivers in pursuit of local fish species like Rainbow Trout and Bull Trout with Whistler Year-Round Fishing. Tours operate rain or shine, making it a perfect spring activity!
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More ways to get outside.
Family Fun
You’ll find us:
- Celebrating at the 41st annual Whistler Children’s Festival from May 16 to 18. Bring the kiddos to enjoy a weekend jam-packed with events and activities, catered just for them. Some highlights of the 2025 lineup include roving circus performers, magic shows, science workshops, interactive experiences and internationally acclaimed children’s performers. We recommend booking your accommodation and tickets in advance, as this iconic event has proven to be very popular, year after year! Read more in our dedicated blog.
- Eating some ice cream in the sunshine from one (or more, or all!) of Whistler’s great ice cream joints using our well-researched blog, A Guide to Whistler Ice Cream. How many of these delicious spots have you and your family tried?
- In pursuit of spotting a bear (or two) from a safe distance on a bear viewing tour. After a long winter slumber, our favourite, furry locals wake up and rejoin us in the spring, and the best (and safest) way to see a bear is through a tour. Learn more about what to expect on a tour in this blog post – Whistler Bear Viewing Safari Experience.
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More family-friendly activities.
Arts & Culture
You’ll find us:
- Experiencing the brand new exhibit at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Sx̱wex̱wiy̓ám̓ tiná7 tl’a temíxw / ptakwlh ti tmicwa / Legends of the Land. This feature exhibition is now open, and shares how traditional knowledge and history were passed down from generation to generation through stories with live storytelling, bold artwork, petroglyphs and pictographs.
- Feeling nostalgic at the Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute at the Maury Young Arts Centre on Sunday, May 4. This powerhouse tribute act brings the full Spice Girls experience with spot-on choreography, killer vocals, British banter, and big-time energy.
- Welcoming best-selling author Chelsea Handler to Whistler’s local literary scene as she celebrates her new book, I’ll Have What She’s Having. Chelsea will read from the hilarious essays in her book as she shares her unforgettable story of becoming the woman she always wanted to be, right here in Whistler on May 5. This is bound to sell out, so buy tickets now to save your seat!
- Supporting local theatre at The Chair Series at The Pointe Artist Run Centre on May 10. Written and directed by Vancouver playwright John McGie, The Chair Series is theatre at its most fundamental level, with the only prop being a chair for each actor. Get your tickets to secure your chair.
- Shopping local at the 30th annual Whistler Farmers’ Market, located on the Upper Village Stroll on Sundays beginning May 18. Hosting an average of 60 vendors per market, varying from local produce to hot food and art, the market is a must-do while you’re in Whistler this May.
- Kicking off the Nourish Whistler Wellness Series with some of the first workshops of the month-long series on May 31, including a variety of Yoga, Meditation and Tai Chi workshops, plus the first Grillin’ n’ Chillin’ dinner of the series and the Spaced Out! Comedy Show.
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Eating, Drinking & Shopping
You’ll find us:
- Trying Whistler’s newest addition to the food & beverage scene, Lorette Brasserie. Lorette brings French dining that is reimagined for Whistler, with seasonally crafted menus and inspiring dishes. From the vineyards of the Okanagan Valley to the fisheries of the Pacific Coast, Lorette’s menu is built around the best of British Columbia. Now open daily for dinner, plus weekends for brunch!
- Experiencing the spring Québec tradition at the Magic of Maple at the Bearfoot Bistro, available until May 4. Indulge your senses as Bearfoot Bistro transforms into an authentic “cabane à sucre” (sugar shack).
- Celebrating Mother’s Day (May 11) with a decadent brunch in the Wildflower Restaurant or the Braidwood Tavern, and then treating mom to an afternoon at the Scandinave Spa.
- Enjoying a tropical escape at the Art of Cocktail workshop at the Audain Art Museum on May 16. The feature cocktail is ‘we’ll give you a rum for your money‘ blends the bold flavours of run with a one-of-a-kind piña colada ice cream.
- Embracing the spring season and trying some fresh, new flavours with great spring dining specials at some of Whistler’s acclaimed restaurants. Spring is a great time to dine in Whistler, with many restaurants, bars and eateries offering food and beverage specials. Read our blog on Spring Dining Deals & Specials – A Local’s Favourite for all the info.
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More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.
Save the Date
Whistler Half Marathon | June 7
Nourish Whistler Wellness Series | May 31 to June 29
Back Forty Marathon Cross-Country Mountain Bike Race | June 14
XFONDO Bike Race | June 13 and 14
Whistler Summer Concert Series | Select dates throughout July and August
ÖTILLÖ Swim & Run Race | July 6
Crankworx Whistler | August 8 to 17
Be a Responsible Traveller: Don’t Love It to Death
- Whistler is bear country. Take a read of our Bear Aware blog post so you can act responsibly on behalf of these beautiful, wild creatures. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear.
- At this time of year, our hiking and biking trails are just coming out of the snow. Before you head out, check Trailforks to see which trails are open so you don’t damage them before they’ve had a chance to bounce back after the winter. If you’re using the trails regularly, consider donating to or joining WORCA, a local organization that maintains Whistler’s trail system.
- BC Parks Day Passes are required for access to Garibaldi Provincial Park and Joffre Lakes Park. There are three Pipi7íyekw Reconnection Celebration periods happening in the summer when Joffre Lakes Park will be closed to recreational access and the general public, and no day-use passes or camping reservations will be available. For more information, visit the BC Parks website.
- Help keep Whistler green by choosing tap water over bottled water, avoiding single-use plastics, leaving the car at home, choosing active transportation and sorting garbage properly to reduce your waste.
- Be AdventureSmart and always practice Leave No Trace principles.
- Consider our Responsible Travel pillars, Respect Nature, Think Environment, Don’t Love It to Death and Support Local.
- Whistler Alert is the official emergency notification system used by the RMOW to communicate with residents and visitors during emergencies via text message, phone and email. We encourage you to sign up for it while you’re here (just in case). When you register, you will be asked to provide your contact number and the date you plan to leave Whistler so that you don’t receive alerts when you’re back home.
If You’re Driving . . .
- Take a read of Go Car Free: 8 Reasons to Ditch the Car on Your Whistler Trip in case we can convince you that you don’t need your car!
- Help reduce congestion on the highway by travelling during non-peak times. Peak travel times on the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler include Friday afternoons and evenings, weekends and holidays. To avoid this busy time, plan to visit Whistler midweek when the highway and the resort are typically quieter. Extend your weekend – plan to arrive on Thursday night and leave on Monday morning to avoid the weekend traffic. If you’re visiting Whistler only for the day, plan on staying for dinner to avoid the rush of day traffic leaving the resort after the mountain closes.
- Always check DriveBC for current road conditions before getting on the road. Follow @DriveBC on Twitter and listen to MountainFM for the latest updates.
- Paid parking is in effect in all the Day Lots although there is complimentary parking from 5 PM to 8 AM. Overnight parking is now allowed in the Day Lots, but no overnight camping or sleeping in vehicles. Please check the RMOW website for more information on parking.
Spring offers great value with savings of up to 25% on lodging. Stretch your stay into midweek for even more savings and a quieter village. For every third night you book between March 1 - April 30, 2025, receive a free $75 CAD Whistler Après Voucher.
For summer, book ahead and save up to 30% on lodging. Plus, you'll receive a free $150 CAD Activity Voucher on stays of 3 or more nights.
Insider Tip: BC or Washington resident? Sign up for Whistler Rewards to access additional savings and exclusive perks.
