The Local’s List: October

October is when the arts and culture scene comes alive in Whistler. Explore Whistler’s art galleries on a Whistler Wine Walk, celebrate the written and spoken word at the Whistler Writers Festival, eat out during Whistler’s fall dining deals and get great finds on gear during the Turkey Sale.

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Here’s what’s going on this month in Whistler.

Outdoor Adventure

You’ll find us:

• Running on the Whistler 50 Relay & Ultra on October 5, where participants can assemble a team of four or eight people for the 80-kilometre (50-mile) relay or you can go solo for the 50-kilometre (30-mile) ultra.
• Getting muddy and enjoying fall mountain biking conditions, which means cooler temperatures and grippier dirt to send off the bike season. Ride the Whistler Mountain Bike Park until the lifts stop spinning on October 14, then pedal Whistler’s network of cross-country mountain bike trails until the snowline hits the valley. For inspiration on where to go cross-country biking, read our blog, Top 10 Whistler Cross-Country Mountain Bike Trails.
• Making the most of the final few weeks of hiking season. Fall remains a great time to hike, as the vibrant fall colours set the scene for stunning views along the way. Check out our Insider’s Guide: Finding Fall Colours on Whistler’s Trails for some route planning inspiration. See rain in the forecast? Check out our Hiking in the Rain: Tips for When it Drips blog for tips on how to get out there regardless of the weather forecast.

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Adventure Lite

You’ll find us:

• Getting in our final swings of the golf season. Fall offers some of the best playing conditions, with cooler temperatures and increased moisture making the greens lush and vibrant, while the colours of autumn provide a stunning backdrop. Book your tee-time at one of the four incredible courses around Whistler.
• Discovering the entire Whistler Valley with Whistler Valley Tours. Their flagship ‘Full Whistler Sightseeing Tour’ was recently ranked top 5 in all of Canada on TripAdvisor’s ‘Best of the Best’ awards, taking you around Whistler on a small group, half-day tour. It’s a great way to spend a fall day, rain or shine.
• Getting up the mountain on an 4×4 Sightseeing Tour with Canadian Wilderness Adventures. When you choose the Blackcomb Sunset Jeep Tour or the Glacier Safari Jeep Tour, you can get those panoramic views and a closer look at the mountains.
• Checking out the fall colours as the leaves of Whistler’s deciduous trees start to turn bright yellow, orange and red before they drop from their branches. To discover some top spots to admire the fall foliage set against the snowline creeping down the mountains, read our blog, The Best Fall Views in Whistler. Also, take a look at the Fall Biking route on the free, Go Whistler Tours app.

 

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More ways to get outside.

Family Fun

You’ll find us:

• Taking a family walk along the Fitzsimmons Creek Accessible Nature Trail and learning about the biodiversity of the area. Download the free Go Whistler Tours App and discover the walk with its corresponding self-guided tour, featuring interactive maps, images and audio.
• Getting the next generation hooked on writing at the Cheat Code for Conflict: A Creative Writing Workshop event on October 20 as part of the Whistler Writers Festival (registration required). Youth under 18 can learn how to inject drama into their stories with Marty Chan’s cheat code, where students will learn the three essential steps for creating conflict out of any situation. The event is free, but make sure to register to secure your child’s spot!
• Avoiding the rain by heading into the Rabbit Hole, at Escape! Whistler. You have 45 minutes to puzzle your way out of the seven themed rooms, which makes for great family bonding (kids six and under are free).
• Bringing out little shredders to the kid-friendly showtimes the Teton Gravity Research: Beyond the Fantasy movie showing on October 12. The 3 PM and 6 PM screenings are open to all ages, making this a great way to get the kiddos winter stoke on!

 

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More family-friendly activities.

Arts & Culture

You’ll find us:

• Strolling around Whistler Village visiting six different art galleries and enjoying interactive art experiences with a glass of wine in hand at a Whistler Wine Walk, happening every Friday evening in October. The evening wraps up at the Audain Art Museum, where you’ll enjoy delicious canapes, live music, wine and a guided tour of the museum’s special exhibition. Tickets start at only $25 and the event was a sell-out last year, so make sure to scoop them up while you can. We’ve rounded up What’s On This Fall & Winter in Whistlers Art’s & Culture Scene, check it out to get the full breakdown.
• Immersing ourselves in the Octoberfest Spirit at Artstoberfest by Arts Whistler. On October 5, Bavarian traditions will meet Whistler’s vibrant arts scene as the Maury Young Arts Centre transforms into a lively beer hall. Enjoy bratwurst, beer, polka-style live music, games and live painting. Keep the good vibes going at the Teeny Tiny Art Party on October 16, your first opportunity to purchase the pocket-sized artworks of over 80 local artists.  There will also be nibbles and live music, all free of charge.
• Checking out the brand new Russna Kaur Exhibition at the Audain Art Museum, opening on October 4 and running until January 27. This exhibition features the works of artist Russna Kaur, whose work is characterized by bold colour combinations and dynamic, modular compositions that adapt to their environment. While you’re there, don’t miss the final days of the incredible Tom Thomson: North Star exhibition on until October 14.
• Celebrating the literary arts and connecting with the best local, Canadian and international authors at the Whistler Writers Festival from October 17 to 20. The festival has something for everyone, with new events including storytelling and spoken performances, 12 reading events and 8 workshops. Check out the schedule for details and to purchase tickets.
• Getting stoked on the upcoming winter season at one of the ski film screens happening throughout the month. Check out Teton Gravity Research: Beyond the Fantasy on October 12 or the Calm Beneath Castles on October 18. Plus, The International Freesports Film Festival (iF3) is coming to Whistler from October 16 to 19, taking place at the Maury Young Arts Centre and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. If that’s not enough, check out the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) World Tour, presented by Arts Whistler on October 5. Nine films have been hand-picked for adventure seeking folks, highlighting the community that outdoor sports inspires across all walks of life. And if you’re not quite ready to transition to winter just yet, Rip Curl’s Creatures of Habit surf film premiere is on October 5 at the Whistler Conference Centre.
• Enjoying the sounds of Flute & Friends, playing at the Maury Young Arts Centre on Sunday, October 27 thanks to the Whistler Chamber Music Society.

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Eating, Drinking & Shopping

You’ll find us:

• Feasting at The Wildflower & The Grill Room, located at Fairmont Chateau Whistler, for a traditional turkey dinner or harvest brunch Sunday, October 13. If you don’t feel like leaving your accommodation they also offer a Thanksgiving Turkey To-Go from Portobello, which includes a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings for 8 to 10 people.
• Strolling along the Upper Village at the final few Whistler Farmer’s Markets of the season. The Market is on every Sunday until October 13, PLUS a special bonus market for the Canadian thanksgiving weekend on Saturday, October 12. Browse local jewelry, art and craft prepared foods while shopping for local produce and grabbing those final ingredients that you need for Thanksgiving dinner.
• Shopping up a storm and getting equipped for the upcoming winter season with Whistler’s legendary Turkey Sales from October 4 to 14. Retail stores all over Whistler will be bringing out their winter stock from last season and offering sales of up to 60% off. Items on sale include ski and snowboard equipment (brand-new and ex-rentals) plus clothing and accessories.
• Keeping textiles out of landfills by swapping our previously loved clothing pieces at the Fall Clothing Swap hosted by AWARE Whistler on October 15. Admission is $10 if you bring clothes to swap, or $20 if you don’t. Swap all things from gear to furniture at the Community Garage Sale located in the Creekside Underground parking lot on October 6. Or, get your well loved pieces fixed at Revive and Reuse at the Repair Cafe, also hosted by AWARE Whistler, on October 5. Residents can bring their broken items and fix them on the spot with the help of skilled volunteers.
• Dancing and eating while supporting marginalized youth at the Après for Change event at Dusty’s Bar and BBQ by Zero Ceiling on October 19. Hosted by Canada’s Drag Race star Gia Metric, the night features music, dancing, dinner and a complimentary drink. Help Zero Ceiling reach their goal of raising $100,000 to provide secure housing and support youth.
• Eating our way through Whistler’s incredible dining scene and taking advantage of all of the great fall specials that the restaurants offer. Some local favourites include Nagomi Sushi’s $39 four-course and the award-winning Wild Blue’s $39 four-course menu, available Sunday through Thursday.

 

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More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.

Save the Date

Cornucopia Whistler | November 7 – 17
Whistler Blackcomb Winter Opening Day | November 22
Whistler Film Festival | December 4 – 8
Whistler Pride and Ski Festival | January 19 – 26
Invictus Games Whistler | February 8 – 16

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.
• If you’re using the hiking and biking trails around Whistler regularly, consider donating to or joining WORCA, a local organization that maintains Whistler’s trail system.
• 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.

Travel Updates

All travel restrictions have been removed for US and international visitors entering Canada. Visit whistler.com/covid for the latest COVID-19 information and resources for travellers.

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.
• Marketplace parking has new tariffs; $1 first 30 minutes and $2 first hour (15-minute, storefront parking remains free). For shopping at Fresh St. Market, register your license plate in the machine prior to shopping and they will reimburse you for 1 hour with a minimum $25 purchase.