October in Whistler
Tourism Whistler
To the moon and back – Whistler celebrates turkeys, the lunar eclipse, readers and writers and heavy hitting horror in October
The snow is creeping down the mountains and winter may be just around the corner, but October offers a range of events to enjoy at Whistler – not to mention a sneak peak at the season ahead.
The Thanksgiving long weekend in Whistler is a fall tradition and a rite of passage – the annual Turkey Sale and Whistler Mountain Ski & Board Swap has everyone thinking of -- and planning for -- the upcoming winter season. This legendary event features great deals on gear and outerwear in more than 20,000 square-feet of space in the Blackcomb Daylodge. The Turkey Sale kicks off Friday October 11 at noon (until 9 p.m.), open to locals, season pass holders and EDGE Card holders. The general public is welcome starting on Saturday at 9 a.m. and through Sunday and Monday. In addition, the Swap (or “Sale With Awesome Prices”), organized by the Whistler Mountain Ski Club, returns this year, offering pre-owned equipment. The SWAP tent is located at the base of Blackcomb, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In addition to the Turkey Sale and Swap, retailers throughout Whistler Village and Creekside keep the pre-winter excitement alive with promotions on equipment and winter clothing over the Thanksgiving weekend, while restaurants offer an array of specially-priced dining options.
Family fun is sure to be had with the Whistler Presents Thanksgiving Weekend entertainment schedule, including Circus Fungus characters roaming the Village, hot apple cider, pumpkin carving and craft stations in Whistler Olympic Plaza and at Millennium Place. The Whistler Public Library also brings its collection to Whistler’s Stroll with the Book Bike.
The Nita Lake Luna Festival celebrates the lunar eclipse with dance, yoga, the arts and much more, October 18-20.
Also taking place October 18-20 is the annual Whistler Readers and Writers Festival. What better place than the mountains in autumn to celebrate the art of storytelling and the written word?
The Whistler Readers and Writers Festival has become a mainstay on the resort’s fall calendar and features an all-star lineup of guest authors with panel discussions, workshops and reading events all on the bill.
This year’s feature events will be moderated by Jian Ghomeshi, host of CBC Radio’s “Q”. Ghomeshi will lead a special "in conversation" session with headlining author and Giller Prize winner, Will Ferguson. In addition, Ghomeshi will moderate a Sunday brunch panel with award-winning authors Lisa Moore, Richard Wagamese, Jane Silcott, Meg Tilley, Genni Gunn and Sue Oakey-Baker.
The full list of invited authors also includes – among many others – an esteemed group of Whistler locals such as former managing editor of Powder magazine, Leslie Anthony, local storyteller extraordinaire, Feet Banks, festival founder and fiction and short story writer, Stella Harvey, author, editor and Goodwill Ambassador,Janet Love Morrison, the talented author and musician and founder of The Point Artist-Run Centre in Whistler, Stephen Vogler, and Rebecca Wood Barrett, whose diverse body of work spans many genres.
Workshop topics range from journalism, memoir writing, writing for young readers, writing historial fiction, and publishing options.
The opening night gala event at Millennium Place is a Books and Jazz event, featuring Mary Swan, Ania Szado, Patrick deWitt, Peter Zuckerman, Janet Love Morrison, and Roberta Rich. Moderated byStephen Vogler, the Jazz and Books event will feature entertainment by local musicians.
Capping off the month of October, the excitement in Whistler culminates with the Return of the Horrorfest.
Western Canada’s longest-running horror film festival, the Whistler event launched in 2002, enjoying more than a decade of tremendous success, celebrating independent film with all the gore one can muster. The 2013 Heavy Hitting Horrorfest scares us senseless October 30 – organizers say it’s “bigger, badder, louder and bloodier than ever” with a “decade of gore-soaked independent filmmaking” hitting the silver screen, with filmmakers from Whistler, Vancouver and beyond competing for cash, prizes and the chance to take home the coveted Silver Skull Trophy for Best in Show.
This year’s event takes place at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, with cocktails/ red carpet kicking things off at 6 p.m. Movies begin at 7:30 p.m. and if you’re not too scared, the after-party wraps it all up in style from 10:30 p.m. – 2 a.m. The Heavy Hitting Horrorfest is open to adults only.
Book early and save for winter. Book your winter vacation at www.whistler.com by November 15 to save up to 39 per cent on stay and ski packages. Whistler-based travel consultants at whistler.com can customize vacation packages, taking care of flights, ground transportation, accommodation and activities. Whistler.com offers the largest selection with no booking fee for accommodation and activities. Call 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.