Get your brew on in the mountains this October, as it’s Whistler Craft Beer Month; check out our post Raise a Pint, which covers some of the hop-focused 40+ events. It’s also your last chance to ride the Whistler Mountain Bike Park (last day October 11) and tee off on Whistler’s golf courses (last day October 10), but don’t think that means it’s the end of the mountain thrills.
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There are still hundreds of miles of cross-country bike trails to be explored, muddy puddles to splash through, race events, dining specials, gear deals and Canadian Thanksgiving. Here’s what you can expect in Whistler this October.
Outdoor Adventure
You’ll find us:
- Pulling our running shoes on as we tackle some of the race events this month, including the grueling Comfortably Numb Trail Race, Whistler Half Marathon and Whistler 50 Ultra & Relay. Read more about them in 10 Heart Pumping Bike and Running Events in Whistler.
- Crashing through muddy puddles on a RZR (side-by-side) or ATV tour in the wilds of the Callaghan Valley or Cougar Mountain. Trust us, this is so much fun in the rain!
- Flexing our fingers at a Boulder & Brew night at the Whistler Core Climbing and Fitness Centre, just one of the 40+ events during Whistler Craft Beer Month.
- Rooting through our winter gear to see what needs replacing / tuning as Whistler Blackcomb announced their opening day is November 25. Head to the Maury Young Arts Centre this month to get your winter hype on with showings of Teton Gravity Research’s new, feature-length ski and snowboard movie Stoke the Fire (Oct 16) and Matchstick Productions: The Stomping Ground (Oct 22).
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Adventure Lite
You’ll find us:
- Trotting. You might not quite be up for a half marathon, but how about a Turkey Trot? You can do a 5-kilometre or 10-kilometre route that takes you around the beautiful shores of Lost Lake.
- Cheering on the athletes at the Whistler Sliding Centre when they start to hit the ice on October 18. It’s free to sightsee and you can check online for what’s happening on the track.
- Soaking at the Scandinave Spa, which sits on the edges of Lost Lake. There’s something magical about being in the water while it’s raining and misty.
More ways to get outside.
Family Fun
You’ll find us:
- Looking for bears with Whistler Photo Safaris. Tours typically wrap up by the end of October as the bears head off for their winter nap after gorging on berries. Want to know what happens to a bear during this time? Take a read of What Happens to a Bear When it Hibernates.
- Carving our pumpkin to add to Arts Whistler’s Tour de Pumpkins community walking tour of art-carved pumpkins in Florence Petersen Park (behind the Whistler Public Library) on October 30.
- Taking the kids to the pump track in Whistler Village, which is close to the Day Lots and Audain Art Museum. There are a few track options in this area with picnic tables for those much-needed snack breaks (may we suggest a pre-biking trip to purebread?).
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More family-friendly activities.
Arts & Culture
You’ll find us:
- Getting creative at the Whistler Writer’s Festival happening at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler October 14 to 17. They celebrate their 20th anniversary this year; take a read of From Living Room to Ballroom: 20 Years of Storytelling to learn about this festival’s history.
- Checking out the work of local artists at the We Heart Local Art exhibit in the Gallery at the Maury Young Arts Centre (MYAC). It’s up for the whole month of October and the works are for sale. Arts Whistler is also presenting selections from the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival on October 2 and have the Arts Whistler Live! Comedy Double-header with Ivan Decker and Charlie Demers (favourites from CBC’s The Debaters) on October 8.
- Visiting the Audain Art Museum to view their latest, special exhibit (opening October 23) Riopelle: The Call of Northern Landscapes and Indigenous Cultures, which focuses on Jean Paul Riopelle’s engagement with Canada’s northern landscape and emblematic use of Indigenous motifs to construct highly complex paintings, prints and sculptures.
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More arts and culture activities.
Eating, Drinking & Shopping
You’ll find us:
- Sipping on gin made right here in the mountains on a Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting with Whistler Valley Tours, before heading to The Raven Room to continue the cocktail fun.
- Grabbing gear for the winter season at Whistler’s stores as they launch their seasonal sales. Whistler Blackcomb is having a Season Kickoff Sale from October 1 to 18 at their Can-Ski locations, Showcase, Garbonzo Bike and Bean, and Summit Sports.
- Checking out some of the new openings in Whistler Village, including Joe Fortes Seafood & Chophouse, Smartwool, and the reopening of Aritzia in its new location, Village Common.
- Filling up on fresh produce at the last Whistler Farmers’ Market of the season on Sunday, October 10 at its new location at the Whistler Racket Club (a great place to grab brunch).
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More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.
Save the Date
Whistler happenings to put in your calendar for the month ahead.
- 25th Annual Cornucopia Whistler | Thursdays to Sundays, November 4 – 28, 2021
- Whistler Blackcomb Opening Day | November 25, 2021
- Whistler Film Festival | December 1 – 31, 2021
- Whistler Pride and Ski Festival | January 23 – 30, 2022
Find more event information on our events calendar.
Don’t Forget . . .
- Please remember that COVID-19 isn’t on vacation, stay home if you have any symptoms, however mild, and get tested if your symptoms are consistent with COVID-19
- Practise physical distancing
- Wear a mask in indoor public settings
- Wash your hands often
- Winter tires and chains are required on the Sea to Sky highway between October 1 to March 31.
- Please make sure you are bear-aware and have your dog on a leash at all times unless you’re in a designated off-leash area.
- It’s now nonpeak season parking in the Day Lots (Lot 4 & 5 are free), and pay parking is finished for the season at Whistler’s parks and lakes.
For the best rates on accommodation for the late spring and summer, plan a longer stay or consider staying midweek. Stay 3+ nights to receive a free $100 Activity Voucher and up to 25% off. It's easy to book your vacation when you have the freedom of Whistler.com's Flexible Cancellation options backed by their Book With Confidence program.
