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. It’s also Halloween at the end of the month (it falls on a Friday this year), so get the tickle trunk out and take a look at the Halloween events happening around Whistler.
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Whistler Blackcomb and the PEAK 2 PEAK are now closed until the winter season begins on November 21, 2025. If you’re riding the Whistler Bike Park, uploading is only available from Fitzsimmons Express until closing day on October 13. Always check the hours of operation page before starting your adventure.
Here’s what’s going on this month in Whistler.
Outdoor Adventure
You’ll find us:
- Running at the Whistler 50 Relay & Ultra on October 4, 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 13, then pedal Whistler’s extensive 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.
- Getting muddy on an ATV Adventure, like the Call of the Wild tour or the Wild Wild West tour with Canadian Wilderness Adventures. Whether you are a beginner looking for a family-friendly activity or a thrill-seeker looking to get the adrenaline pumping, there are tours for different levels.
- Making the most of the final few weeks of hiking season. Fall remains a great time to hike, as the vibrant autumnal 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 the 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 incredible courses around Whistler before the close (typically mid-October). Note that Whistler Golf Club is closed until summer 2027 for renovations.
- Safely spotting Whistler’s furriest residents on a Bear Viewing Tour. Fall is a great time to join a bear viewing tour (typically on until mid-October), as they’re preparing for their winter hibernation and chowing down! If you are hoping to spot bears while in Whistler, the best and safest way is through a bear viewing tour. Read more about these tours in Connecting with Black Bears in Whistler.
- Checking out the fall colours as the leaves of Whistler’s deciduous trees start to turn bright yellow, orange and red before they drop. 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. Cover even more ground on two wheels and check out the Fall Biking route on the free Go Whistler Tours app.
- Resetting with the new season at the Scandinave Spa, a traditional Nordic hydrotherapy spa. With a steam room, hammocks, sauna, yoga room, plunge pools and more, there are plenty of options for each hot-cold-relax cycle. The spa offers a full range of massage services (Including a Swedish option) and an on-site café – you could spend all day rejuvenating there.
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More ways to get outside.
Family Fun
You’ll find us:
- Bringing the fam to experience the Indigenous Strong Powwow on October 10,11, and 12 and Úll̓us Centre in Mount Currie. Experience host drumming from Thunder Hill of Oklahoma, and competition powwows from ages 7 to 56+. Check out all the details here.
- Taking a family walk along the Fitzsimmons Creek Accessible Nature Trail or Lost Lake Nature Walk, to learn 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.
- Avoiding the rain by heading to the Escape! Whistler: The Haunted Cabin, on from October 17 – 31. The whole family can enjoy this spookily haunted immersive adventure that you will enjoy whether you escape or not!
- Getting our kiddos and teens to exercise their creative muscles at the Audain Art Museum Youth Programs. The Teen Art Collective offers a safe space for teens (ages 12 – 18) to explore their emotions through creative expression, with guidance from a trained art therapist. For younger kids (kindergarten to grade 6), the After School Art classes give them a chance to learn about methods of art-making in British Columbia. Plus, kiddos 8+ shouldn’t miss the Advanced Stop-Motion Animation Workshop: Build your own Armature on October 25. In this hands-on workshop, participants will create their own stop-motion puppet using aluminum wire and epoxy putty.
- Wandering through the illuminated forest of Vallea Lumina at the Trick or Treat Family Edition Halloween Journey. From October 25 to October 31, Vallea Lumina transforms into a realm of mystery and magic., with the family friendly showing offering a playful, trick-or-treat style experience for the kiddos. For teens (or adults), check out the Trail of Terror Scary Edition, featuring later show times and jump scares. Costumes are encouraged!
- Bringing the little ones to What Fish Are Saying: Picture Book Reading at the Whistler Public Library on October 31, part of the Whistler Writers Festival. Listen to Kirsten Pendreigh read from her new book, plus the kiddos will leave with a fun fishy activity to do at home. The event is free, but you need to RSVP.
- Taking the whole fam trick or treating at the Annual Tapley’s Halloween! Local residents go to great lengths to create a scary and magical atmosphere in the Tapleys’ neighbourhood for trick or treaters, plus enjoy a spectacular fireworks display at 7:30 PM!
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More family-friendly activities.
Arts & Culture
You’ll find us:
- Strolling around Whistler Village visiting five different art galleries and enjoying interactive art experiences with a glass of wine in hand at a Whistler Wine Walk, happening on October 3, 10, 17 and 24. The evening wraps up at the Audain Art Museum, where you’ll enjoy delicious canapes, live music, more wine and a guided tour of the museum’s special exhibition. Tickets are $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 Whistler Arts & Culture Scene, check it out to get the full breakdown.
- Browsing the newest exhibit at the Audain Art Museum, Geoffrey Farmer: Phantom Scripts. This Exhibit revisits three works by Geoffrey Farmer from the Audain Art Museum’s Permanent Collection, reframing them through newly composed scripts, annotations and didactic texts authored by the artist. This exhibit is open from October 2, 2025, to February 2, 2026. While you’re there, check out the last few weeks of Gathered Leaves: Discoveries from the Drawings Vault, which closes on October 13.
- Having a laugh at the Culturally Inappropriate Stand-Up Comedy Tour at Whistler Brewing Company on October 8, featuring Andrew Oporto, Bonggun Kim and Noor Kidwai, their smart, silly, and slightly inappropriate humour has been featured on Canada’s Got Talent, Just For Laughs, CBC, and more. If you are looking for more comedy, then don’t miss A Perfectly Reasonable Night of Comedy on October 10 at the Maury Young Arts Centre. Peter Oldring and Pat Kelly reunite with Carolyn Taylor to deliver a delightfully absurd and wildly entertaining variety show. Don’t miss this rare and hysterical reunion.
- Enjoy the annual Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) World Tour on October 11 at the Maury Young Arts Centre. This unforgettable evening brings outdoor adventure and mountain culture films on the big screen. This year’s hand-picked lineup invites adventure-seeking Whistlerites to experience stories that highlight the community and connection inspired by life in the outdoors. This event sells out every year, so grab your tickets early!
- Acknowledging the deep and undeniable attraction of our mountains at the Whistler Blackcomb: 60 Seasons Deep Exhibition at the Maury Young Arts Centre. The anniversary exhibit honours 60 years of mountain culture, community and adventure. The exhibit opens on October 11 and will be on until December 20, 2025.
- Kicking off the snow season at International Freeski Film Festival (iF3) Whistler 2025 from October 15 to 18. This four-day film festival features premieres of the year’s best ski and snowboard movies, including After The Snowfall from Matchstick Productions and Snowboard Sessions. Don’t miss the All Girls Whistler event on October 16, featuring women-driven ski and snowboard film projects, plus a live panel of producers and athletes to share the stories, insights and inspiration behind their work. Kick it all off at the launch party presented by Head Corolla on October 15 at the GLC.
- Discovering the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC)’s newest exhibit, Woven Pathways: Indigenous Fashion and Cultural Continuity, opening on October 18 with guest curator Rebecca Baker-Grenier, an Indigenous Designer of Kwakiutł and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ancestry . This exhibit features Squamish and Lil’wat fashion and accessory designers with guest artists from the Northwest Coast. Guests can experience a journey bridging ancestral stories in modern times and think about how culture is woven into art, creating new pathways for fashion.
- Learning from the panellists at Peaks and Pressures: From Resort to Resilient Mountain Town on October 23. Part of the Global Perspectives Speaker Series collection, this event explores how alpine communities can evolve from recreation-based resorts into resilient, year-round places to live. Panellists will share global insights and local strategies for building year-round, climate-resilient communities.
- Spending a Sunday afternoon soaking in the sweet sounds of The Rose Gellert String Quartet on October 26 at the Maury Young Arts Centre, presented by Whistler Chamber Music. The Rose Gellert String Quartet, performing on cello, viola and two violins, will treat Whistler listeners to two of the most famous string quartets in the chamber music repertoire by Haydn and Dvorak plus more musical treats.
- Getting ready for a wild Halloween with The Rocky Horror Picture Show presented by The People’s Film at the Maury Young Arts Centre on October 29. Dress up, join the fun and compete for best costume prizes.
- Celebrating the literary arts and connecting with the best local, Canadian and international authors at the Whistler Writers Festival from October 30 to November 2. There are 14 reading events and 9 workshops over four days. This year’s festival doubles down on all things spooky and thrilling in honour of the season. Embrace orange foliage, colder temperatures and book events designed to send a little chill down your spine.
- Joining the official book launch of 7IDANsuu James Hart: A Monumental Practice, a landmark publication celebrating the extraordinary career of renowned Haida artist and Hereditary Chief, James Hart, on October 30 at the Audain Art Museum. This free event features a book signing, plus complimentary food, drinks and stories.
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Eating, Drinking & Shopping
You’ll find us:
- Getting spooky at the Black Lagoon Halloween Pop-Up at The Raven Room Restaurant + Cocktail Bar. Step inside if you dare and immerse yourself in all things spooky with haunted decor and wickedly styled cocktails. The Halloween pop-up of your nightmares is open daily from October 3 to November 2.
- Experiencing the cozy charm of the Alps in the heart of Whistler with An Evening of Fondue at Braidwood Tavern, in collaboration with French’eese Whistler, on October 10. Gather with friends over bubbling cheese fondue, savour melt-in-your-mouth raclette, and enjoy a leisurely evening of rich flavours, fine ingredients and mountain ambiance.
- Feasting at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, for a traditional turkey dinner or harvest brunch on Sunday, October 12. The Braidwood Tavern at the Four Seasons is also hosting a three-course Thanksgiving Feast on October 11. If you don’t feel like leaving your accommodation, you can opt for the Thanksgiving Turkey To-Go from Portobello, which includes a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings for the whole fam.
- Indulging in the incredible flavours of Bangkok to Whistler: A One-Night-Only dining Experience at Mekong on October 18. Mekong’s culinary director, Angus An and Executive Chef Bonnie Khummuang will be cooking alongside Bangkok’s celebrated chefs Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava and Dylan Jones of Bo.lan for an unforgettable one-night collaboration dinner. This exclusive evening will feature a four-course menu with curated wine pairings (non-alcoholic options available), showcasing the bold flavours of Thailand through the lens of sustainable, seasonal ingredients.
- Strolling along the Upper Village at the final few Whistler Farmer’s Markets of the season. The Market is on every Sunday until October 12, PLUS a special bonus market for the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend on Saturday, October 11. 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 10 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.
- Eating our way through Whistler’s incredible dining scene and taking advantage of all of the great fall specials that the restaurants offer. Read about 20 of these deals in our Fall Dining Deals blog.
- Mixing potions at the Art of Cocktail Halloween Potions Class at the Audain Art Museum on October 31. Craft spooky cocktails and explore the new exhibition, Geoffrey Farmer: Phantom Scripts. Costumes encouraged for a spirited night of creativity and storytelling.
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More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.
Save the Date
Cornucopia Whistler | November 6 – 16
Whistler Blackcomb Winter Opening Day | November 21
Whistler Film Festival | December 3 – 7
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.
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!
- 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.
