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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — Views and opinions are my own. This is not a paid post. I was a media guest of Vallea Lumina earlier this season. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Pure wonder. That’s how I can describe my Vallea Lumina experience in Whistler. Eyes open wide, a smile on my face the whole time, and a soft “woah…” escaping my lips as I walked though the hauntingly whimsical world of Vallea Lumina. Lights, holograms, lasers, towering trees, rushing creeks, and a captivating adventure for almost 2 hours in the woods.
Vallea Lumina in Whistler
On the side of Cougar Mountain, it’s an attraction only accessible by shuttle bus (complimentary) from Whistler Village. You arrive at a base camp, with bluegrass songs on the loudspeaker, fires crackling, and lanterns swinging.
“Join an evening excursion and follow cryptic radio transmissions and the lingering traces of two long-ago hikers to find the scenic trailhead where the real journey begins… This pathway leads toward a place filled with beauty, and proof that the legends of Whistler are true.“
Morse code, a search for hikers, radio transmissions, and interactive light boards. The crunch of the trail under your feet, the darkness of the forest in front of you – suddenly illuminated by streaking lights and trance-like soundtrack. I didn’t know this type of attraction existed but I’ve made sure to tell everyone I know about it.
Vallea Lumina is open nightly until October, and booking in advance is highly recommended. Tickets are $39.99 for adults, $34.99 ages 6-15, and free for kids 5 and under.
The path is 1.5km through the forest, up some stairs, across some mountain terrain. I would plan for at least a 90 minute outing on the trails (with time to stop in awe and amazement, and to take photos) and 30 minutes for shuttle time. There is no parking on site so meet the shuttle ahead of your booking time at the Gondola Transit Exchange.
I love being out in the forest for a walk, with the aroma of cedar tickling my nose, and this was something really unique that provided an enhanced and enchanting twist to the Whistler experience.
Enjoy the best of every season all across the province with the BC Farmers’ Market Trail, a free and easy-to-use online resource where you can find over 145 markets across BC. The Trail is the most convenient way for people to find and buy local food and discover the best of what each community across has to offer.
Bulkley Valley Farmers’ Market in Smithers
Every season, over 4,000 local farmers and entrepreneurs attend farmers’ markets across the province to showcase the food and goods they’ve grown, made, baked, and raised. BC farmers’ markets are all about supporting the local economy – contributing over $150 million in economic benefits annually – with the markets serving as springboards for local farmers and makers to introduce their food and wares to their community.
This season, the BC Farmers’ Market Trail will expand to feature farmers’ markets in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Northern BC, Sunshine Coast, and Vancouver Island and Gulf Island regions, in addition to the Kootenay Rockies and Columbia Basin region in which it launched.
Now in its second year, the growth of the Trail reflects the desire amongst British Columbians to support the local economy through farmers’ markets, which contribute more than $150 million in economic benefits to the provincial economy annually.
Learn more about the BC Farmers’ Market Trail using the online tool or follow along this farmers’ market season on Facebook and Instagram.
The Strumbellas and Bedouin Soundclash will headline the 5th annual (and totally free) Richmond World Festival! This nationally award-winning festival will once again present a smorgasbord of music, arts, food and culture from around the globe on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, August 31st in Richmond’s Minoru Park.
Richmond World Festival – Strumbellas
Richmond World Festival 2019
When: Friday, August 30, 2019 4:00pm to 10:00pm Saturday, August 31, 2019 11:00am to 11:00pm
Where:Minoru Park & Richmond Cultural Centre Plaza (7191 Granville Ave, Richmond)
The festival will feature over 100 artists performing on 8 stages, serving up rich slices of African, Asian, North and South American, European, South Pacific and Caribbean cultures.
Lineup
The Strumbellas, Bedouin Soundclash, Neon Dreams, Jocelyn Alice, John Welsh & Los Valientes, Wasakaka All-Stars, RT Nuba, Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra, Phé, Sister Says, Old Soul Rebel, Desiree Dorion, Malcolm-Jay, Veronica Fusaro, Via Barcelonia, Camaro 67, Quinta Kalavera, and many more!
Richmond World Festival – Bedouin Soundclash
Other highlights include the FEASTival of Flavours with more than 60 food trucks presenting cuisines from all over the globe and the Culinary Stage featuring top local chefs. There’s also the Global Village with interactive cultural activities and performances; the Bamboo Theatre and Your Kontinent Digital Carnival, both offering diverse and innovative performances; Africa Zone cultural pavilion, Artisan Marketplace and Imagination World at the Richmond Public Library.
Follow the Richmond World Festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information about this festival and more events in Richmond.
The Vancouver Convention Centre West is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a digital scavenger hunt and some awesome prizes.
10 Years of the Vancouver Convention Centre West
With the addition of the West building in 2009 that tripled the facility’s capacity, the Convention Centre has welcomed over 9 million guests from around the world and generated over $2.4 billion in direct spending for British Columbia over the past decade.
The 5,561 events hosted in 10 years range from major city-wide conventions, including the renowned TED Conference and SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference to consumer and trade shows, private meetings, banquets and fundraisers, community events, special events, public celebrations, and film and TV shoots.
Convention Quest
British Columbians are invited to take on ‘Convention Quest’ before the deadline on Friday, August 9th and earn a chance at winning one of 10 outstanding prizes.
Celebrating a decade of incredible meetings and events, Convention Quest is a digital scavenger hunt tasking participants with tracking down 10 pieces of trivia about the Convention Centre’s West building.
The Grand Prize is a VIP Vancouver Convention Centre experience, including transportation and a one-night stay at a downtown Vancouver hotel, a private behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic West building, dinner at LOT185 Café + Wine Bar, and two tickets to see the Canada Men’s National Rugby Team vs the United States at BC Place on September 7, 2019.
The Silver Prize is two round-trip tickets for a V2V Vacations Vancouver to Victoria day trip (valid through October 31, 2019), and a one-night stay at a hotel in Victoria, BC. And the Bronze Prize is a pair of complimentary tickets to a consumer show or public event held at the Vancouver Convention Centre of their choice and gift card to LOT185 Café + Wine Bar.
Where: McLean Mill Historic Park (5633 Smith Rd, Port Alberni) When: August 9-11, 2019 Tickets: Available online now
Said the Whale, Harlequin, Daniel Wesley, Evil Ebenezer, The Faceplants, Matchstick Skeletons, The Matinee, wiL, Carter and the Capitals, My Generation, Sirreal, Moshiri, Mt. Eliah, Rebel Heart, Best Night Ever, Sean Lyons and The Good Boys, and more!
The McLean Mill site is actually over 30 acres of forest and fields, with a mountain backdrop and camping options. The festival includes wellness workshops, an EDM after dark party, giant games, and Vancouver Island Professional Wrestling.
McLean Mill Historic Park
There’s a shuttle service from 4 points in town to/from the festival site, vendors on site, and a whole lot of fun to be had. Thanks to my friends at FestivalSeekers, I have a pair of weekend passes to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a pair of weekend passes to the @fiveacreshaker http://ow.ly/g8s530pirdj #ExplorePortAlberni” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner TOMORROW (Tuesday, August 6, 2019) at 12:00pm so they’ll have a few days to plan their trip over for this amazing outdoor festival experience in the heart of Vancouver Island.
