2023 Oceanside Brant Wildlife Festival
Parksville and Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island
March 31st - April 9th, 2023

Come celebrate nature and spring migration at the 32nd Annual Brant Wildlife Festival! In particular, this is a celebration of Brant Geese, which stop in great numbers to rest and refuel on the shores of Parksville and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island during their spring migration from Mexico to Alaska. Together, Parksville and Qualicum Beach comprise the Brant Capital of Canada!

This festival presents educational and entertaining events highlighting the biodiversity that exists on this part of Vancouver Island. Check out a long lineup of exciting events being held at various locations in and around Parksville and Qualicum Beach, including film night, a woodworking and art show, a seafood demonstration and tour, basic bird ID and birdwatching tours, and much, much more!

There is something for everyone at the Brant Wildlife Festival, so bring the whole family!

The Nicola Valley Arts Centre "Fibre Lovers Art Show" Merritt BC. Open to the public from Wed to Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sundays 12-4 pm. Public reception on Friday, March 31, 4-7 pm. The Nicola Valley Arts Centre "Fibre Lovers Art Show" featuring local artists from the Nicola Valley, BC. Beautiful art creations using skills that have been around for centuries Exhibiting local artisans, weaving, embroidery, knitting, and felting creations that will truly amaze you. All the members of the Arts Council work year-round to showcase imaginative, creative, skilled crafters who live here in the Nicola Valley Interested in learning how to knit or use a drop spindle? Sign up for a free workshop at the Nicola Valley Arts Centre. For group visits, contact Jano at 250-315-3437. Experience this beautiful event at the Nicola Valley Arts Centre "Fibre Lovers Art Show" in Merritt, BC.

The 2023 Food Truck Wars happens at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Langley on March 31rst to April 2nd. Hours of operation are from 4:00 until 9:00 PM on Friday and from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Admission is by donation with funds raised benefiting the KPU Alumni Association and BC Children's Hospital Foundation.

Food Truck Wars features over 40 food trucks on each of the three days. There is also live music and roaming entertainment, a beer garden and market vendors. This is a family-friendly event and a competition between food vendors!

The Competition
The event is called Food Truck Wars because it's a competition between the different food vendors to see which is the public's favourite.

Competition categories include Best Fusion, Best International, Best Plant-Based, Best Meat Sweats and Best Sweet Treat. There is also Best Between The Buns (which includes hot dogs, hamburgers and related bunwiches). New for 2023 there is also Best In Show (which factors in best taste, customer service, presentation and design) and Best Bang For your Buck.

If you like beer, artisan vendors and food, especially food truck food, you won't want to miss this event!

Come out to the Manitoba Royal Winter Fair in Brandon, Manitoba for 6 exciting days, March 27th to April 1st, 2023.
One of Western Canada's largest AG events, the RMWF is one of only two fairs in Canada to receive Royal designation from Queen Elizabeth II.
This 115-year-old event in Manitoba has become a March Break family tradition and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Events in North America.
Bring the whole family and enjoy world-class show jumping, heavy horse competitions, livestock sales, and exceptional live entertainers.
See over 300 commercial and agricultural exhibits, and much more!
Just some of the entertainment includes WoofJocks Canine All Stars, Doodles the Clown, Birds of Prey – Helping Agriculture, Al Simmons, and more.
See live animal shows on the TD AG Action Stage, cattle shows, and visit the petting zoo and meet the farmers.
Not to be missed is Manitoba’s #1 indoor equestrian show with top-level show jumping, hackney, and heavy horse events.

See the website for ticket pricing & information
5 and under — Free!

The 32nd Annual Brant Wildlife Festival will take place from March 31 through to April 9th, 2023.

This free event celebrates the chatty Brant Goose who flies from Mexico to its breeding grounds in Alaska every year. The Brants stop along the way to fuel up for their long journey and the shores of Parksville and Qualicum Beach comprise the Brant Capital of Canada as the Brant's favorite foods are found in abundance here.

The Brant geese arrive in late March tired and hungry spending their nights out on the Strait of Georgia. With the falling tide, they fly in-shore to land on the first exposed sandbars. Like clamdiggers, they then follow the tide out, feeding as they go on their primary foods - eelgrass, sea lettuce and rich herring roe. Once they have rested and refueled, they are ready to start heading north again by the end of April.

The festival connects local businesses, stewardship groups, and community groups who work together to create and promote educational and entertaining events highlighting the biodiversity of this stunning part of Vancouver Island. There are ample opportunities to explore this beautiful area, including estuary and wetland tours, bird identification classes, an eagle release and more! It is a fantastic event for bird watchers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, tourists and families!

The Brant Wildlife Festival Resource Center is located at 186 Shelly Rd, Parksville BC.
The Brants will be found on the shores of the nearby Parksville and Qualicum Beaches, you will hear them before you see them.

Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival in Oshawa, Ontario invites you to come experience Maple Syrup making in the sugarbush.
Watch as sap gathered from hundreds of sugar maples is boiled on-site to make your favorite sweet treat, Maple Syrup.
Enjoy pancakes with real Maple Syrup, games, and lots of activities.
Be sure to check out the cool Heritage Store where you can get lots of sweet Maple Syrup treats to take home.
Admission is $8.00 and available on-line
Children 2 & under are free

March 10 to 12 | 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m

March 15-17 | 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m

March 18-19 | 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m

March 25-26 | 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m

April 1-2 | 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m

The 2023 Sugar Bush Maple Syrup Festival will take place in two beautiful locations, Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area in Stouffville and the Kortright Centre for Conservation in Woodbridge, Ontario.
Tickets are available online only
The whole family will enjoy demonstrations and fun activities as well as real maple syrup!

Bruce's Mill Festival dates & hours
Weekends (March 12 – April 10)
March Break (March 14-18)
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Kortright Festival dates & hours
Open every day (March 12 – April 10)
Weekends & March Break 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Weekdays 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Special family-fun activities on weekends and March Break!
See you in the Sugar Bush!