Marking the official opening of the area’s prime whale watching season, The Pacific Rim Whale Festival includes a variety of cultural, culinary, musical, family-friendly and educational events including:

13th Annual Gala Dinner & Silent Auction Fundraiser, March 5, 6:00 PM
Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino.  Tickets $105.
An evening of epicurean delights, wine pairings and auction.

Traditional Cedar Weaving: Workshops with First Nations Artists & Weavers - FREE
March 19, 2:00 PM, UAC Hall, Ucluelet.
March 21, 2:00 PM Weigh West Marine Resort – Coho Room, Tofino.
Participants learn traditional weaving techniques and history from First Nations weavers and take home their own creation.

Martini Migration, March 18, 7-11 PM
Community Hall, Tofino.  Advance Tickets Only: $40.
Acclaimed cocktail competition in cooperation with Skyy Vodka & Hendrick’s Gin.

Storytelling with Roy Henry Vickers, March 17-20, 11:00 AM - FREE
Eagle Aerie Gallery, Tofino. 
In his longhouse-design gallery, renownedFirst Nations artist shares coastal life stories and releases two limited edition prints: ‘Humpback’ & ‘Sleighride.’

Barnacle Blues: Jim Byrnes Live in Concert,  March 19, 6:30 PM
Black Rock Oceanfront Resort - Ballroom, Ucluelet.  Advance tickets: $40.
A fundraising evening of fine food, drink, auctioned prizes and music with 2-time Maple Blues Award Winner

Find all the 2009 Pacific Rim Whale Festival Events here.

Supported by volunteers, business sponsorships, an array of local education and research organizations and in it’s 23rd successful year, the Pacific Rim Whale Festival’s fundraising efforts benefit local marine field-based research initiatives, which in turn support the whales.  2009 Whale Festival Corporate Sponsors include A Channel, Best Western Tin Wis Resort, Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, Canadian Princess Resort, CHMZfm 90.1 Tofino Radio, CIMMfm 99.5 Ucluelet Radio, District of Tofino, District of Ucluelet, Immediate Images, Jamie’s Whaling Station, Long Beach Lodge Resort, Pacific Sands Beach Resort, Parks Canada, Tourism Tofino, Westcoast Aquatic Safaris, Westcoaster.ca, Westerly News, The Wickaninnish Inn and Wickaninnish Restaurant. Sponsor or volunteer at this year's festival.