Flavours of Puglia returns to Vancouver on March 31
2023-03-31 19:00 - 2023-04-01 22:00 (America/Vancouver) | Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan St., Vancouver, BC, V5M 3E4, Canada
Flavours of Puglia food fair and wine tasting returns to Vancouver after a three-year pandemic hiatus. Taste the goodness of Italy’s gem.
Puglia’s culinary palatte reflects the region’s diverse landscape, history and culture. Discover Puglia: Where Imaginations Come Alive.
From the hills to the ocean, Puglia’s table is a “true triumph of Mediterranean flavours”.
Enjoy the best of Puglia on March 31 at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Admission is free.
Flavours of Puglia (Sapori Di Puglia 2023)

West Coast Christmas Show and Artisan Marketplace
2023-11-17 13:00 - 2023-11-19 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | TRADEX – Fraser Valley Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6H5, Canada
First Published: Nov. 02, 2016 | Updated: Oct 20, 2023

What’s new and exciting at the West Coast Christmas Show & Artisan Marketplace? Find out what’s happening at this year’s event.
Looking for unique gifts this coming holiday season? Look no further than the popular Annual West Coast Christmas Show & Artisan Marketplace taking place at Tradex in Abbotsford from November 17 – 19, 2023.
Entering its 16th year, Western Canada’s leading holiday season show brings together holiday gifts, fancy foods, personal services, decor ideas, festive life floral and culinary inspirations under one roof.
What to Buy?
The three day consumer event attracts over 19,000 holiday shoppers annually. Visitors can shop from vendors offering one-of-a-kind gift items made by artisans and specialty manufacturers. They range from fashion accessories (scarves, hats) to hand-made toys, ornaments, specialty food and more.
There are plenty of inspirations and ideas for home entertainment, decoration and gift giving. Enjoy family entertainment and get into the holiday spirit with live Christmas renditions provided by local bands, choirs. orchestras, and more.

Shop from over 200 vendors offering unique and hard to find gift items. (Executive Event Production Inc.)

Fun and Entertainment
An exciting schedule of activities awaits visitors to the show. Here is a shortlist:

Community Art Stage: Watch local talents showcase their ballet skills. Participants include the Royal City Youth Ballet and Azesta Ballet.
Sounds of the Holidays: Hear the sounds of the holidays with live performances by local musicians.
Santa’s Workshop and Elf Area: Kids will delight taking home their own free wooden Christmas Tree ornament, write a letter to Santa and more. Of course, no visit to Santa’s workshop is complete without a selfie at the Gingerbread House on Candy Cane Lane or a picture with Santa.
Ugly Sweater Contest: Show off your ugliest Christmas sweater and enter to win prizes while having fun and enjoying a good laugh.
One of the show’s attractions is the Festival of Trees. Visitors can enjoy sparkling Christmas trees and holiday displays decorated by charitable organizations. Pick up your favourite Christmas Garden display at 99 Nurseries.

The West Coast Christmas Show, a merry venue to kick-start your Christmas shopping and get festive with the holiday season.
Ticket Prices (2022)

Ticket price ranges between $11.00 to $13.00 CAD depending on age. Free entry for children 12 and younger. Specials include

Family Pass (2 adults + 2 youth) – $28.00 CAD
Senior 2 for 1 Special – $14.00 CAD

2023 ticket information is available here.

Kona Coffee Cultural Festival: Sip and Savour Hawaii
2024-11-01 09:00 - 2024-11-10 16:00 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Various Venues, Kailua-Kona, HI, United States
What’s brewing at the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival in Hawaii this Nov. 01 – 10? Top 3 Reasons why Kona Coffee is deliciously rich and expensive.
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is celebrating its 53nd anniversary this year. The oldest food festival in Hawaii salutes and promotes the destination’s unique culture, diversity, and coffee heritage.

The festival offer tastings, and hands-on cultural events that tell the story of Kona’s vibrant coffee heritage. (Kona Coffee Cultural Festival)

The 10-day festival includes many events, showcasing the coffee industry and its communities through interpretive stories, food experiences, visual and performing arts. Check the latest schedule of events.
Why Kona Coffee is Rich and Tasty?
Kona’s almost 200-year coffee industry is pioneered by the Japanese and the native Hawaiian community. Coffea arabica (indigenous to the Ethiopian highlands) was first cultivated in Kona in 1828 by Samuel Reverend Ruggles, from Brazilian cuttings.

Kona Coffee – One of the World’s Priciest Coffee

The coffee’s delicious richness, slightly acidic flavour and piquant aroma lies in the terroir, climate, picking and processing methods.

Kona coffee flowers appear in February and March. Beans resembling cherries are ready to pick in late August. (Kona Coffee Cultural Festival)

Kona coffee thrives in the volcanic soil on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Here the micro-climate goes from hot tropical mornings to misty afternoons and cool evenings.
Averaging at USD40 per pound, Kona coffee is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Why is the premium price? High labour cost, excellent quality and limited supply.
The popular coffee festival is the best venue in Hawaii to savour authentic freshly brewed Kona java, meet the producers, and savour a taste of Hawaii.
Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island is one breathtaking place in the world to enjoy a cup of java lava under swaying palm trees, and relax to the tune of crashing waves.
Related: Blues Getaways: Top Favourite Fun Places in the US
So hula your way to Kona this November 01 to 10.
First Published: October 08, 2016 | Updated: October 04, 2024

Asean Tourism Forum 2026 in the Philippines
2025-01-28 08:00 - 2025-01-30 21:00 (Asia/Manila) | Mactan Expo Center, 8248+JQG, The Mactan Newtow, Lapu-Lapu, Philippines
Oslob town on Cebu Island is renowned for its whale shark watching tours and scenic coastal view. (Tirachard Kumtanom/pexels.com).
ASEAN Tourism Forum: Set to Take Place in Cebu Philippines, from January 28 to 30, 2026
The Asean Tourism Forum is one of Asia’s most important annual tourism trade events. It embodies the spirit of unity and collaboration among the 11 ASEAN member nations.
Themed “Navigating Our Tourism Future, Together,” this annual event seeks to transcend geographical boundaries. It aims to celebrate the rich cultural diversity that defines the region.
This prestigious forum will convene ASEAN Tourism Ministers, national tourist organizations, and leading airlines for high-level discussions and strategic planning.
Participants will engage in crucial meetings, insightful media briefings, and a comprehensive tourism conference designed to forge new partnerships and drive the industry forward.
A standout feature will be the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair, where delegates can connect with industry leaders and explore innovative solutions to enhance regional tourism.
Delegates will have the unique opportunity to experience Philippines firsthand through curated pre- and post-tours. These excursions will highlight the country’s breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and captivating attractions, further emphasizing the collaborative spirit of ASEAN tourism.
Related: Savour Borneo’s Last Frontier with Magical Langkawi
As ASEAN unites in this collective journey towards a brighter tourism future, the forum promises to be a landmark event in shaping the region’s travel landscape. It aims to foster deeper connections among member nations and inspire a shared vision for sustainable tourism growth across ASEAN.

Published: September 14, 2018 | Updated: January 15, 2026

Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show Returns March 1st
2025-03-01 10:00 - 2025-03-02 17:00 (America/Vancouver)
The Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre, East Wing this March 1st to 2nd. Get free travel advice from seasoned adventure experts. Find cool outdoor gear to enhance your outdoor lifestyle.
The Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show is back with more fun and excitement. You can discover, learn and play all under one roof.
Vancouver’s largest outdoor adventure and travel event features a variety of exhibitors showcasing the outdoor apparels and the latest gears for biking, camping, paddle sports, and scuba diving.
There’s also an adventure travel section featuring destinations from Alaska, Yukon to India and many exciting countries around the globe.
What’s Complimentary at the Show?

Advice and tips – Discover new destinations and get free advice and tips from travel and adventure experts .
Adventure Presentations – Choose from over 10 complimentary presentations.
Paddlers’ Paradise
Camping Showcase and more…

Gear up your adventurous travel spirit for a fun-filled, inspirational weekend gateway for you and your family.

The Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show takes you on thrilling journeys through wild landscapes, showcasing nature’s beauty and excitement. (GlobalEAT)

Related: Camping: 5 Awesome Sites in BC and Alberta
Admission
Adult: $14 + taxes ($15 at the door)
Weekend Pass: $20 + taxes
Children 11 and under: Free
The consumer event features the BC Bike Show, presentations on Canada’s best adventures, international travel and much more.
BC Bike Show
Discover the latest bikes including electric bikes, and special offers. Explore popular cycling destinations locally and internationally. Details at bcbikeshow.com.
Outdoor adventure means fresh air, exciting exploration, and tackling nature’s challenges. Hike through forests, bike rocky trails, or climb mountains.
Discover the underwater world with scuba diving or snorkeling. Swim with vibrant marine life and explore hidden ocean treasures.
Feel alive in the moment, surrounded by breathtaking views above and below the surface. Push your limits, have fun, and finish with an awesome sense of accomplishment, “I did that!.
Published: January 27, 2018 | Updated: January 31, 2025

The Canadian Tulip Festival: Celebrating 80 Years of Liberation
2025-05-09 09:00 - 2025-05-19 22:30 (America/Vancouver)
The Canadian Tulip Festival transforms Ottawa into one of the most picturesque destinations in Canada.
The Canadian Tulip Festival celebrates 80 Years of Liberation with the Canadian Army at Commissioners Park. You won’t want to miss out on this beautiful event!
From May 9th-19th, 2025, the Canadian Tulip Festival at Dow’s Lake will showcase over 300,000 stunning tulips in every shape and colour.
The 73rd edition will honour Veterans of the Year with a special Central Band Parade and the lighting of the Canadian Remembrance Torch.
Highlights at the Canadian Tulip Festival

Movies in the Park: Enjoy free showings of popular films daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Big Bug Boardwalk: Walk through a thousand tulips displayed under ultraviolet light, and see the World’s only Blacklight Tulip!
Free Self-Guided Walking Tour: Explore different breeds of tulips and discover both the cultural and botanical significance of the festival.
Tulip Market: Shop for tulip bulbs, fresh-cut flowers, and handcrafted merchandise made by local artisans.
Play Zone: A space for kids and adults alike to unleash their creativity and have fun!
Food Trucks: Enjoy delicious food from a variety of food trucks and on-site concessions.

Did you know tulips aren’t originally from the Netherlands? They come from Central Asia and Türkiye and became famous during the Dutch Tulip Mania in the 1600s!
Tulips are flexible. While most bloom in spring, some bloom as early as late winter. When cut, they keep growing in your vase, stretching toward the light and bending for maximum beauty!
Related: Camping: 5 Awesome Sites in BC and Alberta
Think you’ve seen it all? Think again! Some tulips have frilly edges, and others have stunning green streaks—like the viridiflora variety. They’re the rock stars of the flower world!
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the Canadian Tulip Festival this year and enjoy the beauty of these amazing flowers!
For more details and a full list of events, click here.
Published: May 02, 2023 | Updated: January 31, 2025

Spot Prawn Festival Tempts Tastebuds with Fresh Pacific Catch
2025-05-25 11:00 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver) | Granville Island, 1661 Duranleau Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3S3, Canada
Spot Prawn Festival brings the best of BC to your plate with delicious dishes, live music, family fun, and more.
Get ready for a seafood experience like no other at the Spot Prawn Festival! This event promises to serve up the freshest Pacific spot prawns, bringing the ocean’s finest directly to your plate. Whether you’re a prawn enthusiast or a casual seafood lover, you won’t want to miss this flavourful celebration.
The Spot Prawn Festival at the Fisherman’s Wharf by Granville Island lets you enjoy delicious spot prawn dishes. From grilled to fried, sautéed to seasoned, there’s a dish for every taste.
Local chefs showcase their culinary skills, creating mouthwatering recipes that highlight the rich, natural flavours of Pacific spot prawns.

Chefs serving mouthwatering dishes at the Shrimp Festival! (Stephanie Yuen)

Beyond the food, the festival is a lively experience for all ages. Enjoy live music, vibrant stalls, and fun activities for the whole family. It’s not just a feast for your tastebuds, but for all your senses.
What makes the BC spot prawns so special? The Pacific Ocean’s rich marine life produces prawns harvested in BC, renowned for their freshness, sweet flavor, and firm texture.
Related: Tom Yum Goong: Spicy Thai Prawn Soup with Chili
Did you know? These spot prawns “have a 4-year life cycle and start as males then transition to females in their last year.”
Most spot prawns are harvested from the waters between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. The fresh catch is delivered straight from the ocean to local vendors, ensuring each bite is as fresh as it gets.
Don’t forget to pair your spot prawns with a refreshing drink from local breweries or enjoy a tasty seafood cocktail. This festival offers the perfect setting to relax, unwind, and savour the tastes of the Pacific.
The Spot Prawn Festival is the ultimate destination for seafood lovers. So, gather your friends and family, and experience the Pacific’s best prawns.
You’ll be going back for seconds!

Butter Tart Festival - Savour Sweet Fun in Midland
2025-06-14 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Toronto) | Midland Culture Centre, Midland, Ontario, 333 King St., Midland, Ontario, L4R 3M7, Canada
Butter Tart Festival celebrates 11th anniversary this June showcasing the best of Canada’s authentic pastry. Savour the sweetest day of the year in Midland, Ontario.
The annual event is Canada’s original and largest butter tart festival. Butter tarts are a classic Canadian dessert made with delicious flaky pie crust filled with butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, and eggs.
The dessert is a cultural pride of many communities across Ontario, Canadian Central and Maritime provinces.
The all-day event attracts about 60,000 visitors annually. The festival features

Egg Farmers of Ontario Butter Tart Contest. It is opened to both professional and amateur/home bakers in the traditional and wild style categories
Over 200 vendors including food trucks selling everything from butter tarts to unique, hand-made items and more.
Free family-friendly entertainment, a kids zone, free shuttles, a butter tart trot (pre-registration is required) and much more!

Love butter tarts? This is the place to sample butter tarts of all kind, from plain, raisin, pecan, walnut, maple, bacon, coconut, chocolate covered, gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, cheesecake, pumpkin and more.
Related: Capirotada

Experience A Day at the Farm
2025-09-06 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Vancouver) | 4690 Kirkland Rd., Delta, BC V4K 3N2, 4690 Kirkland Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
Experience a Day at the Farm is a fun and family friendly event that provides visitors with a peek into the daily life of a local farmer in B.C.’s Fraser River Delta.
Experience A Day at the Farm at Westham Island Herb Farm nestled on British Columbia’s fertile Fraser River Estuary on September 06, 2025. Learn first-hand the challenges and rewards of growing quality food and how our farmland supports local and global biodiversity.
The Fraser River Estuary is the main artery that feed biodiversity to the province’s coast. The largest estuary along the Pacific Coast of North America is home to over 400 species of vertebrates, thousands of plant species and countless small invertbrates.
In the heart of the estuary is the the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is an important ecological site to millions of birds, fish and other wildlife. It serves as an international crossroad of bird migration routes from 20 countries and three continents.
The Fraser River is the largest salmon producer on the Pacific Coast of North America.
Visitors can learn about soil health, ecosystem services, and the vital role farmers play as stewards of the land at the various interactive workshops and displays. Other activities include:

Live country/folk music performance
Potato dig
Poulty in motion
Hay wagon rides
Draft horse plowing
Cooking demonstration by Chef Trevor Randle
Jam and bread contests and more

Start your fall with a harvest. Pick your own pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

Alba White Truffle Fair Celebrates Its 95th Year
2025-10-11 09:00 - 2025-12-08 20:00 (Europe/Rome) | Cortile della Maddalena, Via Luigi Paruzza, Alba, CN, 12051, Italy
Italian Chef Carlo Zarri discussing with truffle vendor on the truffle quality and price. (Nikao Media)

Alba White Truffle Fair returns to Piedmont, Italy for the 95th Year. Savour exquisite truffles, regional delights, and discover Alba’s millenary culture
Every October, the Alba White Truffle Fair attracts gastronomy professionals and connoisseurs, tycoons, and celebrities from around the world to taste, bid and purchase the world’s best white truffles (tartufo bianco).
Alba White Truffle – Diamond of the Kitchen
Italian truffles like caviar are luxurious and prized gourmet delights. Eighteenth century French gastronome Brillat-Savarin called the truffle “the diamond of the kitchen”.
The best truffles are the wild white Piedmontese type (Tuber Magnatum Pico) from Alba in the Italian province of Cuneo. The flesh (or gleba) varies from white to yellowish-grey, and etched with thin white veins. It releases a pungent and powerful aroma liken to a combination of earthy, woody and aged cheese scent.
Join famed Italian Chef Carlo Zarri as speaks to vendors and attendees at the Alba White Truffle Fair.

Wild truffles thrive symbiotically with roots of leafy trees such as oak, poplar, willows; lime and hazelnut bushes. The hardier the tree wood, the stronger the intensity of the truffle’s scent and flavour.
Northern Italy’s damp Lange forests are the best harvesting ground. Only licenced hunters (trifulaos) can harvest the wild truffles. They are usually accompanied by their dogs rather than pigs as they tend to eat the truffles once unearthed.
Depending on the quality and supply, a kilogram of Italian white truffles can be priced as high as USD5,000 or more. The white truffles are available between September to December.
At the fair, visitors can also savour black truffles, the famous Barolo wines,and regional delights such as, cured meats, and the renowned IGP Piedmont hazelnut (Tonda Gentile della Langa). The rich taste, superb quality and longer shelf life of this sweet round and refined of Langhe is what sets it apart from other hazelnut varieties.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to discover Alba’s millenary culture through folklore events, historical re-enactments and entertainment.
Related: Villa San Carlo Receives Top Accolade
First Published: October 08, 2016 | Updated: September 19, 2025

Vancouver Christmas Market Celebrates its 15th Year
2025-11-13 16:00 - 2025-12-24 18:00 (America/Vancouver) | Jack Poole Plaza (at the Olympic Cauldron), 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3L5, Canada
Vancouver Christmas Market, the city’s cherished yuletide event returns this year with more festive offerings, fun activities and live entertainment.
Vancouver Christmas Market is largest and longest running Christmas Market and only European Christmas Market in Vancouver. The fun event where families and friends can enjoy and experience the beloved holiday tradition, German-style.
Christmas markets originated in Germany. It’s an advent tradition going back to the late Middle Ages in German-speaking Europe and many former Holy Roman Empire territories.
The Vancouver Christmas Market is a wonderful event to enjoy authentic German-inspired sights and sounds. Savour German flavours and shop for unique gifts at over 90 huts at the market and usher in the joyous season with families and friends.
Related: Why the Moravian Star is Brilliant and Nostalgic?
What to Do and See?
Below are some of the market features.

Alpine Haus – relax and savour hot beverages and delicious food in a warm holiday setting.
Lovers’ Lane – an Instagram-worthy 30-foot long tunnel decorated with 20,000 twinkling lights and mistletoe.
Love Lock Installation – an area where lovers can attach a ‘Vancouver Christmas Market Love Lock’, representing their love and partnership over the holiday season..
Winterdeck – an area to soak up the scenic views of the North Shore.
Walk-Through Christmas Tree – experience magical moments under the display of 36,000 twinkling lights.
Live entertainment on the Christmas Pyramid’s ‘Flying Stage’ perched 10ft high above the market.
Scavenger Hunt – a family favourite where you and your kids can go on a merry quest for goodies scattered across the Market and more..

Delectable Food and Beverages
There is nothing more jolly than sampling the array of German delicacies:

Glühwein (a hot-spiced mulled wine), German Bratwurst,
Gulasch, Spätzle, Schnitzel
A selection of German beer, award-winning German style wine, and more

Ticket Information
Ticket Purchase at the Gate and online. Children Age 0-6, FREE.
Discounted pricing available for online purchase. Price varies depending on date of purchase. Season passes are also available at $35.99. Click here for more ticket information.
First Published: November 13, 2018 | Updated: November 30, 2025
