Powell River / qathet has a surprisingly deep annual events calendar. Between classical music, jazz, film, agriculture, community festivals, outdoor recreation, Pride, heritage events, Texada Island gatherings, and long-running summer traditions, there is almost always something happening somewhere in the region.
This guide is not meant to replace live event calendars, because dates, venues, ticket links, and programming can change from year to year. Instead, it is meant to be a practical annual-events overview: the recurring festivals and community gatherings people should know about, roughly when they happen, what they are like, and where to look for current details.
For the most current listings, check out the Powell River / qathet Event Calendars and Local Listings page on this website!
February / March
qathet International Film Festival
The qathet International Film Festival, formerly known as the Powell River Film Festival, is one of the region’s key cultural events. It is hosted at the historic Patricia Theatre and showcases multi-genre films from Canada and around the world. The festival usually takes place in late winter or early spring. This is a good event for people who want something thoughtful, arts-focused, and community-oriented during the quieter part of the year. qathetfilm.ca
Powell River / qathet Festival of the Performing Arts
The Festival of the Performing Arts is an annual showcase for local performers, especially youth, across disciplines such as music, dance, speech arts, and drama. The City describes it as a long-running annual event for amateur performers. This is one of the best annual events for seeing local talent develop in real time. qathetfestivalofperformingarts.com
April
Sunshine Coast Marathon Shuffle
The Marathon Shuffle is a low-key annual spring hike/run along a 29-kilometre section of the Sunshine Coast Trail. It usually takes place on the last Sunday in April and is connected to groups including PAWS, Club Fat Ass, Powell River Hikers, and the BOMB Squad. It is less about racing and more about celebrating the Sunshine Coast Trail, community fitness, and the region’s outdoor culture. sunshinecoasttrail.com
Townsite Jazz Festival
Townsite Jazz Festival is a spring music festival based in Powell River’s historic Townsite. Founded in 2017, it brings Canadian jazz musicians into intimate local venues and also emphasizes music education. It is one of the region’s strongest examples of a small-place, high-quality arts event: professional music, historic venues, and a strong local education component. townsitejazz.com
May
qathet Accordion Fest
qathet Accordion Fest is a newer but distinctive annual music festival built around the accordion as a serious, flexible, and often misunderstood instrument. It includes concerts, workshops, and often outdoor music. This is exactly the kind of event that makes qathet interesting: niche, joyful, musically serious, and very community-driven. AccordionFest.com
Lund Seafood Festival
The Lund Seafood Festival has historically celebrated seafood, local restaurants, artists, music, and the harbour community. Recent local coverage describes the festival returning along the shores of Lund Harbour to celebrate seafood, local businesses, restaurants, arts, and music. Because this event has varied over time, readers should verify current dates before planning around it.
June
PRISMA Festival
The PRISMA Festival is one of the region’s major annual cultural events. PRISMA brings international music students and guest artists to Powell River for orchestral training, concerts, chamber music, and festival programming. It tends to be a major early-summer classical music anchor for the region, combining serious professional mentorship with public concerts and community-facing events. PRISMAFestival.com
National Indigenous Peoples Day
National Indigenous Peoples Day is observed across Canada on June 21, and Sunshine Coast Tourism includes it among the June annual-event considerations for the region. For qathet-specific events, check Tla’amin Nation communications, local community calendars, qathet365, and regional event listings closer to the date. sunshinecoastcanada.com
July
Canada Day at Willingdon Beach
Canada Day events in Powell River have commonly taken place at Willingdon Beach, with recent celebrations including food, beverages, music, children’s activities, and fireworks. This is typically one of the larger general-public summer gatherings in town.
qathet PrideFest and Pride Parade
qathet Pride Society organizes annual Pride celebrations and community events for the qathet Regional District and City of Powell River. Pride programming may include the parade, park events, community swims, meetups, and other social events, so it is worth checking the Pride Society’s current channels each year.
Powell River Logger Sports
Powell River Logger Sports is one of the region’s signature summer events. It showcases logger-sports competitors, forestry heritage, chainsaw carving, and competitions at Willingdon Beach / Loggers Memorial Bowl. This is a major spectator event: part sport, part local history, part summer festival.
International Choral Kathaumixw
International Choral Kathaumixw is a major choral festival associated with Powell River’s deep music culture. It takes place every second summer and welcomes choirs and visitors from around the world. Kathaumixw.org
Lund Daze
Lund Daze is a summer community celebration in Lund, which includes live music, food and art vendors, and activities for children and teens. This is a good example of a smaller community event that matters locally even if it is not as widely promoted as PRISMA, Logger Sports, or Blackberry Festival.
Texada Sandcastle Weekend
Texada Sandcastle Weekend is a long-running family and community event on Texada Island, centred around Gillies Bay. Texada Arts, Culture & Tourism describes it as a weekend of community and family fun. Typical programming has included beach activities, sandcastles, parade-style events, games, and other community activities.
Texada Island Blues & Roots Festival
The Texada Island Blues & Roots Festival is an annual music festival at Gillies Bay, featuring performers from Texada, the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, and nearby communities. It has a small-town feel and a strong local/regional musician focus.
Texada Annual Fly-In and Fling
The Texada Annual Fly-In and Fling is a good one to include for aviation, island, and community-event audiences.
August
Blackberry Festival
The Blackberry Festival is one of Powell River’s most beloved summer traditions. It is usually held on the third Friday in August, centred on Marine Avenue. At its core, this is a community street party: food, vendors, music, local businesses, families, visitors, and every possible interpretation of blackberry-themed treats. BlackberryFestival.ca
September
Sunshine Music Festival
The Sunshine Music Festival is a Labour Day weekend music festival at Palm Beach Regional Park. The 2026 festival is scheduled for September 5 and 6 and describes itself as “world class music, west coast style.” It is a beachside, family-friendly, community-rooted music festival with food vendors, an artisan market, swimming, and a strong volunteer culture. SunshineMusicFest.ca
Powell River Fall Fair
The Powell River Fall Fair is an agricultural and community fair held at Paradise Valley Exhibition Park, and has been part of the community for more than 90 years! This is the region’s harvest-season anchor: local agriculture, food security, vendors, animals, produce, community groups, and rural culture. https://prfarmers.ca/pages/powell-river-fall-fair
Whatever Happened to Sea Fair?
Sea Fair is important to Powell River’s event history, and spanned 52 years, with the most recent Sea Fair taking place in 2015 and an isolated parade in 2016. Unfortunately, it is no longer happening
Staying Up To Date
Powell River / qathet’s annual events calendar is bigger than any one list can fully capture. Some events are major regional draws, while others are small, local, volunteer-run gatherings that change from year to year. Before making plans, always confirm current dates, ferry schedules, ticket requirements, venue details, and weather-related changes through the event organizer or a current local calendar. But as a starting point, this list shows the shape of the year.
Enjoy! 😀