WHISTLER LIFE

Your Unofficial Guide to GO Fest

Are you ready for the second annual Great Outdoors Festival?

GO Fest kicks off this Friday, May 15, and continues through the long weekend until May 18. There is plenty to do over the four days of the festival, and we certainly don’t blame you if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Whistler Reservations is here to help you navigate GO Fest like a pro. Here’s what you need to know about the main events taking place this weekend.

Sports

An important element of GO Fest is the celebration of the wide variety of sports you can do in Whistler this time of year.

The Great Snow Earth Water Race on Sunday is perhaps the biggest event of the festival. This relay race combines ski touring, skiing, downhill biking, running, canoeing, and XC biking in one wild race.

Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler | Mike Crane
Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler | Mike Crane

GO Enduro is a new, can’t miss mountain biking event, while the GO Fest Jump Jam is the place to go to check out sweet tricks on dirt jumps.

There are disc golf tournaments, tennis championships, sailing regattas, a volleyball tournament, and an extreme kayak race. Pick your favourite sport, and check out the events as a participant or spectator.

Movies

The Whistler Film Festival Adventure Film Series is a must for the film buff, adventurer, outdoor lover, or any combination thereof. Independent outdoor adventure films will be screening at Millennium Place throughout the weekend. Stopping by to check out the flick is the perfect way to wind down after a day packed with activities.

The GoPro GOShow is another film-centric event: teams will use GoPros to film short movies that represent all things awesome about May in Whistler. This is a great chance to check out the local talent.

Music

Free live music – is there any better combination? There are free concerts every night of the festival. The line up represents a wide variety of music styles, so you’re bound to find something you like, and who knows – you just might discover a new favourite!

Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler | Mike Crane
Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler | Mike Crane

Art

Stop by Millennium Place to check out the feature exhibit, Sacred Headwaters, bridging visual arts with the environment. You can also seek some artistic inspiration at Painting the Peaks. Head to one of three scenic venues – Nita Lake Lodge, Riverside Resort, or the Scandinave Spa – and watch some mighty talented local artists be inspired by nature. Both of these events are free to attend.

Demos

It’s not GO Fest if you don’t leave with a new skill. Training and demo sessions take place throughout the festival, so you can try your hand at fishing, golfing, tennis, and stand up paddle boarding. You can also check out the Whistler Long Course Triathlon Training Camp – fitting, given that we host IronMan!

Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler | Mike Crane
Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler | Mike Crane

Green

If GO Fest had an unofficial colour, it would definitely be green. Environmental awareness is the common theme that weaves through all of GO Fest’s events – after all, if it wasn’t for the environment, Whistler just wouldn’t be what it is. Take part in GO Fest’s outdoor adventures, centered around the three elements: snow combines global warming discussions with mountaintops; earth involves zip lining through the coastal rainforest; water features an educational paddle along the River of Golden Dreams.

There’s also a Keynote Speaker event featuring Tamo Campos, the young environmental activist behind Beyond Boarding.

 

Head to the GO Fest website for details about locations, times, and tickets. We’ll see you outside!

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