With incredible snow conditions on Mount Washington, and an equally impressive line-up of après ski events in the Comox Valley, February won’t disappoint visitors and locals alike, featuring the continuation of the Awesome All Winter campaign and event series.
Although the highly anticipated 6th Street Rail Jam and WinterFest Block Party events have been cancelled (due to sanctioning not being secured from national sports associations for skiing and snowboarding), there is still a plethora of activities to keep folks entertained.
This weekend alone, the array of culinary celebrations will provide an instant warm-up to the winter. Notably, the 40 Knots & Friends Winery Takeover is being held Saturday and should not be missed. Guests will enjoy a variety of cocktails, wines and spiked coffee tasting stations, complemented by local bites, located throughout the 40 Knots tasting areas and private wine cellar. Guests will have the unique opportunity to speak with owners of Wayward Distillation House, Milano’s Coffee, 40 Knots Vineyard & Estate Winery, and Heavenly Libations, and learn and taste how they produce their award-winning products. The Rachel Fuller Trio and jazz pianist Michael Eddy will provide musical entertainment.
If country music is more your style, the Almost Alan Barn Dance kicks the snow off the ski boots Friday, Feb. 2 at the Filberg Centre, featuring Aaron Halliday and his legendary Alan Jackson Tribute band. Doors open at 7 p.m., with music and dancing starting at 8; a fundraiser for the Comox Valley Exhibition.
Live music gigs and events continue throughout many downtown Courtenay area businesses including Cornerstones, Gladstones, High Tide Pub, the Canoe West Coast Pub at the Westerly, and Forbidden Brewing. From open mic to vinyl club, from Anela Kahiamoe to Reggae Night, from the Jilli Martini Trio to Sienna Dahlen, and much more.
For those who love disco, funk, rock, rhythm & blues, the Canoe West Coast Pub at the Westerly welcomes Time Well Wasted, Saturday, Feb. 10, with its full-bore, 12 piece horn-driven dance band fever.
The Downtown Courtenay BIA and several of its member businesses are hosting the Passport to Poutine Contest until Feb. 12. Atlas Café, Carderos Café, Cornerstone Café & Taphouse, High Tide Public House and Mudsharks Coffee have all created mouth-watering poutine dishes that will forever change your outlook on poutine. Passports are available at these participating restaurants and those who try a poutine at three of the five locations, will be entered to win two lift tickets for a day of skiing at Mount Washington Alpine Resort.
Tickets and more information can be found at AwesomeAllWinter.com or by calling the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre, 250-400-2882.
– Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism