Wildlife & nature

Pacific Rim Whale Festival

A March celebration of the grey whale migration past the west coast, with guided shore watches, talks, art and community events across Tofino, Ucluelet and the national park. The society publishes each year's programme and dates on its own site.

Annual, dates set by the organiser

When: Dates not yet published
Recurrence: March each year; dates published by the society
Where: Tofino, Ucluelet and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve; Tofino & Ucluelet (Pacific Rim)
Tickets: Ticketing not confirmed
Organiser: Pacific Rim Whale Festival Society
Last verified: 6 Sept 2026

Official source

Grey whales pass the coast in their thousands on the way north from Mexico to Alaska, and March is when the first of them arrive off Long Beach. The festival is the community's way of marking it; the whale-watching operators in Ucluelet start their season around the same time.

March on the Pacific coast is still wet and often windy. Bring proper rain gear and expect some boat trips to be weather-dependent.

Around the same trip

Tours that pair well with this event

Whales Kayak & paddle

Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

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Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

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Ucluelet Harbour Tour

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More on the calendar

10Oct

Public holidayAnnual, dates set by the organiser

Thanksgiving long weekend

Canada's Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday of October. On the island it coincides with the salmon runs, the last grizzly departures from Campbell River and the first autumn storms on the Pacific coast; ferries and accommodation fill for the three days.

Sat 10 – Mon 12 Oct 2026

Island-wide

Free to attend

Checked 6 Sept 2026

15Oct

Wildlife & natureAnnual, dates set by the organiser

Salmon run at Goldstream Provincial Park

Every autumn tens of thousands of chum salmon return to the Goldstream River, twenty minutes from downtown Victoria, to spawn and die in the shallows beside the trail. Bald eagles follow. It is one of the most accessible salmon runs on the coast and free to watch.

Thu 15 Oct – Thu 10 Dec 2026

Victoria

Free to attend

Checked 6 Sept 2026

Full calendar