Events Are Back and So Is Fernie’s Vibrancy

Summer has finally arrived y’all! And unlike the past two summers, this year we can dare to look forward to a full-scale return of Fernie’s signature festivals, events, races, and activities. Events are such a key part of what makes our mountain town so vibrant, and it’s been tough to see many of them sidelined or significantly scaled down for years on account of the pandemic. But it seems the light has finally appeared at the end of the tunnel.

Events are a significant part of our economic development as a community. They add to our social and economic fabric by bringing the community together, attracting visitors from outside the region, celebrating local talent, raising money and awareness for local groups/causes, and ideally encouraging spending at local businesses and vendors. They engender a positive community spirit, and most of all – they’re just a lot of fun!

This summer sees the return of the Wednesday Night Socials in Station Square after a bit of a false start last summer. The Wapiti Music Festival returns in 2022 to celebrate its tenth instalment after being cancelled for the past two years. This year Wapiti has a new home in James White Park with a killer line-up and tickets selling super-fast at the time of writing. There is every chance it is sold out by now – demonstrating the pent-up demand for festivals and events. The Elk Valley Pride Festival is back from September 21 through 25, featuring the Spectrum Arts Festival with live music on the lawn of City Hall. The Fernie Chautauqua fall festival is also looking to return properly in September, too. The Shop Local Holiday Kickoff and Light Up the Night will return to kick off the festive season with a bang in late November. Race enthusiasts also have plenty to look forward to. The Fernie Gravel Grind is back this month. The Elk Valley Ultra, Single Track 6, and the Lone Wolf are all slated to go this year as well – among others. 

By no means is this an exhaustive list of events coming up – I don’t have enough ink for them all! Be sure to head to tourismfernie.com/events to see all the amazing events (both old and new) returning to our community. Mark your calendars, spread the word, and I’ll see you out there in the sunshine!