If you need an excuse to head west, here it is: over the Victoria Day long weekend from May 16–19, Whistler, British Columbia hosts its Great Outdoors Festival (GO Fest). The weekend features live music — including The Sheepdogs from Saskatoon and local act She Stole My Beer — plus a lineup of outdoor events such as the Great Snow‑Earth‑Water Race. Returning after a 20‑year hiatus, this multisport team relay combines ski and snowboard touring, downhill skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking from the snowline into the valley, canoeing along the River of Golden Dreams, running, and cross‑country biking.
Whistler is about a two‑hour drive from Vancouver International Airport via the scenic Sea to Sky Highway. If you prefer not to drive, the Rocky Mountaineer offers the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb departing from Vancouver, following a route beside the ocean through spectacular canyons and British Columbia’s Coast Mountains.
Whether you go for the music, the adrenaline‑packed races, or simply the mountain scenery, Whistler’s GO Fest provides a memorable long‑weekend escape full of outdoor adventure and festival atmosphere.
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