Cultural and active options for a fantastic 5-day music-themed extravaganza, August 8-14, 2018.

Central to this weekend of good times, Wapiti Music Festival will celebrate 8 years of the best Canadian Indie in 2018 on August 10 - 11th in Annex Park. 

Wapiti is known for great music, good times, and a friendly sunny atmosphere, but that's not all! To help you make the most of your stay, we've put together this itinerary packed with other events, activities, and dining suggestions. 

Make sure you book your accommodation in advance, camping spots (off-site only) and rooms will fill up fast! Limited spaces may be available at some of the activities mentioned below; be sure to call or book ahead!

First, the lowdown on WAPITI MUSIC FESTIVAL, FRI 11TH & SAT 12TH AUGUST:

• WHO: Wapiti is family friendly! There's no charge for Kids 12+U and big kids 65+, but everyone must have an advance reservation to ensure admittance! Save time at the gate and purchase/book your free tickets in advance online.
• WHEN: Gates open 6:00pm Friday, 12pm Saturday. Music until 11pm each evening. 
• WHAT: Bring your best listening ears! The theme is 'Fresh Canadian Indie' and this can mean anything from soulful songstresses, rockin' Prarie dogs and down-home bluegrass banjo tunes to 10-piece funk orchestras with beats to blow your mind. Wintersleep headline this year's event, with Elliott Brood and Shred Kelly and more joining the lineup. Plus:
  • Vendor Market
  • Kids crafts, Activities, Hoola hoops and Sprinklers 
  • Awesome Food Trucks 
  • Art Installations
  • Beverage Gardens featuring Fernie Brewing Company brews and other BC beverages.
• WHERE: Annex Park on the North side of town, 6 blocks from the highway.
  • Turn off highway #3 onto 11th St between Snow Valley Motel & Red Tree Lodge and follow this right into the park.
• WHOW!
  • Stay hydrated! Factory sealed non-glass containers of non-alcoholic beverages are allowed. Free city water on site, bring an empty reusable bottle or cup.
  • Bring something to sit in/on/under. Blankets go at the front of the lawn behind the dancin' area, then low chairs, followed by high back chairs, and shade tents at the back and along the side.
  • Limited parking, including designated handicapped access. Free, secure bike check with room for everyone—all the accommodations in town are within biking/walking distance.
  • Don't forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and something warm for after the sun goes down.
  • Bugs are not usually a problem but bring some spray if you're super-sensitive.
• WHY? Because it's all about the dancin' shoes and big happy summer smiles! Check out the FAQ page on the event website for more great intel!                         

So that's Wapiti, but what else should you do? First, decide whether you want a cultural day or an active day, and then select as much as you can handle!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8TH

• CULTURAL:
  • 5:30PM: Roll into town in time to catch the first live outdoor show of the week: The Outdoor Concert Series goes live on the steps of the Arts Station in Station Square every Wednesday in July and August. On August 8th, The Northern Beauties will bring their Western Canadian Folk sound to Fernie. 
• ACTIVE:
  • 3-6:00PM: Bring your clubs for Men's League afternoon at the Fernie Golf Club.
  • 6:00PM: Ladies can join the FWOW ride - Fernie Women on Wheels hit the great mountain bike trails around town for an evening ride, or join them on Friday mornings.
  • For kids, there's a 3-day Mountain Bike Camp offered by the College of the Rockies on August 7-9th. 
• GOOD EATS: Check out the food truck options at the Outdoor Concert, or drop into The Loaf (within earshot) for fresh hand-tossed pizza and FBC beer on the patio.  
                          

THURSDAY AUGUST 9TH

• CULTURAL:
  • Start your day in Historic Downtown Fernie with coffee and breakfast on a downtown patio, attractions to discover and unique boutique shopping to keep you busy all day.
  • 8:00PM: Try brain-bending Trivia at The Fernie Hotel & Pub
  • 9:00PM: The Brickhouse rounds out the evening with more great tunes at the ever-popular Jam Night.
    
• ACTIVE:
  • Plan an adventure day! Take to the trees at the Fernie Alpine Resort Aerial Park, book a spectacular Guided Fly Fishing Trip or take the family Whitewater Rafting on the lower Elk River.
  • 6:30PM: the Thursday Night MTB Race and North Face Trail Run, both at Fernie Alpine Resort, are a great way to burn off some steam as the sun goes down.
• GOOD EATS: There's lots of great options downtown! Go with the musical theme and try the famous blues burger at The Brickhouse for dinner.    
      

FRIDAY AUGUST 10TH

• CULTURAL:
  • WAPITI is here! Gates open at 6pm, performances from 7-11pm. 
  • 11:00PM: After the festival gates close, hit the highway and check out the bar scene at Kodiak Lounge or the Pub Bar & Grill or head downtown for more live acts and DJs at all good venues! Check the Events Calendar to see who's playing. 
• ACTIVE: Save your energy for dancing at Wapiti and ease into the weekend with gentle, restorative activities:
  
  • Rent a townie bike and discover the leafy Dyke trails along the banks of the Elk River.
  • Take a hike to Fairy Creek Falls, The Ancient Cottonwoods or Coal Creek Heritage Trail.
  • Cool off on a guided Supsquatch, paddleboard tour or Float Trip on the Elk River.
• GOOD EATS: Food truck nirvana at Wapiti!  
                      

SATURDAY AUGUST 11TH

• CULTURAL:
  •  Pre-register for a plein-air painting workshop with Michael Hepher, and beat the heat when you visit his art exhibition on display at the Fernie Museum. 
  • 11AM, 1PM & 3PM: Join a Heritage Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Fernie. Learn about our legends and beautiful architecture on a gentle 90-minute tour starting from the Fernie Museum.
  • The first tour finishes just in time to grab your bike and head on over to Wapiti to catch the first act at 12.30pm. Stay for the day and enjoy amazing music right through to 11pm. After the festival winds up, it's back downtown for even more live music. 
• ACTIVE: 
  • 8:00AM: Say good morning to the mountains at Morning Yoga at Lizard Creek Lodge.
  • 1:00PM: More fun on the links at the Fernie Doubles Tournament at Fernie Golf & Country Club.
• GOOD EATS: Sample more food truck treats at Wapiti. 
       

SUNDAY AUGUST 12TH

• CULTURAL:
  • 10:00AM: Start your day at the weekly Mountain Market from 10am-2pm in Rotary Park. Explore the many booths and pick up local crafts and produce. The Bibbity Bobbity Boo, Fernie's annual children's festival, will also be held in Rotary Park from 10am-2pm. It's free and aimed at under 10's, but everyone is welcome! 
  • 11:00AM: In downtown Fernie, take in the Show n' Shine Classic Car Show on 2nd Ave from 11am-4pm, and live art demos at The Arts Co-op and Eye of the Needle Studio on the Columbia Basin Trust Culture Tour.
• ACTIVE:
  • Discover spectacular Island Lake Lodge in the Old Growth Cedar Valley. 
    • Trails begin with a gentle stroll around the lake or bag a peak on one of the more challenging hikes. Guides are available if you prefer a more interpretive hike.
    • Island Lake is also the terminus for iconic Heiko's Trail, a strenuous full-day hike featuring waterfalls, caves, mountain passes, and unique subalpine flora & fauna. 
    • The Spa at Island Lake will be a welcome retreat at the end of a good day's hiking.
• GOOD EATS: Island Lake Lodge offers laid back patio dining for lunch and refined fine dining for dinner. Savour the spectacular views and understated farm-to-fork cuisine at this foodie paradise.