Ladysmith may be a small town but its festivals and other events are plenty big. Summer and winter celebrations like the Festival of Lights, Ladysmith Days and the Heritage Boat Festival offer family-oriented fun.
Ladysmith’s most popular event, the Festival of Lights is also Vancouver Island’s largest winter family celebration. From the last Thursday in November until the second Sunday in January, thousands of twinkling Christmas lights illuminate our town. And hundreds of thousands of visitors share the Christmas spirit.
Ladysmith’s main downtown street become a giant outdoor art gallery for a weekend every August. Light Up the Night kicks it off on First Avenue, with an evening market featuring fine crafts among music, kids’ activities, lights and street food. The next day, Arts on the Avenue showcases 50+ artists and their paintings, jewellery, carvings, fabrics, First Nations traditional works and more. The festival is an art collectors dream. It’s also an outdoor studio for young artists, who can create their own one-of-a-kind work to take home.
This annual summer affair has celebrated the abundant talent from Ladysmith for more than 40 years. Ladysmith Days features live music, pancake breakfast, a parade and many more fun family activities. Plus fireworks and more food. It all takes place on the August long weekend.
Ahoy, matey! Ladysmith Maritime Society’s annual spring festival at the community marina features heritage vessels from all over the West Coast. You can also enjoy harbour tours on the Maritimer and exhibits of maritime art.
Why wait until Halloween to dress like a swashbuckler? Pirate Day at the Ladysmith Community Marina encourages kids of all ages to do their best Blackbeard imitation. For the kids, there’s a bullhead derby, petting zoo, bouncy castle and other attractions. An evening Feast of the Pirates will fuel up your family for the fun.
If you love cars, you’ll love us. Take in our annual Ladysmith Show and Shine, where classic, vintage and collector vehicles take over our historic downtown. If your tastes are more international, Brits on the Beach on our waterfront may be your thing. But why choose when you can bring your family to both for a stroll among rare and valuable vehicles you don’t often get to see?
Is there anything more West Coast than watching loggers show off their skills? Ladysmith Logger Sports brings you up close to springboard chopping, cross-cut sawing, log burling, speed tree climbing and more.
