Squamish Wind Festival

The Squamish Wind Festival is a community event in July. It features concerts, art displays, the performing arts, an outdoor movie and other activities.

The Squamish Wind Festival is now called the Squamish Arts Festival. It runs from August 8th to 20th in 2022.

Arts Festival in Squamish

The Squamish Arts Festival (formerly known as the Squamish Wind Festival for the Arts) is an annual event with a focus on both visual and performing arts. In years prior to COVID-19, the festival used to take place in July. In 2020 the event was postponed until August 7th to 21st, and in 2021 it took place from August 9th until the 15th.

The festival returns in 2022 from August 8th until the 20th.

Where and When

The three-day festival usually takes place on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday in mid-July in the town of Squamish which is located 45 minutes from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway.

In 2020 the festival ran from August 1st until the 28th, after it was postponed due to COVID-19. The 2021 event was much shorter, but it was in-person rather than online. The 2021 dates were August 9th to 15th.

In 2022 the Squamish Arts Festival runs from Monday, August 8th, until Saturday, August 20th. Additional details are to be confirmed.

In normal years, the festival venue is primarily around Cleveland Avenue in downtown Squamish between Victoria Street, Main Street and Junction Park.

Known as the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of the World,” Squamish is home to some of the region’s premier outdoor recreation venues, including Stawamus Chief Mountain (for hiking), the Sea to Sky Gondola, and Squamish Spit (for kite boarding).

For more information on the area, click Squamish or the Sea to Sky region.

Squamish Wind Festival at Junction Park — Festival activities at Junction Park

Wind Festival All-Day Events

At the festival there is usually a free outdoor movie on the Friday, a farmers market on the Saturday, and live music, a beer garden and a food truck hub at various times throughout the weekend.

For an idea of what to expect at the Squamish Arts Festival in 2022, events from the Squamish Wind Festival in 2021 are listed below.

Monday, August 9, 2021

12:00 to 2:00 pm – Family & Friends Pottery Workshop: an event suitable for all ages where participants learn how to nicely sculpt figurines of their friends and family. Taking place at the 55 Activity Centre located at 1201 Village Green Way.
2:30 to 5:00 pm – Vase and Planter Workshop: also held at the 55 Activity Centre, this workshop is a little more advanced than the Family & Friends one (although still open to all) and features the firing of various ceramics.
5:30 to 8:00 pm – Vase and Planter Workshop: also held at the 55 Activity Centre, this workshop is a little more advanced than the Family & Friends one (although still open to all) and features the firing of various ceramics.

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

12:00 to 2:00 pm – Wind Festival Flower Crown: making a flower crown is a time-honoured summer tradition, and this workshop takes you through creating one that’s both beautiful and durable. Held at the 55 Activity Centre.
2:30 to 5:00 pm – Eucalyptus & Baby’s Breath Flower Halo: also taking place at the 55 Activity Centre, this demonstration takes the form of a halo rather than a crown.
5:30 to 8:00 pm – Eucalyptus & Baby’s Breath Flower Halo: wreaths are a fairly common decoration, but often store-bought. This workshop gives you the chance to make a 20 inch wreath of your own out of different kinds of eucalyptus.

Thursday, August 12, 2021

The following activities are all hosted by Squamish Nation artist Tsawaysia Spukwus.

12:30 to 2:30 pm – Wool-Weave Bookmarkers and Wristbands: learn the history of Coast Salish weaving techniques, and create some designs of your own. Held at the 55 Activity Centre.
3:00 to 5:00 pm – Cedar Rope Weaving Workshop: another chance to get an interactive look at the culture of local indigenous groups, this workshop teaches how cedar is used in various ways. Also taking place at the 55 Activity Centre.
5:30 to 7:30 pm – Drum-Making Workshop: a personal three-inch drum is the end product of this workshop, put together using techniques from the Coast Salish peoples. Like the above events this takes place at the 55 Activity Centre.

Sunday, August 15, 2021

7:00 to 9:30 pm – Wind at the BAG: a concert at the Brackendale Art Gallery (located at 41950 Government Road) to cap off the festival. With around half a dozen artists scheduled, you can watch either in person or online.

Vendors

Vendors and food trucks were likely not at the 2020 festival. However, to give an idea of what to expect in future years, below are some of the vendors and food trucks that attended the 2019 Wind Festival.

Vendors

Charcoal & Grain – selling handmade gifts made from reclaimed wood.
Dogwood Letterpress – specializing in handmade vintage stationary.
Fox Fibers – featuring hand-crafted woven plant and wall hangers.
Geojab Bowls – West Coast Indigenous-designed bowls made from reclaimed wood.
Hollow Tree – hand-crafted candles.
Sons of Vancouver Distillery – a Vancouver-based small batch distillery.

Food Trucks

Alice & Brohm Real Fruit Ice Cream – a New Zealand treat made with real fruit!
Carte Diem – Seize the Souvlaki – a food truck serving traditional Greek cuisine.
Chickpea – a food truck specializing in plant-based food.
Luz Tacos – fun and delicious tacos served out of a converted airstream trailer.
Mr. Bannock – a food truck serving traditional Indigenous foods.

Main Stage Saturday Entertainment

In years when physical distancing isn’t important, great local artists are featured on the Main Stage from 10:00 am until about 3:00 pm on the Saturday. Entertainers in 2019 included the following:

Jon and Roy – a Canadian Roots band that has traveled around the world performing.
Ira Pettle – groovy entertainment for the whole family.
John Welsh & Los Valientes – a World Music Artist of the Year 2018 nominee specializing in Latin, West African and Reggae tunes.
Old Soul Rebel – a powerful female duo.
Norman Foote – a Juno-Award winner with a unique style.