Publication Date: May 19, 2021
Whistler’s Great Outdoors Festival (GO Fest) goes virtual to support wellbeing and connectedness during May long weekend
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is asking residents to stay local and potential visitors to postpone day trips and overnight stays in Whistler until after the May long weekend or whenever the provincial non-essential travel restrictions have been lifted. Restrictions on non-essential travel in B.C. are currently in place until Tuesday, May 25, 2021 to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and variants of concern. In addition to enforceable travel restrictions, provincial authorities have asked all British Columbians to stay close to their home community and not travel to resort communities such as Whistler. RCMP will be engaged with Whistler Bylaw officers for enforcement and monitoring of Whistler Village, Whistler Parks, and traffic enforcement on the backroads, community, and Highway 99.
Limited services in Whistler during May long weekend
To support the provincial health orders and to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19, many Whistler accommodations are working with guests who reside outside of the Sea to Sky communities of Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton to reschedule their non-essential travel bookings to when the current travel restrictions are lifted. Short term vacation rental owners and property managers are strongly encouraged to do the same. The public should be aware that many businesses, restaurants and attractions in Whistler have temporarily closed until after May 25 and Whistler’s parks are currently undergoing preparations in order to welcome visitors during the summer months and not all park services are yet available.
Sea to Sky residents are being asked to stay local, avoid non-essential travel to other communities and continue to follow COVID-19 health protocols, including only connecting with friends and loved ones in groups under 10 people in the outdoors and refrain from indoor gatherings, where COVID-19 is most likely to spread.
To learn more about the current travel advisory in British Columbia visit: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/travel/current
Bring Whistler’s GO Fest to your backyard with an online showcase of arts, sports, education and music
The 2021 edition of Whistler’s Great Outdoors Festival (GO Fest), is going online this year to bring Whistler’s outdoors and the popular activities of the annual festival to everyone.
To support the health and wellbeing of our community, the annual festival will deliver a variety of online workshops, tutorials and wellness classes, all filmed in Whistler with local creatives, wellness teachers and community groups. The entire GO Fest line-up is designed to inspire friends and families of all ages, in any location, to get outside, play, learn and grow, from the comfort of your own backyard or home.
Many of the activities and workshops will be free and accessible anytime throughout the weekend, making it easy to incorporate into your long weekend.
“We are grateful to our resort guests for their continued support by choosing to postpone travel to Whistler for now. The resort and our businesses look forward to welcoming our visitors back when it’s safe to do so,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “In the interim, I encourage everyone to bring Whistler’s Go Fest home. Partake in GO Fest’s signature workshops, classes and events online to hold that connection to Whistler over the May long weekend”.
To view the GO Fest schedule, visit greatoutdoorsfest.com or follow facebook.com/greatoutdoorsfest, @GOFestWhistler on Instagram and @GOFestWhistler on Twitter. Share your backyard or home experience with us and hashtag #gofestwhistler on Instagram.
About GO Fest, Whistler’s Great Outdoors Festival
Produced by the RMOW’s Festivals, Events and Animation program and funded through the Province of British Columbia’s Municipal and Regional District Tax (hotel tax) revenues, GO Fest, Whistler’s Great Outdoors Festival, traditionally takes place over May long weekend and celebrates the convergence of winter and summer in North America’s premier four-season mountain resort..
