Salt Spring Island may be known for its natural beauty, but it’s the community that makes it unforgettable. Throughout the year, the island comes alive with events that celebrate food, farming, art, music, and local traditions. These gatherings offer more than entertainment—they’re opportunities to connect, share, and experience the warmth of island life.
Whether you’re visiting or thinking of making Salt Spring home, here are a few of the annual events that shape the rhythm of the island.
Salt Spring Island Fall Fair (September)
A true community favourite, the Fall Fair is a lively celebration of Salt Spring’s agricultural roots. From giant pumpkins and prizewinning pies to sheep shearing, crafts, live music, and zucchini races—it’s the kind of small-town event that brings everyone out. Held at the Salt Spring Farmers’ Institute, this fair has been running since 1896.
Apple Festival (Early October)
Salt Spring is home to more than 450 varieties of apples, many of them heritage and rare. The Apple Festival is a self-guided tour through orchards, farms, and cideries. You’ll find tastings, apple ID stations, and farm stands brimming with fresh produce—plus plenty of stories from passionate growers.
Saturday Market in Ganges (April to October)
More than just a market, this weekly gathering feels like a festival all its own. You’ll find local produce, handmade goods, gourmet foods, and live music, all along the waterfront in Centennial Park. The rule is: everything must be made, baked, or grown on Salt Spring.
Lavender Festival at Sacred Mountain Lavender (July)
This peaceful festival celebrates the lavender harvest with open fields, essential oil distillation demos, handmade lavender products, and even lavender ice cream. It’s a calming, fragrant event with beautiful photo opportunities.
Salt Spring Island Film Festival (March)
This volunteer-run event focuses on social justice, environmental, and human-interest documentaries. It draws a thoughtful, engaged crowd and sparks conversation across the island. Films are screened in Ganges over several days.
Studio Tour Season (Spring–Fall)
While the Salt Spring Studio Tour runs independently throughout the warmer months, the launch of the season often feels like a festival itself. Artists open their doors, new work is unveiled, and driving the island becomes an artful adventure.
Music, Arts & Literary Events
Salt Spring is home to numerous cultural happenings throughout the year:
- Salt Spring Island Jazz & Blues Festival
- ArtSpring events including concerts, dance, and exhibitions
- Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), a biennial visual art competition
- Salt Spring Writers Festival for lovers of books and storytelling
A Community That Celebrates Together
These events aren’t tourist shows—they’re woven into everyday island life. Locals volunteer, host, perform, and attend with pride. It’s one of the reasons so many visitors feel at home here. The rhythm of the year is marked not by shopping seasons, but by harvests, exhibitions, and community milestones.
Thinking About Calling Salt Spring Home?
If you’re exploring the idea of moving to Salt Spring, these events offer a window into the kind of connected, creative, and grounded life people come here to build. I’d be happy to share more about the communities, neighbourhoods, and homes that keep you close to the things you love.