Brant Wildlife Festival
Thousands of Black Brant — compact dark sea geese bound for the Arctic — refuel on the eelgrass flats of eastern Vancouver Island each spring.
About the festival
Now in its 35th year, the Brant Wildlife Festival (2026) celebrates the annual spring migration of Black Brant through the Strait of Georgia. Thousands of the compact black-and-white geese stop to feed on eelgrass, green algae, and herring roe in the shallows off Parksville and Qualicum Beach before continuing to Alaska and their Arctic nesting grounds.
The festival pairs wildlife viewing with conservation programming: guided nature walks, a bird identification workshop, a wildlife carving and art competition, a BioBlitz, and family events. The 2026 theme is “Beaches, Marshes and Estuaries.”
2026 main festival weekend: April 10–13, with pre-festival events from April 2.
What to expect
This is a relaxed, conservation-minded festival for nature enthusiasts of all ages. The core activity is watching hundreds of compact black-and-white geese feeding in the shallows from designated viewpoints — a distinctly Vancouver Island experience.
Expert-led walks, carving demonstrations, and interpretive talks give the weekend an educational backbone. The Family Festival on Saturday is free, lively, and includes face painting, live music, and kids' activities. Dogs are not permitted on the geese beaches during the migration period.
Key events (2026)
- LIFT OFF Gala — Opening reception, April 10. $50/person. Tickets via zeffy.com.
- Pacific Brant Carving & Art Show — Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, April 11–12. Free admission. Artwork for sale.
- Brant Family Festival — April 12. Face painting, live music, kids' activities. Free.
- Guided field walks — Expert-led walks to prime viewing areas. Free; running throughout the festival weekend.
- Bird ID Workshop — Identification of brant and other shorebirds. Free.
- BioBlitz — Community species survey across the estuary habitat. Free.
Beach closure notice
Dogs are prohibited on Rathtrevor Beach (Feb 15–Apr 30) and Parksville Bay and Qualicum Beach beaches (Mar 1–Apr 30) to protect the migrating brant. Observe only from designated viewpoints. These restrictions are strictly enforced.