The Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens Artisans Festival (Sept. 2-4), has become one of the Island鈥檚 traditional Labour Day weekend 鈥渕ust see and do鈥� events.
Located just a 15-minute drive north of Courtenay off the Old Island Highway (19a), Woodland Gardens is one of the jewels of Vancouver Island鈥檚 outdoor attractions. Many local residents are familiar with the gardens as they offer a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Taking advantage of these perceptions, Bryan Zimmerman, owner of the gardens, created the event in order to give artisans, artists and craftspeople an opportunity to showcase their creations in a setting that would provide both exhibitors and visitors an experience unlike any other event in the Comox Valley.
All of the artisans and artists participating in this year鈥檚 festival have been selected for the high quality of work that they produce - from wooden bowls turned out of exotic burls, to hand-crafted glass vessels and pottery that are both beautiful and functional. There is also hand-crafted jewelry, clothing, functional furniture, metalwork, photography, unique garden art and fine artists who work in a variety of different styles and mediums.
If you are shopping for interesting and unique objects, a visit to the event can be a great way to spend the day. When you set up exhibitors along woodland paths or in quiet glades, add in the soothing sounds of falling water coupled with the sounds of live music, shopping becomes an outdoor experience par excellence.
In addition to the eclectic mix of booths, entertainment at the Festival has become a tradition and features a variety of musicians who will be performing throughout the weekend. Each of them will be showcasing their own unique style with sounds that seem to blend with the natural surroundings of the gardens. This year鈥檚 lineup includes Anela Kahaimoe, Luke Blue Guthrie, Bruce & Judy Wing, Jana Seale, David Somers and the Canuck Country Band.
Festivals and food always go together. With nearly 25 acres of grounds to cover, visitors can keep up their energy levels with wood-fired pizzas, healthy dragon bowls or good old-fashioned hot dogs and sausages.
Although the festival is the focal point for the weekend, visitors are reminded to take the opportunity to experience what one man, his family and friends have created in what was once a Christmas tree farm. While some of these trees remain, the gardens are now home to over 3,500 rhododendrons, hundreds of varieties of woodland plants and more than four kilometres of trails and pathways. There is even a labyrinth for those who want to take their meditation to the next level. In a sense, the gardens themselves are a work of art.
The festival hours are Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2 and 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission rates apply. Woodland Gardens is located at 6183 Whittaker Road. For further information about the gardens visit the website at
