Starting November 27, 2008, Vancouver Island Tourism Destinations Invite Visitors for Old-Fashioned, Eco-Friendly Holidays

Vancouver Island's Parksville and Qualicum Beach are home to craft fairs and a cozy atmosphere, for the ultimate holiday getaway

Parksville-Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island (PRWEB) November 22, 2008 -- While other Canadian destinations go dormant for winter, Vancouver Island tourism (http://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/cms.asp?wpID=81) is doing quite the opposite. Vancouver Island's Parksville and Qualicum Beach offer an ideal way to beat holiday stress in the simple, old-fashioned manner the area is known for. Starting in just two weeks, the towns will teem with holiday festivities, perfect for shoppers on the look out for unique gifts or those on a holiday Vancouver Island getaway.

Forget energy wasting trips to the mall and excessive packaging. Beginning on November 27, Parksville and Qualicum Beach host a series of craft fairs unlike any other. Handmade goods from the fairs offer unique, eco-friendly alternatives for gift giving, and the holiday spirit of these Vancouver Island events (http://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/cms.asp?wpID=30) will linger long after the return home.

From November 27-30, the 15th annual Kris Kringle Craft Market in Qualicum Beach features a juried arts-and-crafts show with artists from all over Vancouver Island and BC, and the event is chock full of entertainment and prizes. Admission: $5 per day or $7 for 4 days. From November 28-29, the Qualicum Weavers & Spinners Guild Sale offers one-of-a-kind woven and spun crafts, clothing and decorative pieces from 10-3 p.m. each day. Admission is free.

A staple of Vancouver Island events, the "Original" and longest running 28th Annual Village Christmas Craft Faire, from November 28-30, offers outstanding exhibits by local, award-winning artisans--selling everything from hand-blown glass and pottery to jewelry. Admission is free. On November 29, the Arrowsmith Potter Guild hosts their Annual Christmas sale at the Parksville Community & Conference Centre with handcrafted treasures from artists & potters.

The Parksville-Qualicum Beach area is an accessible destination, just two hours from Vancouver or Victoria, with renowned Vancouver Island resorts (http://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/cms.asp?wpID=7), spas and plenty of beaches for strolls. An ideal holiday destination, the region offers local events that will make visitors feel right at home, including Milner Gardens and Woodland's Christmas Magic and Parksville Fellowship Baptist Church's Bethlehem Walk (Dec. 13-16).

Visitors to this Vancouver Island destination will also enjoy an array of galleries and local specialty food stores like Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, Coombs Country Candy and Creekmore Coffee. With a number of special events to take advantage of, such as Arts West Gallery's one-hour fused glass workshop, a holiday retreat to the Oceanside Region is sure to be memorably merry.

For more information about Oceanside holiday events or Parksville-Qualicum beach vacations, visit the Oceanside Tourism Association website at www.VisitParksvilleQualicumBeach.com or call 888-799-3222.

About Oceanside Tourism Association

The Oceanside Tourism Association (OTA) is the destination marketing organization for the Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Nanoose Bay, French Creek, Lighthouse Country, and Arrowsmith Coombs Country region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The OTA is a non-profit, tourism industry-lead organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing this region's Vancouver Island accommodations, attractions, local business, and municipal governments.

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