Guest Information

Located at the edge of the sea, you'll find plenty to do in Sechelt and at the Festival. There are many cafes and restaurants, gift shops and services. We look forward to sharing three and a half days with you in August.

Ticket Sales

Ticket sales will begin at 8 am on Wednesday, May 29, 2013, by telephone only
1-800-565-9631 or 604-885-9631.

After May 29, tickets can be purchased by phone or in person at the Festival Office (9am to 4:30pm Mon-Fri) at 5511 Shorncliffe Ave, Sechelt, BC.
Orders and payments will not be accepted before May 29.

Festival Pass (Events 1-21) SOLD OUT $ 250.00
Day Pass — Friday, Saturday or Sunday Fri/Sat SOLD OUT $ 85.00
Individual Events (each) $ 15.00
Pebbles Restaurant Salmon Dinner (Sunday) $ 20.00

Please use our PDF file Festival Planner when ordering tickets in person or by phone. This will help to prevent errors and speed up the ticketing process.

Method of Payment

By telephone: Visa or MasterCard
In person: Cash, Cheque, Money Order, Visa, MasterCard, or Debit Card

Please note:

  • There are no refunds unless an event is cancelled. A $5 fee is charged for ticket exchanges.
  • Lost or stolen tickets are the responsibility of the purchaser and cannot be replaced. Tickets purchased by phone can be held in the office and picked up prior to or upon arrival at the festival.

Please read Important Info — The Fine Print, and other Guest Information below.

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Venue & Accessibility

Festival Pavilion

All ticketed events take place in the Festival Pavilion at Rockwood Centre in Sechelt, British Columbia. Click here for full contact information. See venue map.

  • Please note that for security purposes, the Pavilion will be cleared after each performance.
  • Taping and recording any event is prohibited.
  • Use of flash cameras and video recorders is not permitted in the Pavilion.
  • Parents are requested to remove noisy or restless children from the Pavilion.
  • Please, no cellular phones during events.
  • Patrons with special seating needs are requested to call the office prior to attending the festival.
  • Limited parking for patrons with physical disabilities is available on a first come first served basis.
  • There is a drop-off and pick-up area at the Shorncliffe Avenue entrance to the festival site.
  • No dogs are allowed on the festival site (with the exception of service dogs).
  • Please note: As of June 1, 2013, Cowrie Street will be one way, east to west, from Wharf St. to Ocean Ave (see map). There will also be changes to the traffic pattern and parking availability on Saturday, August 17 due to the Sechelt Farmers & Artisans Market on Cowrie Street. Information will be posted on this website in early August.
  • Please sign up for our email newsletter. This helps us to get news and information to you quickly and efficiently.

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Festival Attractions

Browsing under the Big Tent

During the day, the "Big Tent" (on the site of the former North Wing) is the place to browse and buy. You'll find all kinds of literary goods, including autographed books (and others) at the book sales table, and a wide selection of Festival fashions and souvenirs.

Also on display are posters and publications from The Alcuin Society, an organization dedicated to book lovers, the book arts, fine printing and reading.

You're also invited to participate in daily contests at the Rockwood gardens. Look for contest details posted on the bulletin boards throughout the grounds.

Self-Published Authors Under the Big Tent

Sunshine Coast self-published writers have had a significant presence at the Festival for the past eight years. Returning and new-to-the-Festival authors, artists and poets offer a wide range of genres: humour, mystery, history and the legacy of family stories; picture books for and studies about children; books about self-realization, spiritual and physical fitness.

This year's self-published authors will be posted here closer to the festival date.

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Official Festival Merchandise

Official Festival Merchandise

Take the Festival atmosphere home with you to enjoy all year long! You'll be helping to support the Festival, too. Look for our custom-designed garments and accessories during the Festival, under the Big Tent.

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Travel & Lodging

How do I get to Sechelt?

Passengers and vehicles sail aboard BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay, in West Vancouver, to Langdale, approximately 15 miles (24 km) from Sechelt. Follow Highway 101 to Sechelt. Public transit and taxi are available between Langdale and Sechelt, and it's a popular bike route, too.

If you're travelling from central and northern Vancouver Island, or Powell River, travel with BC Ferries from Saltery Bay to Earls Cove. Then follow Highway 101 to Sechelt, a scenic drive that takes approximately one hour.

Maps

Places to stay

Oceanfront accommodation

Sechelt and surrounding areas offer a wide variety of places to stay, from small motels to renowned resorts, bed and breakfasts and forested campsites.

This is a partial list of accommodations in the area and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Please note that most listings are not within walking distance of Rockwood Centre, the main Festival venue, so be sure to ask when you make your inquiry.

RVs and Tents

Accommodation

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Weather & what to wear

Summer days in Sechelt are usually sunny with a refreshing breeze off the ocean. But sometimes, dare we say, it rains. Your best bet is to bring casual, layer-able clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Please note that the Festival Pavilion is not heated.

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Can I bring my family & friends?

Absolutely. For those who do not wish to attend Festival events, there are lots of activities in our region to keep them busy: sightseeing, beaching, hiking, mountain biking, golfing, boating, and more.

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Green Initiatives

Please support our efforts to reduce waste. Bring your own refillable water bottles and coffee cups. Commercially bottled water is not sold on the festival site but drinking water will be available. Pre-filled and chilled stainless steel water bottles will be available for sale at the beverage booths. All of our plates, cutlery, napkins and beverage cups are compostable. These items, as well as paper, cardboard and food waste, can be tossed into clearly marked collection bins instead of the garbage.

Jul 29/11: Quill & Quire article, Literary festivals set a green example

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Handy links

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Important Info—The Fine Print

  1. All information is subject to change without notice.
  2. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is not reserved.
  3. A minimum number of participants is required to operate each event. The Festival reserves the right to cancel an event at any time, in which case, your money would be refunded.
  4. In the event of cancellation, the Festival shall have no liability beyond the refund of monies paid to the Festival by the purchaser, which shall constitute a full settlement.
  5. All amounts are shown in Canadian dollars, per person, and include applicable taxes. US dollar amounts are approximate. Use the XE.com Personal Currency Assistant for real-time exchange rates.
  6. REFUNDS There are no refunds unless an event is cancelled. A $5 fee is charged for ticket exchanges.
  7. LOST OR STOLEN TICKETS Lost or stolen tickets are the responsibility of the purchaser and cannot be replaced. Tickets purchased by phone can be held in the office and picked up upon arrival at the festival.
  8. The Festival acts only as an agent for services offered.

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