Hot on the heels of the successful
2nd annual Route 19a Arts Festival
The Route 19a Arts Festival planning committee is putting together some pretty exciting additions to the Festival for Sept 2025!
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This year exceeded expectations and next year we will be expanding it to stretch it out from Sept 13 to 28, 2025.
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1. Fine Art Exhibition
Dates: September 13-14, 2025 / Sat, 9am - 4pm / Sun, 9am - 4pm
Location: Lighthouse Community Centre
Details: The festival opens with a juried fine art exhibition featuring 22 exceptional Vancouver Island visual artists. Their work will span a variety of mediums, providing audiences an opportunity to engage with the artists and purchase unique, original pieces.
2. Live Performances
Dates: September 15-19 & September 22-26, 2025
Locations: Small community halls and venues along Hwy 19a, from Dashwood to Union Bay
Details: Experience the intimacy of live performances in cozy, scenic venues that capture the essence of Lighthouse Country. Featuring a rotating program of music, spoken word, and theatre, these performances cater to small audiences of 20-60, creating a personal and memorable experience.
3. Multi-Band Dance
Date: September 20, 2025 7pm - 11pm
Location: Lighthouse Community Hall
Details: A lively, community-centered dance featuring multiple bands with an emphasis on original material. This evening promises great music, dancing, and celebration—a gathering where festival-goers can let loose and connect over a shared love of music and movement.
4. Afternoon Tea Dance
Date: September 21, 2025 1pm - 4pm
Location: Lighthouse Community Hall
Details: Join the festival for an elegant Afternoon Tea Dance, featuring live music from the Georgia Straight Big Band. This event is a charming way to celebrate arts, music, and community, perfect for those who enjoy the nostalgia of a classic tea dance with a modern Vancouver Island twist.
5. Art Studio Tour
Dates: September 27-28, 2025
Locations: Private art studios from Dashwood to Union Bay
Details: The festival closes with an inspiring Open Studio Tour, inviting the public into 30 private art studios. This weekend provides a rare opportunity to see artists in their creative spaces, gain insights into their processes, and purchase unique works directly from the creators.
**Experience 15 days of local, original art **
There are lots of volunteer positions during the festival dates 🙂
Contact us and let us know how you would like to contribute to this community based, volunteer run Lightouse Country showcase
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Join us to be part of this vibrant local art event!
EXPERIENCE LOCAL ART AND CULTURE
Route 19A Arts Festival is affiliated with the
Lighthouse Community Centre in Qualicum Bay.
This is an exciting celebration of creativity, culture, and community, set against the scenic backdrop of Route 19A from Qualicum Beach to Union Bay.
This annual event brings together artists, musicians, performers, and audiences from across the region for a vibrant showcase of talent and a memorable experience for all involved.
SUPPORT THE ARTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
The event is intended to celebrate and promote local creatives, working/residing in the mid-island area of Vancouver Island, from Qualicum Beach to Union Bay and beyond.
The success of this event depends on the level of support from all the participating creatives and the support of the community. We have the community support, now we need yours. Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance for helping us promote you and your work!
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Here are just a few areas requiring support Please select the volunteer area(s) of interest. We are grateful for any/all support big or small. MARKETING & PROMOTION EXHIBITION SIGNAGE (for studio tours) COMMUNITY PARTNERS – Sponsorship of event DISTRIBUTION OF MARKETING MATERIALS MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT BAKING CONTRIBUTIONS (for Exhibition) Your support can be as simple as ‘sure I can do a few tasks, just tell me what to do’ or you can play a bigger role and take a ‘lead coordinator’ position to over-see a category, with the assistance of a few volunteers. Your support directly impacts a successful outcome! Email interest to: route19a.arts@gmail.com