Length
Distance
ChatGPT said:
This stretch of Vancouver Island keeps the weekend full of fresh local flavour, with two beloved Saturday farmers’ markets and a brand new Sunday addition. Start your Saturday at Qualicum Beach or Errington Farmers’ Market, then swing by the new Parksville Downtown Farmers’ Market on Sunday for even more local harvest.
However you spend your weekend, there’s plenty more to explore once your farmers’ market bags are full, from award winning coffee to farm fresh cider and Indigenous art. Here’s a closer look at each stop on the Parksville Qualicum Beach Passport Tour.
Don’t forget to download the BC Farmers’ Market Trail app before you go! Checking in at select stops unlocks exclusive discounts available only to Passport visitors.
Every Saturday morning since 1997, the ring of a bell kicks off a beloved local tradition. Neighbours trade updates over hot coffee while makers, bakers, and growers set up their stalls with the season’s freshest harvest and a lineup of up and coming food producers. It’s the kind of farmers’ market where people genuinely say “meet me at the farmers’ market,” and mean it. Open Saturdays 8:30am to 12:00pm.
For more than 40 years, it’s been a tradition for Errington’s local artisans and food producers to gather on Saturday mornings in the wooded area behind Errington Park. Over the years, purpose built wooden farm stalls have gone up alongside a permanent bandstand and cafe serving hot food and drinks, turning this quaint gathering in the woods into a true local destination for fresh food, family fun, and community spirit. Open Saturdays 10:00am to 1:00pm.
Brand new in 2026, the Parksville Downtown Farmers’ Market brings farmers and food producers together in the heart of downtown Parksville. Every Sunday, the parking lot at 133 McMillan Street comes alive with the season’s best local harvest. Open Sundays 9:30am to 1:00pm.
French Press Coffee Roasters
Just up the road from Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market, French Press Coffee Roasters is a small batch specialty coffee roaster with a serious medal count behind it. Owner Jeremy Perkins sources beans from around the world and roasts them in small batches, adjusting roast times along the way to get each one right. That attention to detail has paid off at the Golden Bean North America roasting competition, where French Press has taken home gold, silver, and multiple bronze medals against more than a thousand other entries. Stop in for a cup alongside daily baked cakes and treats, made in house.
Check in on the Tasting Passport App on farmers’ market days (Saturdays and Sundays) for a free drip coffee with every bag of beans purchased.
Fern + Cedar: Brewery & Restaurant
A short drive from Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market, Fern + Cedar blends the lines between brewery and modern restaurant, with an ever rotating lineup of craft beer made exclusively on site. The food menu is fresh, local, and inclusive, served up in a bright, open air interior and a sunny patio strung with real hanging ferns, a true expression of the lush forests surrounding this community.
Check in on the Tasting Passport App on farmers’ market days (Saturdays and Sundays) to receive 5% off your food & drink bill.
Hatched Baby & Kids
Close to Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market, Hatched Baby & Kids is a thoughtfully curated shop stocked with timeless essentials, clothing, and gifts for babies and children, perfect for finding something special after a morning at the farmers’ market.
Check in on the Tasting Passport App on farmers’ market days (Saturdays and Sundays) to receive 10% off your purchase.
Village Eatery
Just off Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market, Village Eatery is a cozy, all day spot where locals and visitors alike settle in to catch up over a meal made with care. The menu ranges from classic breakfasts like eggs benny and fresh waffles to hearty Greek plates, pizzas, and handhelds, along with fresh daily baking and specialty coffees.
Check in on the Tasting Passport App on farmers’ market days (Saturdays and Sundays) to receive 10% off (food only) Not valid on baking or liquor.
Swayne Creek Ciderhouse
A short drive from Errington Farmers’ Market, Swayne Creek Ciderhouse is a family run cidery built on a working farm with more than 2,500 apple and pear trees. Guided by traditional English style cider making, the team grows its own bittersweet and bittersharp apple varieties and crafts small batch cider that’s dry, complex, low sugar, and naturally gluten free. Settle in for a tasting in the picnic area overlooking the orchard and grazing sheep, with food trucks dropping by throughout the summer. Non alcoholic options are available, and the space is family and dog friendly.
Check in on the Tasting Passport App on farmers’ market days (Saturdays and Sundays) to receive a free tasting glass of cider or juice (3oz sample) when you make a purchase.
Pentlatch Gallery
Not far from Parksville Downtown Farmers’ Market, Pentlatch Gallery is the first Indigenous owned gallery in Parksville, opened in 2024 by Gerald Fuller of the Snuneymuxw Nation. The gallery showcases contemporary, traditional, and vintage Indigenous art from across Canada, including wood carvings, paintings, sculptures, textiles, and jewellery. The gallery’s name honours the Pentlatch people, whose population and villages once stretched from Parksville to Comox on Vancouver Island.
There are many great places to stay in the Parksville Qualicum Beach Area. Find the accommodation that suits you best, from beachfront resorts, cozy cabins and rustic campsites. Find your perfect stay at VisitParksvilleQualicumBeach.com.
Get out there and enjoy the Parksville Qualicum Beach Passport Tour! Download the BC Farmers’ Market Trail App to unlock exclusive discounts available only to Tasting Passport app visitors.