Bigpacific BlogEverything you want to know about the Sunshine Coast

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves turn and begin to fall, us locals get out the brooms to stem the tide, or put on the hiking boots and go hunting for chanterelles and pine mushrooms… and the annual Jazz Festival comes to Pender Harbour.

This year’s event marks the 13th Annual presentation of this popular festival, bringing artists and guests from around the world to enjoy jazz in one of North America’s most picturesque settings. The festival site promises ” great and varied line-up, with 40’s swing, Gypsy Jazz, sultry vocals, hot horns, mellow strings, contemporary, vintage, fusion, and just about everything in between, offered up in our unusual and intimate ocean-side settings. Impromptu and planned jams, casual atmosphere, and stellar performers.” I ask you, what could be better?

The answer is staying in Pender Harbour over the weekend! The closest accommodation is a resort playing host to a number of events, Painted Boat Resort & Spa. This new resort offers stunning views of the harbour and beautifully appointed villas sleeping up to six guests, with a variety of types including 2 bedroom + loft, 2 bedroom + den, 2 bedroom + family room. The resort is short walking distance to Madeira Park shops and cafes, and the Millenium Park at the Government Wharf, and is close to other event venues. The on-site spa is simply stunning, offering a variety of modalities in treatments, and this event offers one of the last opportunities of the season to experience the infinity pool aspect as that pool closes at the end of September.

Finally, Painted Boat’s restaurant, situated along the waterfront with decks perched over the harbour’s edge, is home to a number of events during the weekend. Typical – and beloved – in this festival, events will be performed in the Festival’s unique tradition of all-around-the-Harbour venues: al fresco, in local pubs, at the Community Hall, the Golf Course, and even in a private art gallery. Venues include THE RESTAURANT at Painted Boat with tickets available through the Jazz Festival at 1-877-883-2456, or email at jazzman@dccnet.com. Ask at the Main reception about tickets for events at THE RESTAURANT at Painted Boat.

Close by is the beautiful Sunshine Coast Resort. This long-established and popular vacation spot is undergoing constant transformation and growth and has matured into a spectacular destination, with a hotel of luxury-class rooms and penthouse suite, apartments, and now gorgeous individual chalet/cottages sleeping up to 8, with private hot tubs and access to all of the resort’s amenities such as the cliffside hot tub and sauna. I’ve stayed in the chalets and they are truly beautiful, with a master suite with gas fireplace and private deck, and upper lofts perfect for families. The chalets are fully wireless enabled, and there is a second tv monitor upstairs to split the entertainment – an important factor for families or groups staying together. The bathrooms in the hotel’s rooms are beautifully appointed, but in the chalets, a unique experience is offered via the space age tub and shower system. Have a long soak in a light-show enabled tub and watch your favorite show in the in-shower TV (I kid you not!) or enjoy the rain forest shower head and full body jet system. Ralph enjoys showing people how it works, even if he did have to come back in our case and get a full body blast while fully dressed due to how we’d left the settings in figuring it out! He is a great host and their little family works very hard to ensure guests have a magical stay in the Harbour.

And remember – both of these resorts offer well-appointed marinas, so come on your boat if you like!

Checkout the full lineup on the Jazz Festival web site.

See you there!