10TH ANNIVERSARY

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HERRINGFEST 2026

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MARCH 5 - 7

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10TH ANNIVERSARY ○ HERRINGFEST 2026 ○ MARCH 5 - 7 ○

ART SHOW

Open from March 5th through Easter Weekend (April 5), Wednesday-Sunday 10a-4p.

The show is a 50-50 Fundraiser with donated proceeds supporting CHI herring protection work.

Special programming on Sundays plus a SOUNDBATH for Spring Equinox Friday March 20th, 7-9pm.

Sponsored by Hornby Arts & the Susan Hoppenfeld Children & Families Art Fund

Soundbath Tickets

ART

PERFORMANCE

Interdisciplinary, Intergenerational

Hornby Community Hall
Thursday March 5 - doors 5:30pm - by donation

Enjoy a Fest-opener performance featuring multiple generations of Hornby talent!

Performance dedicated to the memory of Susan Hoppenfeld.

Sponsored by H.I.E.S., the Hornby Island Community School, and Hornby Arts

Thank you!

The Opening Night of Herring Fest was a smashing success and a FULL HOUSE!

ART SHOW OPENING GALA

COMMUNITY ART SHOW

Open from March 5th through Easter Weekend

The show is a 50-50 Fundraiser with donated proceeds supporting CHI herring protection work.


Special kids’ programming on Sundays plus a SOUNDBATH for Spring Equinox Friday March 20th

Sponsored by Hornby Arts

We are beyond grateful for the over 200 submissions of artwork now on show in the Arts Centre, thanks to the talented and generous community of visual artists!

Hornby Arts Centre
Thursday March 5 - doors at 7pm - Free entry

Live music: On the Rocks
Licensed bar & concession: Taste of the West Coast

FILM

SOLD OUT!

Hornby Community Hall
Friday March 6 - doors at 6:30pm

Tickets $20

Opening performance: Dr Laura’s Choir

Feature documentary: Salmon Secrets

Live Q&A with K̓wak̓waba̱las - Chief Ernest Alfred, traditional and elected leader of the 'Na̱mg̱is First Nation (Alert Bay), and Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck of Clayoquot Action.

Sponsored by Central Cinema (offering Concession)

TALKS

SOLD OUT!

Hornby Community Hall
Saturday March 7th - Doors 9AM

Tickets SOLD OUT

Our inspiring speakers are listed below!

Coffee & tea by donation, sponsored by the Hornby Island COOP and LIX

Light breakfast bites and hot lunch for sale by Taste of the West Coast

Herring School - Saturday, March 7th

  • THE SPEAKERS:

  • W ̱ IĆKINEM Eric Pelkey

    W̱SÁNEĆ Hereditary Chief
    Tsawout First Nation

  • Kwa Kwyem Tomolx Denise Smith

    Director, Lands and Resources
    Tla’amin Nation

  • Welwáltenaat Myia Antone

    Founder
    Indigenous Women Outdoors

  • Peter Bradley

    Researcher & Writer
    Herring Conservationist

  • Briony Penn

    Author, Activist
    Herring Conservation & Restoration Society

  • Ava Zielinski

    Student and Marine Conservation Activist
    Hornby Island

  • Ellika Cairns

    Project Director
    Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative

Conservancy Hornby Island is honoured by this statement by MP Gord Johns - Courtenay Alberni, for the occasion of HerringFest 2026, our 10th Anniversary.

DANCE

Hornby Community Hall
Saturday March 7 - 8pm ‘til late!

Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Doors at 7:30pm, music from 8pm featuring:

Power Tools - live band!
DJ Jean Mescaline - 10pm ‘til late

Licensed bar by Taste of the West Coast

Sold out as of 5pm March 7th!

BOAT TRIPS

Sea Life Viewing Trips
BY DONATION

PLEASE READ BEFORE REQUESTING TO BOOK:

ALL BOOKINGS ARE BY DONATION. BOOKINGS AND DONATIONS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE TICKETS.

Saillings are weather dependent and could be cancelled with very little notice, despite our and the Captains’ best efforts.

Great effort will be made to rebook cancellations, but may not be possible. Cancelled sailings cannot be carried over from year to year.

Please only request a booking and make your donation with full awareness of the above and willingness to accept a cancellation without compensation.

FULLY BOOKED!

Would you like to request a trip booking, having read the above terms?

Email your first, second and third choice options from the Tour Options listed, to chiboattrips@gmail.com.

Please include the full names of all participants. No bookings are confirmed until you receive written confirmation from this dedicated email. Trips are by donation, not ticketed - refunds are not possible, and no trips can be 100% guaranteed due to possible weather-related cancellations.

Please note:

  • By donation, suggested donation per person $50 per trip.

  • Bookings are first-requested, first served

  • Bookings are limited to a maximum of 4 people per reservation, to ensure equitable access

  • Safe appropriate footwear, rainproof outer layers, and hats are recommended, as are binoculars

  • For safety reasons, children under age 5 may not join the tours

All tour dates, times and vessels fully booked up as of March 4

Generously made possible by our sponsoring tour operator partners including True North Tug Tours, Hornby Island Diving, and HornbyFishing. These operators donate their time and operate their vessels for these trips, as part of HerringFest fundraising for CHI.

True North Tug Tours “La Fille” Tour Options 100% booked

La Fille - join True North Tug Tours Captain Drew McVittie aboard this exquisitely restored tugboat. This vessel has a full indoor space.

Thursday March 5 at 10am - FULL with waitlist

Thursday March 5 at 1pm - FULL with waitlist

Friday March 6 at 10am - FULL with waitlist
(no afternoon trip March 6)

Sunday March 8 at 1pm - FULL with waitlist
(no morning trip March 8)

Tuesday March 10 at 10am - FULL with waitlist

Tuesday March 10 at 1pm - FULL with waitlist

Hornby Island Diving Tour Options 100% booked

Join Rob & Amanda Zielinski on the fast paced research vessel to explore areas of local marine conservation work, and meet wildlife along the way. This vessel has a partial covered space but is outdoors/exposed to weather. Dress warmly!

Monday March 9th at 10am - FULL with waitlist

Monday March 9th at 1pm - FULL

NEW! Hornby Fishing - “Kingfisher” 100% booked

Join Elliot Labonté, first time HerringFest partner, for an intimate tour in a group of only 5 passengers aboard his small fishing boat. This vessel has an indoor/enclosed space, but no washroom facility.

Friday March 6th 10am - FULL

Friday March 6th 1pm - FULL

Sunday March 8th 1pm - FULL

Do you want a boat tour but MORE? We’re happy to refer you to two of our longterm supporters, private specialty tour operators Wild Waterways Adventures & Herring Spawn Photo Tours. Both these companies offer unique and exciting adventure tours, and donate a percentage of profits to CHI for tours booked during Herring Spawn season.

Private Tour Partners

HerringSpawn Photo Tours

Join Captain John, photographer and guide Taylor, and personal chef Meesh for a HerringSpawn experience like no other. Use code CHI2026 in the “how did you hear about us” section to increase % of profits donated to CHI from 10% to 15%.

Book HerringSpawn PhotoTours

Wild Waterways Adventures

Join Maitreya, who runs a unique carbon neutral Adventure Tourism company based off of Quadra Island & Campbell River in British Columbia, Canada. 5% of profits during Herring Fest season are donated to CHI.

Book WILD WATERWAYS

Past Events