The Comox Valley Farmers' Market didn't wrap up when the rain came back. Since Oct. 17 it has set up on Saturday mornings inside Native Sons Hall and its parking lot at 360 Cliffe Ave., keeping its usual 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. hours. It runs there every Saturday until Dec. 19.
The rest of Courtenay's November works the same way. Events move indoors to a small group of halls, galleries and stages, and over the month they build toward one Friday. On Nov. 20 the downtown tree light-up, a free art opening and a holiday comedy show at the Sid Williams Theatre all happen on the same evening. Here's the month from this Friday, Nov. 6, to the last show on Nov. 30, in the order you'd plan it.
Saturdays start at Native Sons Hall
The farmers' market is the steady weekly anchor. On its own site, the Comox Valley Farmers' Market says there are "still loads of fresh local goodness available" in the indoor season, and it points out that the Comox Valley can grow food all year. That gives you four November Saturdays at the hall: Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28.
The first weekend adds a second stop. The Schoolhouse Quilters Guild holds its free Quilt & Craft Sale at the Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club, 2361 Kilpatrick Ave., on Friday, Nov. 6 from 1 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Saturday you could do the market first, since it closes at 1, and still have two hours for the quilt sale. The event listing on Experience Comox Valley has the details.
The Sid Williams Theatre has shows on the same two nights. Bee Gees Revisited: The Tribute Show is on Friday, Nov. 6, and The Men in Black Performing the Songs of Johnny Cash is on Saturday, Nov. 7. One show this week has already passed: William Prince on Nov. 3 was listed as sold out. For anything later in the month, check availability on the Sid Williams Theatre events page before you plan around it.
The busiest weekend is Nov. 14 and 15
The middle weekend has the most events of any in the month, and nearly all of them are indoors.
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sat. Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Comox Valley Farmers' Market | Native Sons Hall, 360 Cliffe Ave. |
| Sat. Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Heart of the Valley Christmas Market | Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave. |
| Sat. Nov. 14 | The Great Divide: Canada's Tribute to The Band | Sid Williams Theatre |
| Sun. Nov. 15 | Heart of the Valley Christmas Market, second day | Florence Filberg Centre |
| Sun. Nov. 15 | Symphony at the Sid: Mischief, Madness & Mystery | Sid Williams Theatre |
| Sun. Nov. 15, 2 to 4:30 p.m. | English ivy-pull volunteer session | Dogwood Park and Rotary Trail area |
The Heart of the Valley Christmas Market listing shows Saturday hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and says vendors are also booked for Sunday the 15th. If Sunday hours matter to your plans, check the listing closer to the date. For Saturday, you could start at the farmers' market at 9 a.m. and walk over to the Filberg Centre after it opens at 11, since the two markets share two hours of overlap before the farmers' market closes at 1 p.m.
The ivy pull is the one outdoor event on the list. The City of Courtenay's events calendar lists volunteer English ivy-pull sessions around Dogwood Park and the Rotary Trail from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on four Sundays: Nov. 8, 15, 22 and 29. Sign-up details are on the City's event page.
Weeknights, Wednesdays and Remembrance Day
Between weekends, the calendar shifts to weeknights. The Comox Valley Art Gallery's Autumn Film Series screens on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. at Landmark Cinemas, 2655 Cliffe Ave. The remaining November dates are Nov. 11, 18 and 25. The film series page has each week's title.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the Sid hosts Cory Doctorow Talks Enshittification.
Remembrance Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11. The City of Courtenay's closure notice says City Hall, Operational Services, the Fire Hall, both recreation centres and the LINC will be closed all day. The volunteer fire department and Public Works stay on call for emergencies. The Courtenay & District Museum's calendar also shows it closed that day. If you usually swim or work out midweek, plan around the recreation centre closures. The film series still has a Nov. 11 screening listed at Landmark Cinemas.
You have a short window for two exhibitions at the Comox Valley Art Gallery. "Lii moo di nutr paraantii-inaan kayaash ooshchi | The Words of Our Ancestors" closes Nov. 7, which is this Saturday. "The things that hold us" runs until Nov. 21. The second one closes the day after the gallery's next opening, so on Nov. 20 you can see the outgoing show and the new one in a single visit.
Friday, Nov. 20: the evening it all overlaps
Moonlight & Magic returns to downtown Courtenay from 5 to 8:30 p.m. It starts with the Official Tree Light Up, which marks the start of the holiday season downtown. This year's theme is "Elf Yourself!", and the BIA encourages costumes and elf-inspired outfits. The Downtown Courtenay BIA's announcement promises live music, interactive art, roving performers, food trucks and family activities, along with special offers from downtown retailers, boutiques, galleries and makers.
In that same announcement, Downtown Courtenay BIA Executive Director Philip Sutton said the evening is "a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together and celebrate what makes Downtown Courtenay special." The BIA says the full schedule and performer list will come later on downtowncourtenay.com and its social channels.
Here's how the evening and the next morning line up:
- 4 to 7 p.m.: The Comox Valley Art Gallery opens "Mesh," with a screen-printing demonstration on request. Admission is free. Because it starts an hour before the tree light-up, you can visit the gallery first and then head downtown for the evening.
- 5 to 8:30 p.m.: Moonlight & Magic and the Official Tree Light Up, downtown.
- Evening at the Sid: ABBA – blahblahblah: A Swedish Disco Holiday Comedy Special.
- Next morning: The farmers' market at Native Sons Hall on Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. That same day is the last chance to see "The things that hold us."
The BIA has kept the evening compact. Its announcement describes downtown's gifts and finds as all "within a few charming blocks," and it suggests walking from shop to shop with a bite from a food truck along the way. If you bring children for the tree light-up, arrive near 5 p.m., since the light-up opens the evening.
After the lights: the last ten days of the month
The weeks after the light-up are mostly theatre. Coastal Arts Academy's Neverland is on the Sid's calendar for Saturday, Nov. 21. Walk Like A Man, a show of music by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, follows on Sunday, Nov. 22. Pop Goes The Sixties! is on Wednesday, Nov. 25. The month ends with Glob on Monday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
The Sunday ivy pulls continue on Nov. 22 and 29, and the farmers' market is at Native Sons Hall again on Nov. 28. The last film series screening is Nov. 25.
Early December is already on the calendar too. The Comox Valley Art Gallery's Winter Art Faire runs Dec. 4 to 24 and opens with a celebration on Dec. 4. The farmers' market's indoor season continues to Dec. 19.
A short list for the fridge
- Saturdays, Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28: Comox Valley Farmers' Market, Native Sons Hall, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Nov. 6 and 7: Schoolhouse Quilters Guild Quilt & Craft Sale, Courtenay Lawn Bowling Club
- Sundays, Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29: Ivy pulls, Dogwood Park and Rotary Trail area, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
- Nov. 11: Remembrance Day; City facilities and the museum closed
- Nov. 14 and 15: Heart of the Valley Christmas Market, Florence Filberg Centre
- Wednesdays, Nov. 11, 18, 25: CVAG Autumn Film Series, Landmark Cinemas, 5 p.m.
- Nov. 20: "Mesh" opening at 4 p.m., then Moonlight & Magic and the Official Tree Light Up from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
- Nov. 30: Glob at the Sid, 7 p.m.
If you're new to Courtenay, or you're planning a move to the Comox Valley and want to know which parts of town put Native Sons Hall, the Filberg Centre and the Sid within easy reach, Tina Vincent would be happy to walk you through it. Let's Connect.
