Parksville Museum

05/29/2026

🎤 Just ONE WEEK until our very first Storyteller Festival begins!

✨ Stories have the power to bring generations together. They keep history alive, ignite imagination, and remind us that true community is built face to face.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time to grab your tickets! Your early support helps make these performances, workshops, and shared moments possible — and helps ensure this incredible festival launches strong.

Come laugh, listen, learn, and connect with us. We can’t wait to welcome you! ❤️

🎉 FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE 🎉

🎶 MUSIC

Adam Dobres, An Evening of Guitar Storytelling, Thursday June 4, 7pm, $35

Joy on Drums, Femme Drum Stories, Friday June 5, 7pm, $20

Bruce Coughlan, Stirring Up Ghosts, Saturday June 6, 7pm & Sunday June 7, 4pm, $25

Eileen McGann, Solstice Celebration, Sunday June 14, 7pm, $35

Steve Somers, Big Rigs, Good Dogs, Old Barns, and Bootleggers - Folk Songs & Stories about Rural Island Life, Thursday June 18, 7pm, $30

🎭 THEATRE:

TheatreWorks Historical Play Collection: A Generation of Women, by Kymme Patrick, Friday June 12 & Saturday June 13, 7pm, $25

Unleashed Heart Productions: Mary Jane: A Play by Amy Herzog Full Cast Reading, Thursday June 11, 7pm, $20

Murder & Mayhem in Story & Song by Mid-Island Storytellers Norma Cameron and Susan Warner, Friday June 19 & Saturday June 20, 7pm, $25

WARPED (family friendly) by David C. Jones, Saturday June 27 & Sunday June 28, 7pm, $30/$25

SPACED OUT (family friendly) by David C. Jones, Sunday June 28, 2pm, $25/$15

📚 ISLAND AUTHORS:

Stars in Their Eyes: Mid-Island Romance Authors Spill the Tea, featuring Dove Cavanaugh King, Kathleen Lawless, Carissa Harper, K.A.Wiggins, Thursday June 11, 1pm, $20

Magic, Mystery & Mayhem: Local Settings Through the Looking Glass, featuring Kim Bannerman, K.A. Wiggins, Kate Gateley, Friday June 19, 1pm, $20

Dream of Fairyland: Circus History in 1920's BC, with Kim Bannerman, Saturday June 20, 2pm, By Donation

🖋️ WORKSHOPS

A Trip Through Time & Terroir: A Parksville Museum Sensory Writing Workshop with K.A. Wiggins, Friday June 5, 1-3pm, $35

From Research to Story: Writing and Sharing Your Family History with Sonia Nicholson, Saturday June 13, 1-3pm, $20

Story Slam & Story Writing for Performance, with Leah Erdos, Thursday June 18, 1-4pm, $35

A Creative Pop-Up Book Workshop: Artfully Alleviate Anxiety with CRATE Art Therapy, Thursday June 25, 11am-1pm, $49

🌻 COMMUNITY EVENTS
(Admission by Donation)

Second Sundays Artisan Market, Sunday June 14, 11am-4pm

Solstice Celebration at the Museum, Sunday June 21, 11am-3pm

Pollinator Palooza, Saturday June 27, 11am-3pm

✨ So many awesome events! See you soon! Get your tickets now!

05/23/2026

From Many, One: The Story in Repetition continues through June 28.

This juried exhibition features the work of 15 BC artists exploring themes of multiples, repetition, series, and accumulation.

The artwork in this exhibition reflects on memory, nostalgia, labour, human health and disease, rhythmic patterns in sound and display, long-term relationships, the environment and life cycles, flora and fauna, the West Coast, and the digital age of AI and half-truths.

A truly remarkable collection of artists and artwork — we’re very fortunate to host this special exhibition.

Featuring artwork by:
Laara Cerman, Francine Champagne, Jamie Girouard, Melanie Golder, David Harvey, Aaron Johannes, Jenny Judge, Joy Machuga, Donna Mattila, Eileen McGann, Tilly McLeod, Temira Nicholls, Nate Schmold, Helena Wadsley, and Ian Warren.

👉🏽Fun fact: three of the artists in the exhibition are also participating in our Storyteller Festival in June! Details on our website: parksvillemuseum.com/Storyteller-Festival



VancouverIslandArt

05/22/2026

We are SO EXCITED for this event!

Featuring 20+ performances, workshops, music, spoken word, theatre, literary arts, and family entertainment throughout the month, the festival brings together award-winning and internationally touring artists right here in Parksville.

Festival highlights include An Evening of Guitar Storytelling with Adam Dobres (June 4), Femme Drum Stories and Soundscapes with Joy on Drums (June 5), and Stirring Up Ghosts: Songs and Stories of Pacific Canada with Bruce Coughlan of Tillers Folly.

Week two features Stars in Their Eyes: Mid-Island Romance Authors Spill the Tea, the acclaimed one-woman performance A Generation of Women by Kymme Patrick, and a pre–Summer Solstice concert with Eileen McGann.

Later programming includes Folk Songs & Stories with Steve Somers; Magic, Mystery, & Mayhem, featuring mid-Island authors; and Murder and Mayhem in Story and Song with Norma Cameron and Susan Warner. Dream of Fairyland: Circus History in 1920s BC with Kim Bannerman leads into the Museum’s annual Solstice Celebration.

The festival concludes with family-friendly performances by David C. Jones, featuring his steampunk-inspired shows WARPED and SPACED OUT.

The festival also supports the non-profit Parksville Museum, and volunteers are welcome!

🎟️ Full schedule & tickets: https://parksvillemuseum.com/Storyteller-Festival

05/20/2026

Hands-on History at the Parksville Museum!

Step back in time and explore our heritage buildings, plus our current art exhibition From Many, One: The Story in Repetition, featuring the work of 15 BC artists — on display until the end of June.

We’re open Thursday through Monday, check our website for current hours.

Did you know the museum also houses the only print copies of local area newspapers dating back to 1948? Researchers, history buffs, and curious visitors regularly book time to browse and discover the stories that shaped our community.

Come explore local history with us!

What stories are waiting in your community?
From local history to living cultures, museums throughout B.C. connect us to knowledge, ideas, and each other.
This weekend is the perfect time to start. BC Museums Week begins tomorrow — take a moment this weekend to explore a museum near you.

05/19/2026

✨ Stirring Up Ghosts: Songs & Stories of Pacific Canada ✨🎶

Step into the rich and rugged history of British Columbia through music, storytelling, and unforgettable live performance with acclaimed musician Bruce Coughlan.

🎻 Stirring Up Ghosts is a captivating musical journey that blends powerful songs with fascinating stories from BC’s past — bringing history vividly to life on stage. Originally created over 30 years ago alongside Bruce’s work with Tiller’s Folly, this beloved production continues to inspire audiences with its heart, humour, and incredible musicianship.

Don’t miss this unique evening of music, history, and storytelling magic!

📅 Show Dates:
Saturday, June 6 | 7–9 PM
Sunday, June 7 | 4–6 PM

📍 Location: Heritage Church
🎟 Tickets: $25

Tickets available:
• Online (link in bio or parksvillemuseum.com/Storyteller-Festival)
• In person during regular museum hours (Thurs–Mon — save the online service fees!)
• At the door 60 minutes prior to showtime, if not sold out

05/19/2026

✨ FEMME DRUM STORIES & SOUNDSCAPES ✨
an immersive night of live music, storytelling, poetry & imagination

🗓 Friday, June 5
🕖 7PM–9PM
📍 Heritage Church
🎟 $20

Step into an evening of deep listening and live improvised soundscapes with Joy On Drums + special guests. Expect haunting violin, layered rhythms, storytelling, poetry, and dreamlike journeys through sound.

Featuring:
🌿 Varvara — textile artist + storyteller
🎻 Diona Davies — violinist
🎨🎶 Nate Schmold — artist + musician

This is part performance, part ritual, part creative gathering. Bring your imagination.

PLUS — check out the group exhibition From Many, One: The Story in Repetition in the Main Hall featuring artwork by Joy + Nate while you’re there.

Tickets available online (bio link or parksvillemuseum.com/Storyteller-Festival), during regular museum hours (skip the online fees!), or at the door (if not sold out).

More info:
Joy On Drums — https://joyondrums.com/
Varvara — https://www.varvarastudio.ca/
Nate Schmold — https://3030.ca/
Diona Davies — https://eslband.wordpress.com/

05/18/2026

Happy International Museum Day! ☀️🍦 We’re open until 4 PM today, the ice cream freezer is fully restocked, the heritage buildings are open, and the summer vibes are in full swing!

Come wander through local history, grab a treat, and enjoy a beautiful day at the museum. 😎🏛️




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05/16/2026

✨ Step into the past and awaken your senses! ✨

Join us for A Trip Through Time & Terroir — an immersive sensory writing workshop at the beautiful Montrose Schoolhouse & Museum grounds in Parksville!

📅 Friday, June 5
⏰ 1–3 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $35

Led by award-winning author and creative educator K.A. Wiggins, this hands-on experience invites writers of all levels to explore storytelling through sight, sound, smell, taste, touch… and maybe even a few echoes from decades gone by 👀✨

Wander the historic museum grounds, spark your imagination, and discover fresh ways to bring your writing vividly to life on the page.

📖 Bring:
✔️ A hardback notebook
✔️ Something to write with
✔️ Walking shoes & weather-friendly clothing
✔️ Your curiosity and creativity!

Whether you're a seasoned writer or just beginning your creative journey, this magical afternoon promises inspiration, exploration, and connection.

Spaces are limited — reserve your spot today! Link in bio or parksvillemuseum.com/Storyteller-Festival




WritersLife CreativeWriting SensoryWriting ExploreHistory MuseumMagic WritingInspiration KAWiggins IslandLife ArtsAndCulture HistoricalInspiration WritersOfInstagram

05/15/2026

THREE WEEKS until Adam Dobres opens the Storyteller Festival with his Evening of Guitar Storytelling! ✨🎸

Tickets are $35 — grab yours through the link in bio (parksvillemuseum.com/Storyteller-Festival), or save the online fees and purchase in person Thursday–Monday at the museum.

This is going to be a truly unforgettable evening in the Heritage Church.

About the Artist:

Adam Dobres is a gifted guitarist and composer whose deep passion for music is evident in every note he plays. Whether performing alongside renowned artists or through his solo instrumental work, Adam has a natural ability to tell stories through music. His compositions capture the complexities of joy, struggle, courage, longing, and love.

Much of the power and inspiration behind Adam’s performances comes from his experiences playing with world-class artists in venues of up to 15,000 people.

“There is an energy that is shared while performing in front of a large crowd that stays with you forever and continues to infuse itself into your art and performance.”
— Adam Dobres

Adam effortlessly navigates a wide range of musical genres, creating performances rich with melody, emotion, and depth. His distinctive style continues to make him a highly sought-after touring and recording artist.

adamdobres.com