By Emma Wassmer

This Thanksgiving weekend, the Gabriola Arts Council invites you to the 29th Annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour! Think bold paintings, wild sculptures, and creations you didn’t even know you needed until you saw them. If it can be dreamed up, chances are a Gabriola artist has already made it (and it’s probably way cooler than you imagined).

From October 11–13, 48 studios plus Tour Central (Top Floor of Nova Boutique, 575 North Road) throw open their doors for a weekend that’s part art crawl, part treasure hunt, and 100% island vibes. These artists don’t just hang work on a wall, they turn kitchens into galleries, backyards into exhibits, and studios into the kind of spaces you won’t want to leave.

On this self-guided adventure, expect everything from striking paintings and intricate prints to ceramics, woodwork, textiles, metalwork, and creations that defy categories altogether. This isn’t just a tour, it’s your backstage pass into the heartbeat of Gabriola’s art scene.

Ranked sixth in Canada for the highest concentration of artists, Gabriola doesn’t just dabble in creativity. It lives and breathes it. Seriously. They don’t call it the Isle of the Arts for nothing.

And getting here? Easy. Just a short ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo lands you in a world of sandstone shorelines, lush parks, secret coves, buzzing markets, and restaurants serving flavours as bold as the art itself. Roll in on two wheels, pack the car with friends, or let GERTIE, the island’s beloved community bus, chauffeur you around. However you explore, the journey’s as fun as the destination.

Sure, the Thanksgiving Studio Tour is the star of the season, but Gabriola’s artists don’t just clock out when the weekend wraps. These creators are here all year, ready to welcome you into studios, galleries, and quirky island spaces. So don’t wait for a special event. Hop the ferry, wander over anytime, and show some love to the locals keeping the Isle of the Arts buzzing.

Learn more at artsgabriola.ca and theartsongabriola.ca