Port Alberni’s Blair Park will be a splash of colour and music on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as the Rotary Colour Fest returns for its third year. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and invites everyone for a morning of active fun and a free afternoon festival.
Organized by the Rotary Club of Port Alberni, the day kicks off with a 2.5-kilometre colour walk, run, or roll along the Kitsuksis Dyke Trail. Participants of all ages and abilities can register for $20 per adult, $10 per child (ages 5–12), or $45 per family (up to two adults and two kids). Along the route, six colour stations will douse walkers and runners in food-grade and cosmetic-grade colour powder, turning everyone into a moving rainbow.
After the colour walk, a free festival takes over from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with live music, food trucks, vendors, and family-friendly activities. Canadian singer-songwriter Haley McNeil will perform from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Talk Star Announcing will provide DJ services throughout the day. The Salvation Army Food Truck will be among the food options on site.
Last year’s Colour Fest raised over $7,000, and organizers hope to match or beat that amount in 2026. All proceeds support youth and community programs in the Alberni Valley, including school breakfast programs, post-secondary bursaries, and the Little Library initiative. The event has grown each year, drawing participants from across Vancouver Island, including folks from Comox and Cowichan.
Blair Park is located at 4940 Margaret Street/5095 Pineo Road, with extra parking at nearby Stirling Park. The venue also has a playground, splash park, and covered gazebo for families to enjoy. Presented by A R. Anderson & Associates and sponsored by the Port Alberni Port Authority, the Colour Fest is a bright spot on the summer calendar for Port Alberni and beyond.
