Whistler summers, I thought, were all about hiking and biking—seems there’s so much more. Multitasking is on the menu every August, when you can nosh while you pedal 50 km (31 mi) on Slow Food Cycle Sunday. Pull in at farms in the rural reaches of Pemberton where they’re cooking up natural-beef burgers, farm-made ice cream and fresh fruit pies. Video:

While we’re on food, who knew there was such a thing as a competitive BBQ circuit? And that every August, brisket, pork butt, chicken and ribs hit the grills during the Canadian National BBQ Championships? Teams like Dances With Smoke and Pulled Pork Pirates charcoal-up some of the best barby in the biz in a quest for a shot at Tennessee’s Jack Daniel’s World Championship BBQ as well as the American Royal World Championships in Kansas City, KS. Video:

Connect with your cultural side by grabbing a blanket or lawn chair and hopping the free shuttle to Lost Lake for a Whistler Wednesday tradition called LUNAFLIKS. A summer outdoor film series under the moon and stars alongside a beach, the focus is on short flicks by local filmmakers, but feature films also hit the giant screen with a killer sound system.

Artists from wannabes to intermediate can upgrade their sketching, oil, acrylic and watercolour painting skills at the summer-long Art Workshops on the Lake. Two- to four-day gigs run at a rustic heritage house on Alta Lake. And to get in some tunes, Whistler Driving Range morphs into a grassy venue for country, rock and folk with a little edge every August during the Campground “C” Country-Rock Festival.

Then go burn off some energy at the Monday and Wednesday Women’s Nights at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, a relaxed girls-only soirée on the lift-accessed downhill course with guides and après on the patio included. Video:

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