Mark your calendars — Cortes Day is one month away on July 18th! One of the most beloved community celebrations on the BC coast, with over 70 years of tradition.
The parade kicks off at 11am at Smelt Bay Provincial Park. If you've never experienced a true island community celebration, this is it. What follows is a full day of activities for all ages — the legendary Nail, Sail and Bail race, the cakewalk, the chicken run, food booths, music, and a level of community spirit that you rarely encounter anymore in the modern world. The event is free. It is organized by the SCCA (Southern Cortes Community Association) and has been running in various forms since the early 1950s.
What Makes Cortes Day Special
Cortes Day is one of the events I look forward to most every summer. It's not curated or polished. It's a community celebration consisting of locals, seasonal residents, and visitors all mixing together on the beach at Smelt Bay. Smelt Bay itself is one of the most beautiful spots on Cortes Island. The park sits on the southwestern shore with views south toward Vancouver Island and west toward the open Strait of Georgia. On a clear July day it is about as good as BC coastal scenery gets with a long white sand beach and lots of space to roam.
Planning a Visit Around Cortes Day
Arrive a day or two before to explore the island, and stay through the weekend. July is peak season on Cortes so book accommodation early — the Gorge Harbour Marina Resort fills up, and private rental options go quickly.
And if while you're here you find yourself thinking about what it would look like to own a piece of Cortes Island, I am always happy to have that conversation.
🔗 Visit Cortes Island — Cortes Island Info
🔗 Smelt Bay Provincial Park — BC Parks
🔗 Contact Jeramie — Cortes Island Real Estate
Jeramie Ellingsen is a REALTOR® with eXp Realty, specializing in Cortes Island and the Discovery Islands.
