The town boasts beautiful views and friendly, hometown feel, making it ideal for those important, memorable events.

The Kinsmen shelter is perfect for informal receptions at the beach, as it has access to the water park and playground for children, and is located next to a vast expanse of lawn and public bathroom.

For an indoor venue, consider Aggie Hall, which has historical value in the community. It has a kitchen, stage, and can be rented for a formal setting of up to 275 people. Call 250-245-6424 for bookings.

There are other, smaller venues in town too. There is the Terrace Room at Printingdun Beanery (250-245-7671), which has access to fabulous views.

Church and community halls also offer an expanse of options for the event planner. Check out the Ladysmith Royal Canadian Legion (250-245-2273), the Eagles Hall (250-245-2457), St. Mary’s Church Hall (250-245-3414), Cedar Heritage Centre (250-722-2100), and Cedar Community Hall (250-722-2442) as just a few options.

Check out local photographers to capture those special memories. David Seath (www.davidseathphotography.com) is one of many talented photographers in the area.

Desserts are a necessity at any event. The Old Town Bakery for a plethora of cookies, bars, buns and other fabulous desserts. The bakery also offers wedding and special occasion cakes. Call 250-245-2531. Other restaurants and cafes all carry their own lines of great dessert options.

Dennis Brown, the president of the Ladysmith & District Arts Council, said there are artists in every medium – glass, pottery fabric, leather, paint and more.

“Some people are working with metal,” Brown said. “The sculptors are really getting different. It’s mixed art.”

He said the arts are an important industry.

“It attracts people to the brighter side of life,” he noted.

Brown pointed out that all that is left of old civilizations is the arts.

“What moves through the ages is art,” Brown said.

He said it is important for the community to have arts so future generations can see what was valued.

The arts council also has a gallery made up of a compendium of artists.

The gallery is located just inside the entrance to Transfer Beach Park, on Oyster Bay Drive, a short, unpaved road.

The gallery and council have been housed in the space for two years.

“We have expanded,” Brown said.

Recently, the town agreed to rent space to more artists and the gallery is also going to have studio space for artists. That way, the public will be able to watch the artists at work.

For more information bout the gallery, call 250-245-1252 or see www.ladysmithwaterfrontgallery.com.

Nestled in Ladysmith is a gem of a theatre called Lady Smith’s Little Theatre.

The theatre was founded by Terry and Judi Whittaker, but is a not for profit society operated with the help of volunteers and a board of directors.

The summer production is The Butler Did It, directed by theatre founders Terry and Judi Whittaker. There are matinees every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7 to Sept. 6.

The theatre was so named by Judi Whittaker. She read the love story about Lady Juana Maria Smith and Sir Harry Smith, who married, according to the theatre’s website, when Juana Maria was only 14. Henry George Wakelyn Smith was captain in the British Army in the 1800s. Juana Maria and her sister lost everything to British troops after the Spanish town Badajez fell under siege in March 1812.

They fled to a British camp and begged for protection – and Harry Smith fell in love with her.

The regimental chaplain married them, but Juana’s family severed all ties with her when they found out. However, their marriage lasted 40 years.

The theatre is located at 4985 Christie Road in Ladysmith.

For tickets and show time information, call the theatre at 250-245-0658.

Yellow Point Drama Group

The Yellow Point Drama Group operates out of Cedar Community Hall in Cedar, just north of Ladysmith.

The community theatre group formed in 1952, and produces a variety of entertaining shows, along with a murder mystery dinner, throughout the year. For up to date information, see www.yellowpointdramagroup.org.;

Recently, one of her pieces was chosen as a signature sculpture for the prestigious exhibition All That The Rain Brings – a collection of B.C. made pottery currently showing at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario.

The exhibition features pieces made by the Fired Up! Potter collective, a who’s who of B.C.’s most influential ceramic sculptors for the past 25 years.

This year is an important one for the artists of Fired Up!, as the group is entering its 25th year of collective creativity.

From May 29 to 31, Fox and her peers will give Vancouver Islanders the opportunity to witness the amazing works of the province’s most talented potters at the special 25th anniversary celebration of Fired Up! Contemporary Works in Clay at Metchosin Community Hall in Metchosin.

With more than 750 combined years of experience, the Fired Up! show is steeped in talent and artistic expression.

Visit Fox’s studio at 321 Third Avenue to see her famous pieces of raku and stoneware. Call 250-245-3778 for studio hours.

Ladysmith is the perfect jumping off point to a plethora of agritourism opportunities in Cedar and Yellow Point, rural communities filled with family farm fun.

In the fall Murray McNab opens his corn field to the public because he has created a seven acre corn maze. He has been building the mazes at 4613 Yellow Point Road.

The theme of the maze changes from year to year. Last year, the design reflected the celebration of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. B.C. 150 was cut into the tall swath of cornstalks.

Coming up with such designs is part of the challenge McNab faces each year. Over the years, these have included a Mayan-style temple, a tractor, and back in 2002 – the first year McNab waded into the maze business – a pattern based on the crop circles conspiracy theorists blame on expressive extraterrestrials.

Family and friends help put the maze together. First though, McNab draws the maze pathways on the computer, and then transfers the data to a portable surveying device called a total station, which is used in a range of professions from archaeology to policing. By plotting points on the patch where the corn is grown, McNab and his helpers can mark where they need to remove the corn stalks to create pathways.

Yellow Point Cranberries

This 43 acre family owned and operated cranberry farm specializes in delicious cranberries, but has delightful events throughout the year.

The farm also makes heritage cranberry sauce, along with other speciality cranberry products. The products are made by hand, in small batches, and available through the farm store.

This year, the farm hosts a Blossom Festival on June 21. Tour the farm and see berry blossoms, tour the farm, sample products or hitch a hay ride. Local musicians are performing. Admission is by a suggested donation of $10 per person, and the funds will go to the BC Cancer Foundation.

In the fall, the ever popular Happy Turkey Night is back on Sept. 23. The evening is filled with delicious food, plenty of which stars the illustrious cranberry.

On Sept. 27, the farm is open for a Family Fun Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children can play outside, learn about farming and enjoy healthy food. There will be Admission will be donated to the BC Children’s Hospital.

Find Yellow Point Cranberries at 4532 Yellow Point Road, across from McNab’s. For more information see www.yellowpointcranberries.com.  Call 250-245-5283.

Yawning Acres

The farm, on Cedar Road, offers activities throughout the year, from corn roasts to haunted hay rides at Halloween. The pumpkin festival, and pumpkin patch, are popular seasonal events.

Events are also held at Easter and Christmas, and the park at the back of the farm can be rented for weddings, picnics and more. Call Yawning Acres at 250-713-6304. Yawning Acres is at 1949 Cedar Road.

Cedar Farmers’ Market

The market is open Sundays, so take a pleasant drive into the country.

The market is held in on the fields by the Crow and Gate Neighbourhood Pub (2313 Yellowpoint Road). It features around 27 vendors, and 25 of those sell farm products. Arts and crafts, baking, eggs, milk, cheese, fruits, veggies, organics, preserves and flower are just some of the wonderful items to be found.

The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays from Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving.

Cassidy Farm Market and Deli

Located across from the Nanaimo Airport, this market sells fresh, local seasonal fruits and veggies, homemade pies and more. Call 250-245-7674.

Russell Farms Market

In the opposite direction, towards Chemainus, head to Russell Farms Market located at 2711 Mt. Sicker Road in Chemainus.

The market offers a full service deli and ice cream parlor, and is open year round. In the summer, the market is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the garden centre is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. . Call 250-246-4924. Call the garden centre at 250-246-4940.

Tree Course

Test your mettle against an Aerial Adventure Tree to Tree Course. The course is fixed to the trees 10 to 70 feet in the air. Attempt bridges, climb nets, maneuver across swings and fly across mini zip lines.

The whole time, you are attached for safety. Most importantly, it’s a fun activity for all ages.

There are lower courses for children, but as the difficulty increases, so does the height of the obstacle course.

Bungy Jump

If jumping off bridges is your thing, you can do that too. The park has a 150 foot high bridge. According to Wildplay’s website, the jump, over the Nanaimo River, is ranked as one of the top 100 things to do in Canada by a 2006 National Post survey.

Don’t want to do it alone? There are also opportunities to jump in tandem. Before any jump, you are attached firmly by your ankles. Go backwards, or meet the jump face forwards.

King Swing

Swings aren’t just for little kids at Wildplay. The King Swing provides a chance for a pair to swing right off that 150 foot bridge. Free fall in a paragliding harness while clipped to a cable. The cable works like a slingshot. Feel the 140 kilometre an hour speed.

Canyon Zip

Wildplay has a new zip line called the Canyon Zip. It starts in the park, and zips you out over the river canyon. The views from the fast ride are spectacular.

Call 1-888-668-7874 for information and prices, or go to www.wildplayparks.com.;

The Ladysmith Golf Club is a 9 hole, par 3 course located right next to Coronation Mall, making it an ideal place to golf and enjoy a meal at neighbouring restaurants. There are plenty of tournaments throughout the year at the course, including a summer open and one especially established just for children.

Ask about lessons as well. Call 250-245-7371 for information.

Slightly north of town, visit the Cottonwood Golf Course, an 18 hole par 72 expanse of lush greens. The facility also has dining facilities, and can be used for weddings and banquets. Call 250-245-5142 for lunch and dinner reservations. Reach the pro shop for tee times or lessons at 250-245-5157. ;

Early May

Paddlefest virtually kicks off the festival season in Ladysmith. The event is hosted by Sealegs Kayaking Adventures at Transfer Beach, and it showcases water recreation.

The free family event features a trade show, kayaking workshops, shoreline tours and other activities.

“We’ve always described it as a celebration of paddle sports,” said Bud Bell, Sealegs owner.

Vendors include food sellers, retailers, manufacturers and outfitters. There are also workshops from experienced instructors that cover basic strokes, rolling and how to recover from capsizing, among other topics.

On the last Thursday of November (Nov. 26 in 2009), Santa Clause flips a switch and the downtown core is filled with blazing Christmas lights. The lights stay turned on along First Avenue until the new year.

Thousands of people journey to Ladysmith for the event, which also features a parade of local groups and businesses decorated in their best holiday spirit.

The Festival of Lights started in 1987. Bill Fitzpatrick and merchants decided Ladysmith’s downtown needed to get more festive. Each year more lights are added and thousands of LED replacement bulbs are now being used.

Typically on the afternoon of the festival, First Avenue is closed between Roberts Street and the roundabout by Aggie Hall. Concessions offer treats and restaurants will open their doors with special Festival of Lights menus.

Santa Claus throws the main switch to turn on the lights around 6:30 p.m. Shortly after, the parade makes its way down First Avenue. And, in case visitors still don’t have their fill of colour and light, a fireworks show is planned to illuminate the sky. ;

The Bird Song (250-246-9910) is a lavender and white historic cottage in Chemainus. Jarid’s Corner (250-246-4938) is dog friendly and is based in Saltair, but only a five minute drive to downtown Chemainus.

The Chemainus Tudor Inn (1-877-246-2393) is near the town, and has three rooms with ensuites. All the rooms have satellite TV.

For an international flavour, visit Hawley Place, which has rooms with African, Indian and Chinese themes. Call 250-245-4431.

At the Yellow Point B&B, enjoy gourmet breakfasts with home baked eggs, seasonal fruits and organic jams. Call 250-245-7059.

For a rural experience on 10 acres, stay at Kiwi Cove Lodge. Call 250-245-8051.

Stay in downtown Ladysmith at the Holiday House Motel. 250-245-2231.;