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What's happening on the Island this year

A full calendar of events listing will keep you busy
48828vicnewsBuskerFestival1PBOC
Victoria's Busker Festival

ONGOING EVENTS

Saturdays through October – Moss Street Market, Victoria. Locally crafts and produce. Corner of Moss and Fairfield Sts, www.mossstreetmarket.com

Saturdays, through October – James Bay Market, Victoria, Crafts, food, entertainment, produce. Corner of Superior and Menzies Sts, by Parliament Bldgs, www.jamesbaymarket.com

Thursday evenings, May 30 to Aug. 29 – Sidney Street Market, downtown Sidney, www.sidney.ca

Saturdays, through October – Qualicum Beach Farmers Market, on Veteran’s Way, www.qbfarmersmarket.com

Saturdays – Duncan Farmers’

Market, downtown Duncan,

www.duncanfarmersmarket.ca

 

Fridays, 10am to 2pm, through Thanksgiving – Farmers’ Market, Nanaimo at Pioneer Waterfront Plaza. www.nanaimofarmersmarket.com

Saturday mornings, year-round – Farmers’ market at Harbour Quay, Port Alberni

Saturdays, 9am to 12pm, through October – Comox Valley Farmer’s Market, Sat. mornings at the Exhibition Grounds. Winter markets at Native Sons Hall. www.comoxvalleyfarmersmarket.com

Sundays, 10am to 2:30pm, May to September – Pier Street Farmer’s Market, Campbell River, Discovery Pier parking lot. www.pierstreet.com

 

May to September – Totem

Tours, Downtown Duncan.

www.downtownduncan.ca

 

Saturdays, 10am to 1pm, May through September – Errington Farmers’ Market, behind Errington Hall, www.erringtonfarmersmarket.ca

Wednesdays, May 29 to mid-Sept. – Summer market, Chemainus, Waterwheel Park, www.chemainus.bc.ca

 

July & August – Harbour Boat Tours, 10:30am & 2pm, Ladysmith Comunity Marina, 250-245-0109,

www.lmsmarina.ca

 

Sundays, July & August – Concerts in the Park, Ladysmith’s Transfer Beach, 6 to 8pm, www.lrca.bc.ca/concerts.asp

July 4 to Aug. 24 – T’sasala Cultural Group Traditional Native Dance Performance, Big House,  Alert Bay, 1:15 to 2:15 pm, 250-974-5475, maxinux@cablerocket.com

 

July 3 to Aug. 17 – Bard to Broadway Summer Theatre, Qualicum Beach,

250-248-0444. http://b2btheatre.com

 

 

MAY

April 25 to May 12 – Milner Gardens’ Rhododendron Bloom, Qualicum Beach, 250-752-6153, www.milnergardens.org

May 1 – International Workers Day Bean Supper, 6 p.m. in Cumberland, 250-336-8313

May 11 – Victoria Tartan Parade. Beginning at 11am, along Government St, City Hall to Parliament Buildings. www.victoriahighlandgames.com

 

May 11 Culinary Treasure Hunt, South Cowichan Chamber of Commerce,

www.southcowichanchamber.org

 

 

May 11 & 12 – Victoria Conservatory

of Music Mother’s Day Garden Tour,

www.vcm.bc.ca

 

May 12 – Mother’s Day Paint-in and Craft Fair, at Hatley Park National Historic Site, Victoria, www.hatleypark.ca

 

May 12 – Mother’s Day Wine Steam

Train, Port Alberni, 250-723-1376,

www.alberniheritage.com

 

May 17 – Victoria Highland Games Torchlight Clan Ceremony, 8pm, Legislature lawn, victoriahighlandgames.com

 

May 17 to 19 – Annual Wooden

Boat Celebration at Maple Bay Marina,

www.maplebaymarina.com

 

May 17 to 20 – Empire Days, Nanaimo, www.tourismnanaimo.com

May 18 & 19 – Tri-Port Motorbike and ATV Club/Races.

 

May 18 – Village Market Day, downtown Cumberland,

www.cumberlandbc.org

 

May 18 – Highland Games,  Courtenay, Lewis Park, www.cvhg.org

May 18 & 19 – Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival, Topaz Park, www.victoriahighlandgames.com

May 18 & 19 – Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site Historic Military Encampment, Victoria, 250-478-5849.

May 18 to 20 – Luxton Pro Rodeo, Victoria, www.members.shaw.ca/luxtonrodeo

May 18 to 20 – Art & Bloom Festival, Comox Valley’s Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, 250-338-6901, www.woodlandgardens.ca

May 18 to 20 – Cumberland Empire Day celebrations, Comox Valley. Family events, parade and more. 250-336-8313; www.cumberlandbc.org

May 19 – Ladysmith Seafood Festival: Harvest of the Salish Sea, www.ladysmithmaritimesociety.ca

 

May 20 – Island Farms Victoria Day Parade, Victoria – the city’s largest

parade event.

 

May 22 to June 1 – Uno Festival of Solo Performance, Victoria, 250-383-2663, www.intrepidtheatre.com

May 24 – Yes BC free Off-the-Grid Music Festival, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, Victoria, www.offthegridfestival.ca

May 24 to 26 – Lund Shellfish Festival, www.discoverpowellriver.com

 

May 24 to 26 – Painters at Painter’s,

a celebration of BC artists, Campbell River, 1-800-663-7090,

www.painterslodge.com

 

May 25 – May Day celebration, with parade, races, driftwood fort building, prizes for best costumes and entertainment. Quadra Island’s Rebecca Spit.

May 25 to 27 – Swiftsure International Yacht Race, www.swiftsure.org

May 26 – Qualicum Beach Family Day, pancake breakfast, parade, entertainment and more, www.qbfamilyday.com

 

JUNE

June 1 – Ladysmith Kids’ Pirates Day, www.lmsmarina.ca

June 1 – Third annual Spot Prawn Festival, Westview Wharf, Powell River, www.discoverpowellriver.com

June 1 & 2 – Oak Bay Tea Party, Victoria, midway, parade, games and activities along the beach, www.oakbayteaparty.com

June 1 & 2 – Quadra Island Studio Tour, with studios, galleries and a community centre exhibit, 250-285-3101, www.quadraislandarts.com

June 2 to 9 – Cowichan Lake Days, cowichanlakedays.com

June 8 – Ladysmith Maritime Heritage Day, www.lmsmarina.ca

June 8 – Oceans Day, Campbell River’s Maritime Heritage Centre, www.bcp45.org

June 8 & 9 – Saanich Peninsula Spring Studio Tour, Victoria, www.cacsp.com

 

June 7 to 9 – Buccaneer Days,

Victoria, Midway, parade, games and activities in the Greater Victoria community of Esquimalt,

www.esquimaltbuccaneerdays.ca

 

June 9 – 19th annual Cowichan Valley Garden Tour, www.cowichanfamilylife.org

 

June 9 – Edge to Edge Marathon, Half-Marathon & Relay, Tofino-Ucluelet.

www.edgetoedgemarathon.com

 

June 13 to 16 – 55th annual June Sports in Alert Bay, www.alertbay.ca

 

June 15 – Father’s Day Wine Steam Train, Port Alberni, 250-723-1376,

www.alberniheritage.com

 

June 15 – Multicultural Festival, Nanaimo

June 15 – BC Shellfish Festival, Comox, http://bcshellfishfestival.ca

June 14 to 16 – Father’s Day Seaside Cruizers Show & Shine, Qualicum Beach, 250-752-5742, www.seasidecruizers.com

June 16 – Rotary Father’s Day pancake breakfast, Campbell River Community Centre, 401 – 11th Ave., 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

June 16 – Father’s Day Tractor Show, BC Forestry Museum, Duncan, 1-866-715-1113, www.discoveryforest.com

 

June 16 – Beaufort Gang Train Robbery, Alberni Pacific Railway & McLean Mill, Port Alberni, 250-723-1376,

www.alberniheritage.com

 

 

June 20 to 22 – Cumberland Museum & Archives’ Miner’s Memorial Day Weekend, 250-336-8313,

www.cumberlandbc.org

 

June 21 to 30 – JazzFest International, Victoria, 250-388-4423, www.jazzvictoria.ca

June 22 – Summer Fest in downtown Chemainus, www.chemainus.bc.ca

June 22 & 23 – Campbell River Garden & Art Tour, 250-287-2261 or admin@crartgallery.ca

June 22 & 23 – North Island Timing Association Drag Racing at Port McNeill Airport.

June 26 to 30 – Transformations on the Shore, amateur and professional carvers at Campbell River’s Frank James Park, www.crshorelinearts.ca

June 27 to 30 – Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival, Qualicum Bay, 250-757-9991, www.lighthousebluegrass.com

June 28 – Summer opening at Mt. Washington, www.mountwashington.ca

June 30 & July 1 – Sidney Days

 

JULY

 

July – Duncan Summer Festival,

www.cowichanfestival.com

 

July – Comox Valley Youth Music Centre Festival, jazz, classical and musical theatre, www.cymc.ca

July 1 – Canada Day – Check local communities for a variety of family-friendly events.

July (Date TBD) – Logger Sports in Port McNeill.

July 1 to  7 – Victoria Pride Week, various events celebrating the gay and lesbian community, incl. parade and festival, www.victoriapridesociety.org

July 2 – Texada Annual Fly-In, Gillies Bay Airport, www.discoverpowellriver.com

 

July 5 to 7 – Visions Art Studio Tour of Cowichan Valley artists’ studios,

www.visionsarttour.ca

 

July 5 to 7 – Nanaimo Dragonboat Festival, competition and activities at Maffeo Sutton Park, www.nanaimodragonboat.com

July 6 – Chemainus Giant Street market, www.chemainus.bc.ca

July 6 – Beaufort Gang Train Robbery, Alberni Pacific Railway, Port Alberni, www.alberniheritage.com

July 7 – Saanich Strawberry Festival at Beaver Lake Park, www.saanich.ca

July 7 – Vintage Cadillac Car Show, Victoria’s Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, 250-478-5849, www.pc.gc.ca/fortroddhill

July 9 to 13 – SKA Festival, Victoria, victoriaskafest.ca

July 12 – Tapped beer festival, Mt. Washington, www.mountwashington.ca

 

July 12 to 14 – Vancouver Island MusicFest, Courtenay, music, food, camping, CV Exhibition Grounds,

www.islandmusicfest.com

 

July 13 – Evening Wine Steam Train, Alberni Pacific Railway, Port Alberni, www.alberniheritage.com

July 13 & 14 – Antique Truck Show, Duncan, www.athsvancouverislandchapter.com

July 13 & 14 – Nanaimo Barbecue Festival, VIEX exhibition grounds, nanaimobbqfest.com

July 13 & 14 – Canadian Open Sand-sculpting Competition in Parksville; sculptures remain on display to Aug. 18, www.parksvillebeachfest.ca

 

July 14 – Brits on the Beach Car Show, Old English Car Club at Ladysmith’s Transfer Beach, 11am to 3pm.

www.oecc.ca

 

July 19 & 20 – Local Colours arts festival, Comox Valley, comoxvalleyarts.com

 

July 19 to 21 – Tahsis Days,

www.tahsischamber.com

 

July 19 to 21 – Northwest Deuce Days, Victoria. www.northwestdeuceday.com

July 20 – TD Art Gallery Paint-In, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s annual outdoor art extravaganza, 250-384-4101, www.aggv.bc.ca

July 20 & 21 –  North Island Timing Association Drag Racing at Port McNeill Airport.

July 19 to 21 – Islands Folk Festival, Providence Farm, Duncan, www.islandsfolkfestival.ca

July 19 to 28 – Victoria International Buskers Festival, downtown Victoria, victoriabuskers.com

 

July 21 – Silly Boat Regatta, Nanaimo, Swy-A-Lana Park, 250-753-0251,

www.sillyboat.com

 

 

July 26 to 28 – Nanaimo Marine Festival & World Championship Bathtub Race, with parade, fireworks, events and bathtub race, 250-753-7223,

www.bathtubbing.com

 

July 26 & 27 – 31st annual Alert Bay Seafest, Alert Bay, www.alertbay.ca

July 26 to 28 – Annual Alert Bay Artfest, Alert Bay, www.alertbay.ca

July 26 to Aug. 5 – Sooke Fine Arts Show, SEAPARC Leisure Centre, Sooke, www.sookefinearts.com

July 26 to 28 – Ukee Days, Ucluelet, www.ukeedays.wordpress.com

July 28 – Art and Wine Festival at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, organized by the Rotary Club of Colwood

July 27 – Lavenderfest, Damali Lavender Farm and Winery, Cobble Hill, damali.ca

July 27 – Grand Prix d’Art painting race, Qualicum Beach, www.theoldschoolhouse.org

July 27 – Mount Washington Bike Park opens, www.mountwashington.ca

July 27 & 28 – The Chemainus Bluegrass Festival, www.chemainusbluegrass.com

July 27 & 28 – First annual Steam-Up Weekend, Alberni Pacific Railway & McLean Mill, Port Alberni, www.alberniheritage.com

July 28 – 12th annual Alert Bay Music Fest, www.alertbay.ca

 

 

 

AUGUST

Aug. 1 to 4 –SunFest 2013 Country Music Festival, Duncan exhibition grounds, sunfestconcerts.com

Aug. 1 to 4 – Coombs Country Bluegrass Festival, Coombs Rodeo Grounds, www.coombsbluegrass.com

Aug. 1 to 10 – Hornby Island Festival, music, dance, theatre, www.hornbyfestival.bc.ca

Aug. 2 to 4 – Ladysmith Days, in Ladysmith and Transfer Beach Park, www.ladysmithdays.com

Aug. 2 to 5 – Filberg Festival, Comox, arts & crafts, entertainment; no pets, www.filbergfestival.com

Aug. 3 to 5 – Comox Nautical Days, family events, parade, fireworks and more, www.comoxnauticaldays.ca

Aug. 4 – Symphony Splash with the Victoria Symphony, Victoria’s Inner Harbour, www.victoriasymphony.ca/splash/

Aug. 4 – Oceanside Overdrive Car Show, Parksville, www.parksvillebeachfest.ca

Aug. 4 – Kid’s Day, BC Forestry Museum, Duncan, 1-866-715-1113, www.discoveryforest.com

 

Aug. 9 & 10 – Alpine Wine & Food Festival at Mt. Washington,

www.mountwashington.ca

 

Aug. 9 to 11 – North Island Logger Sports & Summer Salmon Sizzler, Campbell River’s Nunns Creek Park, www.crsalmonfestival.com

Aug. 10 –  TriPort Music Festival, Cluxewe Beach Resort.

Aug. 10 to 15 – Medieval Village at Victoria’s Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, 250-478-5849, www.pc.gc.ca/fortroddhill

 

Aug. 10 & 11 – Milner Gardens’

Art & Photography in the Garden,

Qualicum Beach, 250-752-6153,

www.milnergardens.org

 

Aug. 10 & 11 – Arts & Music in the Garden, Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, Victoria, 250-479-6162, hcp.ca

 

Aug. 10 & 11 – Coombs Fair, animals, horticulture displays, music, etc.,

www.coombsfair.com

 

Aug. 10 & 11 – Motorcycle Roundup, Cumberland, www.cumberlandmotorcycleroundup.com

Aug. 11 – Cadboro Bay Festival, Victoria, www.saanich.ca

Aug. 13 to 16 – RCMP Musical Ride, Cowichan Exhibition Park

Aug. 16 – Blackberry Festival Street Party, Powell River, www.discoverpowellriver.com

Aug. 16 to 18 – Victoria Dragon Boat Festival, Inner Harbour, www.victoriadragonboat.com

Aug. 16 to 18 – Vancouver Island Exhibition,  Nanaimo, agricultural and livestock exhibition, music, carnival and more in Beban Park, 250-758-3247, www.viex.ca

Aug. 17 – Port McNeill OrcaFest, with market, family activities, parade & slo-pitch tournament.

Aug. 17 & 18 – Art Rave juried art show, Port Alberni, alberniartrave.org

Aug. 17 – Show ‘n Shine Car Show, Ladysmith

Aug. 17 – OrcaFest parade and celebrations, Port McNeill, 250-956-3131

Aug. 18 – Kidfest, Parksville Beach, sandcastles, entertainers and more, www.kidfest.ca

Aug. 22 to Sept. 1 – Victoria Fringe Festival, 250-383-2663, www.victoriafringe.com

Aug. 23 to 25 – Summertime Blues Festival, Nanaimo

Aug. 23 & 24 – Bearclaw Invitational freestyle biking event, Mt. Washington, www.mountwashington.ca

Aug. 24 & 25 – North Island Timing Association Drag Racing, Port McNeill Airport.

Aug. 23 to 25 – Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair, Exhibition Grounds, Courtenay, www.cvex.ca

Aug. 25 – Arts on the Avenue, Ladysmith, www.artonavenue.com

Aug. 31 – Lighthouse Country Fall Fair, Qualicum Bay, www.communityclub.ca

Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 – Artisans Festival, Comox Valley’s Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, www.woodlandgardens.ca

Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 – Vancouver Island Blues Bash, Victoria, 250-388-4423, www.jazzvictoria.ca

Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 – Saanich Fair, Saanich Fairgrounds, Victoria, farm exhibits, entertainment, midway, www.saanichfair.ca

Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 – Bike Festival at Mt. Washington, www.mountwashington.ca

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER

Sept.1 – North Island Cruisers annual Show ‘N Shine, Tyee Plaza and along Shoppers Row.

Sept. 2 – Labour Day Family Picnic, BC Forestry Museum, Duncan, 1-866-715-1113, www.discoveryforest.com

Sept. 5 to 8 – Alberni District Fall Fair, Port Alberni fairground, logger sports, agriculture, midway, www.albernifair.com

Sept. 6 & 7 – Great Canadian Beer Festival, Victoria, www.gcbf.com

 

Sept. 6 to 8 – Cowichan Exhibition, Cowichan Exhibition Park, Duncan,

www.cowex.ca

 

Sept. 7 & 8 – Mount Waddington Fall Fair, Port McNeill

Sept. 7 to 15 – Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival, Cowichan Valley, wines.cowichan.net

 

Sept. 8 – English Car Affair in the Park, Old English Car Club at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site, 250-478-5849,

www.pc.gc.ca/fortroddhill

 

Sept. 13 to 15 – Luxton Fall Fair, Victoria, www.luxtonfair.ca

Sept. 14 – Harvest Festival, Nanaimo

 

Sept. 21 – Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race, Cumberland, with a

post-race party at Mount Washington,

www.mindovermountain.com

 

Sept. 28 –Harvest Festival, Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, Victoria, hcp.ca

 

Sept. 28 & 29 – Milner Gardens Fall

Plant Sale, Qualicum Beach,

www.milnergardens.org

 

Sept. 29 – Saltspring Island Organic Apple Festival, www.saltspringmarket.com/apples/

 

 

 

OCTOBER

Oct. 5 – Cumberland Foggy Mountain Fall Fair, www.cumberlandmuseum.ca

 

Oct. 13 – Royal Victoria Marathon,

www.royalvictoriamarathon.com

 

Oct. 26 & 27 – Saanich Peninsula Spring Studio Tour, Victoria, www.cacsp.com

 

Late October – Ghosts of Victoria Festival, www.tourismvictoria.com