If you’re in Victoria for the coming Labour Day long weekend, there is a cornucopia of food, fun, music, culture, craft, and country-style entertainment to enjoy. Here are my scrimp or splurge picks from a terrific lineup of festivals and events, kicking off with Greekfest on Wednesday, the first day of September. (Can you believe it? September already!)
GREEKFEST
- Wednesday through Monday, Sept. 1-6, 2010
- Greek Community Centre, 4648 Elk Lake Drive, Saanich
- www.greekfest.ca
Scrimp: From 11 am to 9 pm, free activities include: Greek dancing lessons; live music by the Gypsy Rovers, White Eagle Band, and others; and dance performances by a dozen troupes, including the Dionysos Greek Dancers, Madeira Group Portuguese Dancers, Pearl of the South Polynesian Dance Group, Alma de Espana Dancers, and more. Check the schedule here.
Splurge: Come for the dancing, stay for the cuisine. Indulge in Greek fare from spit-roasted lamb ($16.95) and traditional Greek salad ($5) to pita-wrapped, tzatziki-dolloped pork souvlaki ($6), or filo-pastry-layered, spinach-and-cheese spanakopita ($6). Save room for an eyelid-raising Greek coffee ($2.50) and honey-sweet, walnut-studded baklava ($3.75).
VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL
- Friday through Sunday, Sept. 3-5, 2010
- Victoria Inner Harbour
- www.classicboatfestival.ca
Scrimp: Come down to Victoria’s Inner Harbour to view a collection of the loveliest old boats you’re ever likely to see, moored in one of the world’s prettiest harbours. Admission is free to all events, including a classic rowing regatta, steam boat race, and a regal sailpast at 10:30 am on Sunday. Click here for the full schedule of events.
Splurge: Can you picture yourself skippering one of these classic boats? Have a peek at the West Coast listings on Lady Ben, “The World’s Finest Classic Wooden Boat Listing Site Since 1998.” I found a 1903 Danish fishing ketch for sale in Comox, BC, for $240,000.
VANCOUVER ISLAND BLUES BASH
- Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, 2010
- Ship Point on Victoria’s Inner Harbour
- 250-388-4423; www.jazzvictoria.ca
Scrimp: From noon to 5:15 pm daily there is FREE admission to blues and R&B performances at Ship Point on Victoria’s Inner Harbour: 12 different bands and solo artists (The Midnights, Auntie Kate & The Uncles of Funk, the Soul Shakers, and more)! See the schedule of free performances here.
Splurge: Headliners at this year’s Blues Bash are guitarist Coco Montoya and harmonica player James Cotton. Their shows are $28 each, or save with a $45 combo ticket to see both blues legends (available from the Victoria Jazzfest office only).
SAANICH FAIR
Saturday through Monday, Sept. 4-6, 2010- Fairgrounds at 1528 Stelly’s Cross Road in Central Saanich
- www.saanichfair.ca
Scrimp: Saturday/Sunday admission is $10 for adults, $7 seniors/youth. But you can scrimp on the holiday Monday, when entrance fees are reduced by $1. Once in the gates, I head for the animal barns. The exotic farm fowl never fail to make me laugh: the crazy chickens with the random head-feathers that weave and bob in the breeze, and the white mop-headed ones that make me think of Andy Warhol. I also love cheering on the draft horses, petting the exquisitely soft-coated llamas and alpacas, and watching a row of tiny piglets nursing at their momma sow’s belly. All free of charge.
Highlight. New this year: The Great Canadian Duct Tape Contest. All entries submitted into the five categories—Hat, Clothing, Prom Dress/Men’s Suit, Centrepiece, Household Item—must be fashioned from 90% duct tape. Top prize winner nabs $100.
Splurge: Gather your friends for a game of Midway Roulette: Get a ride-all-day wristband ($35, $30 on Monday), eat every kind of fair food in sight (from corn dogs to corn cobs to cotton candy), then challenge your buddies to screaming vertical free falls on the SuperShot—shown here—until you all woof your cookies. The winner is the one who goes home with a clean shirt.
VICTORIA FRINGE FESTIVAL
- Aug 25 to Sept 5, 2010
- Venues all over downtown Victoria
- www.victoriafringe.com
As the theatre festival moves into its final days, audiences stampede to the best-reviewed shows of the week. Check The Craig online forum regularly for fresh reviews from Victoria Fringe-goers.
Related Post: Best Bargains of the 2010 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival. Scrimp on tickets, food, shopping, and more!
Related Post: 2010 Victoria Fringe Program Delights and Offends: Yay for Alternative Theatre! My initial short-list of enticing shows to see.
FIRST PEOPLES FESTIVAL
Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010- Victoria’s Centennial Square (Spirit Square)
- www.victoria.ca/cityhall/arts-first-peoples-festival.shtml
Scrimp: Events scheduled from 10 am to 4 pm include cultural presentations, children’s activities, and a First Nations market for 30 carvers, weavers, Cowichan knitters, and dispensers of traditional aboriginal medicine. A few highlights: Jonathan Todd, 16, a Cree country-folk musician from Vancouver with a new CD; songs and dances by the Khowutzun Tzinquaw Dancers of Cowichan; screenings of episodes of “Down2Earth,” a new documentary TV series by Victoria’s Arrow Productions about the ways aboriginal communities are addressing environmental issues; opening and closing performances by the Unity Drummers and Singers.
Splurge: Acquire an original piece of art from renowned Kwaguilth artist Richard Hunt. The Order of British Columbia recipient will showcase his work at the festival. He carved the incredible “Salmon Mask” piece shown here.
