There is something for everyone at Canada Day Victoria, including a living Canadian flag, fireworks, music and children’s activities.
The region’s biggest gathering, sponsored by Coast Capital Savings, will take place on the legislature grounds in Victoria, with activities centred around a main stage. You can be part of the now-traditional Living Flag photo, for which up to 2,500 people don red or white T-shirts to form a human Canadian flag.
Bring your own shirt or grab one of the free shirts available for pickup at 12:30 p.m. The photograph will be taken at 2 p.m. on the legislature lawn.
Sing the national anthem or kick back and enjoy cultural and traditional entertainment throughout the day, including the Lekwungen Dancers.
Stuff your face full of national cuisine at the Flavour of Canada Food Village, featuring Jewish, Mexican, Greek, Indian and others, from noon to dusk on Belleville Street.
This year’s sustainability initiatives include vendors only offering reusable bags or paper bags, in accordance with the city’s new checkout bag regulation bylaw, which comes into effect Sunday.
Children will find activities to do and there is entertainment at the family zone, which runs from noon to 5 p.m.
A fireworks display over the Inner Harbour caps the day’s festivities at about 10:20 p.m.
Road closures begin at 4 p.m. City parkades and on-street parking downtown will be free on Sunday. People are encouraged to leave cars at home and travel downtown via bus and bike.
B.C. Transit will run additional buses as required, including standing buses along the Douglas Street corridor shortly after the conclusion of the fireworks.
There will be a bicycle valet service on the corner of Menzies and Belleville streets.
Road closures on Friday include Belleville Street (from Menzies to Douglas streets) from 6 a.m. to midnight and Government Street (from Humboldt to Superior streets), from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Alcohol is prohibited on transit buses, including in closed containers. Victoria Police will assist transit personnel in enforcing the policy, as part of a strategy to prevent public drunkenness.
“Our officers will be out early and in large numbers in support of a safe, family-friendly celebration of our nation,” said Victoria police Chief Del Manak. “We’ll also be taking non-emergency calls for service on Twitter again this year using #vicpdhelps.” The department will also deploy motion cameras in open, public spaces on Sunday to support operations and ensure public safety.
For information, go to canadadayvictoria.ca.
Celebrations throughout the region
Not fond of big crowds or travelling downtown to celebrate Canada Day? These grassroots community events will be sure to put a smile on your face, a national anthem on your lips and food in your belly on Sunday:
• The Gorge Canada Day Picnic celebrates its 20th birthday with a community get-together that includes a pancake breakfast, strawberry tea, entertainment and canoe rides.
The day starts with a pancake breakfast and a family parade with children riding their decorated bicycles along Gorge Road, which will be closed to traffic between Admirals and Tillicum roads. Children will take over the blacktop instead, with road hockey, soccer and an inflatable amusement.
There will be four stages. Take in professional musicians on the main stage or perhaps hear a neighbour play in the busker’s corner. A family theatre will feature Theatre SKAM, Morris dancers and clowns. The Gorge on Art Stage features Daniel Oliver Francis and friends.
Artisans will be on hand with their wares and a collection of classic and vintage cars will be found at the Show and Shine Show. Foodies can sample offerings from almost 30 vendors.
Line up early for the very popular traditional Strawberry Tea. Served in the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club building, the tea features strawberries on cake served with a choice of tea, coffee or juice. It is only $3 and runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. But come early, as it always sells out.
The event is free and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Gorge Road between Admirals and Tillicum roads. There is no parking and no vehicle traffic during the event. Details available at gorgecanadaday.ca.
• One day just isn’t enough to celebrate Canada’s birthday — Sidney has turned it into Sidney Days and Canada Day, four days of music, food, dancing and, of course, fireworks, from Friday to Tuesday.
Events kick off Friday with Dinner in Rouge, at which diners wear red and white outfits for a seaside dinner.
Saturday promises cultural performances, a formal opening ceremony, music and fireworks set to music at 10:15 p.m.
On Canada Day, people can tuck into a pancake breakfast, watch a parade, take in a family fun fair or observe the build-a-boat race. The celebrations wrap up on Monday, when Beacon Avenue is closed to traffic for a Sidewalk Sale and Street Festival by area businesses.
Activities Saturday to Monday are free and take place at Iroquois Park, Ocean Avenue and Beacon Avenue. For more information, go to sidney.ca.
• Take a bite out of Canada Day’s biggest birthday cake at the Canada Day celebrations at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites on Sunday.
Canada Day is the only day of the year admission is free to the national historic site in Colwood.
Celebrations include live music and activities for children.
Visitors can explore the 155-year-old Fisgard Lighthouse, Canteen, Belmont and Lower Batteries, the Fortress Plotting Room or other historic buildings on the property from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The site is at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd. For more details, go to fortroddhill.com/index.html.
Get in mood for dragball to celebrate start of Pride Week
Take part in a dragball game, take your four-legged best friend on the Big Gay Dog Walk or listen to the writers from Victoria and across Canada speak when Victoria Pride Week kicks off on Sunday.
Hosted by the Victoria Pride Society, the object of the week-long events is to inspire full inclusion with society at large through visibility, collaboration and celebration. Everyone is welcome to play at Sunday’s dragball game. Simply pick whether you’d like to play for the Queens or the Kings, and pick a name for your drag persona.
The Queens traditionally wear lipstick and a wig and the Kings traditionally have facial hair — but since drag is all about gender-bending, anything goes. There will be items for you to borrow, should you need assistance.
The event is free to join or watch. It starts at noon on Sunday at the Vic West Ball Park, 135 Wilson St. (across from Save- on-Foods).
Pride Week concludes with the Victoria Pride Parade and the Victoria Pride Festival on July 8.
Organizers acknowledge they serve the community on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen and WSÁNEC peoples.
For more information, and a schedule of the events, go to victoriapridesociety.org.
Circus acts will leave you awestruck
Take advantage of a rare chance to see professional circus artists from around the world show off their moves in an intimate venue at Eyes Up, a contemporary circus show, Friday and Saturday at the Metro Studio Theatre.
The show, a production of Ignio Circus Company, is a mixture of acrobatics, juggling and comedy.
“Come to witness our international cast transform an ordinary space into an extraordinary, hilarious and poetic experience of what it is to be human,” the company said.
Tickets are $36. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Metro Studio Theatre, 1411 Quadra St. Tickets are available at ticketrocket.co/event/season/265. For more information, go to facebook.com/igniocircus.
Salt Spring hosts Crabfest
Enjoy the taste of a delicious West Coast meal at the Salt Spring Island Crabfest, Saturday at Rotary Park.
This is the third year of the tasty event, which features a meal of fresh crabs, baked potato, salad and a roll.
There is a wine and beer cash bar and live music by the Costners. Dancing is encouraged.
Tickets are $40 per person. Book early as tickets were sold out last year.
The event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. at Rotary Park (next to Thrifty Foods), Ganges.
Advance tickets are available at the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce, Salt Spring Books or online at facebook.com/ssicrabfest. For information, go to Facebook.
Electronic music concert is free
Listen to an ambient music performance using a multi-channel sound system at Wonderment, Sunday in Beacon Hill Park.
This is the third year of the annual event, presented by the Garden City Electronic Music Society.
The all-ages performance explores creativity and innovation at the intersection of art and technology. Performers include Juno Award nominee Noah Pred, Ivory Towers and Sabrina Dzugalo.
The concert is free. It runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Cook Street and Dallas Road (in the clearing near the public washrooms).
Look for a second performance in the series at Banfield Park on the August long weekend featuring artists using modular synthesizers. For more information, go to gcems.ca.
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