Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Explore: FernFest, nature walks, free fishing and more

Party like a Fernwoodian at FernFest, an all-ages, family-friendly celebration, Friday and Saturday. This is the 21st anniversary of the urban block party that has grown every year, attracting between 2,000 and 5,000 visitors.
d12-0616-ffest.jpg
FernFest block party takes place Friday and Saturday in Fernwood Square.

Party like a Fernwoodian at FernFest, an all-ages, family-friendly celebration, Friday and Saturday.

This is the 21st anniversary of the urban block party that has grown every year, attracting between 2,000 and 5,000 visitors. This year there will be 17 local performers, children’s activities, bike parade and an artisan market.

Saturday’s activities start with a by-donation Community Pancake Breakfast at 9 a.m. followed by the Kidical Mass Bike Parade at 11 a.m. (a decoration station for bikes opens at 10 a.m.).

Throughout the day people can take part in a Yoga Challenge Course, listen to storytelling, play interactive multi-sport games, attend a Hoops or Circus workshop and more.

Children can enjoy free workshops and performances at the Kidz Zone Mini-Stage. They can also take time out at the Field of Dreams, with face-painting, bubbles, painting the Bubble Man’s car, balloons, giant games, community weaving, interactive painting mural and a visit to the popular cardboard castle.

New this year is the adults-only Chill-Out Beach Lounge, complete with Astroturf, pink flamingoes and inflatable palm trees. Others can take time for a cuppa at the Seniors’ High Tea. Drinking-age attendees can now enjoy a beer or cider anywhere on the festival grounds.

The Artisan Market features the wares of more than 40 artisans, offering soap made with beer, upcycled clothing, art, hoops, treats, magazines and more.

“We try to hit all demographics,” said Lee Herrin, executive director for the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group, event hosts. “FernFest is an opportunity for us to show off our identity and the unique character of the neighbourhood.”

The weekend of events and activities is produced by the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group, which offers programs and services to residents of the area.

Fernwood is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, with original homes that date back more than 100 years. The name of the neighbourhood can be traced back to Fernwood Manor, a house built in 1860 for Benjamin Pearse, a surveyor for the Hudson’s Bay Company. He later served as the surveyor-general of Vancouver Island when it united with British Columbia.

Residential development of the area began in earnest in the 1890s and most of the area was built up by the end of the real estate boom of 1913.

Admission on both days is free. The event runs 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday in Fernwood Square (Fernwood Road and Gladstone Avenue), Victoria High School field and Gladstone Avenue.

People who like to try urban fare might want to return on Sunday for Fernwood Bites, a food and libation tasting event that is also a fundraiser for the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group. Tickets to the 19 and older event are $65. It runs 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Fernwood Square. For information on either event, phone 250-381-1552 or go to fernwoodnrg.ca.

Wet ’n wild adventures and a Fort Mac fundraiser

CRD Parks celebrates the longest days of the year with three water-themed programs Saturday to Monday. The CRD also dips its toes in the fundraising pool this week with a Fort McMurray benefit show on Friday.

Beach Snoop takes visitors for a walk along the beach when the tide is out at Coles Bay Regional Park in North Saanich.

The guided walk, with a CRD Parks naturalist, is suitable for children five and older.

It would be wise to wear waterproof sandals (or beach shoes) and shorts as the walk involves wading in the water.

The free event runs 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Coles Bay Regional Park. Meet at the information kiosk off Inverness Road.

The beach theme continues on Sunday at Sensational Seaweeds, a guided walk at Island View Beach Regional Park.

This time, the CRD Parks naturalist will discuss marine algae and explain why it’s important to marine life and humans.

As above, sandals and beach shoes are recommended.

The program, suitable for kids five and older, runs 10:30 a.m. to noon at Island View Beach Regional Park. Meet at the grassy area adjacent to the picnic shelter off Homathko Road.

The third program, Solstice Canoeing, takes place on Monday, the longest day of the year.

This program is suitable for people 18 and older.

Participants will take up a paddle, jump into a canoe and, under the supervision of a guide, embark on an aquatic adventure of Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. No experience necessary. The canoe, equipment and instruction are all provided.

The event costs $20 and pre-registration is required. The paddle runs 6 to 9 p.m. Call soon, as space is limited in this popular program. Call 250-478-3344. For information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.

The Capital Regional District has provided start-up assistance to YYJ2YMM, a fundraising show for Fort McMurray residents affected by the wildfires, on Friday.

Performers include Cookelidh, Morning Show, Grizzly Timber, Daniel Lapp and the Fiddle Orchestra, Mark Grimshaw, Dwayne Andrucko and Jon Middleton from Jon and Roy.

There will be food trucks and a beer garden. Disaster Aid Canada will collect donations.

The event runs 4 to 10 p.m. Friday in Centennial Square. For information, check out the Facebook page.

Fish for free on Dad’s weekend

Take dad freshwater fishing for free this weekend as the province offers licence-free fishing for Father’s Day.

This is the 17th year of Family Fishing Weekend, with special angling events in 49 communities throughout the province.

In Victoria, the Victoria Fish and Game Protective Association will teach visitors the basics

of freshwater fishing for novices at a fish-stocked pond on their property.

Elsewhere in the province, people can take part in events from hatchery tours to beachside barbecues.

The free-fishing promotion is open all Canadian residents and is good for most freshwater lakes and non-tidal streams in British Columbia (with the exception of 18 restricted trout and steelhead streams).

“For many B.C. families, Family Fishing Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer,” said Michele Dusterhoft, president, Family Fishing Society of B.C. “A free weekend of fishing is a great way to encourage families to get outdoors and enjoy sport fishing throughout British Columbia.”

These weekend events are being co-ordinated by the Family Fishing Society, a not-for-profit organization run by and for recreational anglers.

Fishing is one of B.C.’s most popular recreational activities. Last year, an estimated 40,000 anglers throughout the province took advantage of the free licence weekend.

The Victoria Fish and Game Protective Association is also holding an open house at the same time on Sunday.

Both events are free. They run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Victoria Fish and Game Protective Association Club, 700 Hokker Plc., Malahat. Details at vfgpa.org or bcfamilyfishing.com.

Celebrate diversity at Dancefest

Celebrate Victoria’s rich cultural mosaic at the 10th annual Heritage Dancefest, a flamboyant showcase of music, colourful traditional costumes, lively rhythms and flashy folk dances involving more than 400 performers, Saturday.

The free community music event, an opportunity for local groups to perform, share their culture and recruit new members, is the spiritual successor to FolkFest, which ran in Victoria from 1971 to 2006.

This year, there will be 14 local dance groups performing on stage almost non-stop for five hours, with traditional music and vibrant costumes from the Ukraine, the Balkans, Ireland, China, Norway and Japan.

The audience will also notice that, in addition to being multi-cultural, some of the performers are multi-generational, with young and old dancing together to help keep cultural traditions alive.

The one-day event typically sees between 3,000 to 5,000 spectators, who are encouraged to pack a lunch, a picnic blanket, a hat and sweater and stay for the day.

The show begins with a traditional welcome from the Veselka Ukrainian Dancers and a First Nations blessing.

The event is free. The performances run noon to 5 p.m. at Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park. For more information, go to veselkadancers.com.

Spotlight on women in the war

The story of how women contributed to the Second World War effort comes alive at Historical Timelines — Women on the Home Front, today to Sunday.

The four-day event sees re-enactors and Parks Canada staff re-create women’s contributions on the home front.

Attendees can sit behind the wheel of the 1942 Willy’s Jeep for a selfie, master the art of the Victory roll, or take a knitting lesson. Dressing up in 1940s costumes is encouraged.

For added authenticity, the event is staged at the Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site.

The event is included in admission to the site, $3.90 adult, $3.40 seniors, $1.90 youth and $9.80 family. The grounds are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd. Details at pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill/activ/activ2016.aspx

Take to the skies in an iconic ‘Flying Fortress’

Soar into the wild blue yonder on an iconic aircraft as a Second World War B-17 bomber touches down in Victoria, today through Sunday.

The Experimental Aircraft Association, a community of aviation enthusiasts, has been offering tours of the B-17 since 1994. Tens of thousands of people have had the opportunity to experience this piece of history through flights and ground tours.

Although all B-17s are known as the Flying Fortress, each plane is also given an individual name, in this case, Aluminum Overcast. Built in 1945, she arrived too late to see action. She is one of only 13 still airworthy.

This is not just a static display. Attendees will have an opportunity to take to the sky. During a 24-minute flight, up to 10 passengers can freely walk around the aircraft, to visit the various compartments of the aircraft like the nose, bomb bay, navigation/radio, cockpit, and waist sections.

The flight experience takes place in the morning with ground tours in the afternoon.

Revenue from the tour help with maintenance and operational costs for the aircraft.

Ground tours are $10 individual, $20 family (adults with children up to 17), free for children under eight, active military members and veterans. Flights are $449 advance, $475 walk-up.

Flights take place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., ground tours 2 to 5 p.m. today till Sunday at the Victoria Flying Club, 1852 Canso Rd., North Saanich. Details at eaa.org.