Explore: Art shows, Lavenderfest and more

Enjoy works by the finest artists from Vancouver Island and B.C.’s coastal islands at the Sooke Fine Arts Show from Friday until Aug. 3.

The show, celebrating its 29th year, is Vancouver Island’s longest-running juried fine art show and one of the Island’s premier summer arts events.

The 11-day show and sale attracts more than 8,000 art lovers from Canada, the U.S. and abroad. Visitors will see more than 375 works of original island art on display in a 17,000-square-foot gallery in the SEAPARC complex in Sooke.

Visitors can also enjoy daily artist demonstrations, talks, guided tours and live music. There will also be an afternoon of children’s musical and dance performances on July 28.

One-day admission for visitors 13 and older is $8, for seniors (65-plus) it’s $7 and a non-transferable show pass is $15. Admission is free for children under 12. There are two special events, a Purchasers Preview evening tonight for $30 and a Taste of Sooke evening July 30 for $15. Special admission on Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. is $2. For information, go to sookefinearts.com.

Step inside Metchosin, East Sooke studios

Discover why many artists find inspiration for their works in the landscape of Metchosin and East Sooke at the Stinking Fish Studio Tour and Art Sale, today through Monday.

The self-guided art trail tour, where artists and artisans open their studios and workshops to the public, celebrates its 15th year with 13 participants. Media include metal work, wood turning, oil painting, fine woodworking, acrylic painting, wool creations, watercolours, pottery, tapestry, sculptures, glass beads and found-objects art.

The five-day tour allows people to visit every artist in one day or to take up to five days to see them all.

There is no cost to tour the studios, which are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today until Monday.

Brochures with maps for the tour are available at various locations around Victoria and the West Shore or online at stinkingfishstudiotour.com.

Get your fill of wine, food, art

Enjoy a prize-winning selection of Vancouver Island wines paired with food and art at the Colwood Rotary 4th annual Art and Wine Festival on Sunday.

The event raises money for the service group’s community and international projects.

Visitors receive five one-ounce wine tastings, food pairings and live shows by jazz trumpeter Miguelito Valdes and singer/songwriter Terry Brennan.

Art work including paintings, wood sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and photography will be for sale.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate include entrance to the Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site. The event runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd. Details at colwoodrotary.ca.

Learn about lavender, raise money for hospice

Learn about the many uses of lavender, a plant used in food, drink and perfume, during Lavenderfest at the Damali Lavender and Winery on Saturday.

This is the eighth year of the event at the one-hectare farm, which grows up to 25 different varieties of the perennial flowering plant. Expect to see lots of Munstead lavender, the classic English strain and Provence, a hybrid renowned for its essential oil.

Every year, from the middle of June until the end of August, the fields on the farm turn fragrant and colourful as the flowers bloom.

“We get lots of foreign tourists,” said Dave Stanley, owner of the farm. “Many from France tell us it reminds them of home.”

Up to 1,200 people are expected at the annual festival, which includes lavender harvesting and essential-oil distillation demonstrations, soap making, farm tours, U-pick lavender, wand making, children’s crafts and scavenger hunt, artisan vendors, live music, a wine garden and concession with lavender-infused treats.

People can also take a stroll in the fields at their leisure, surrounded by row upon row of the fragrant plant, or take a guided walk in the labyrinth.

The event is a fundraiser for the Cowichan Valley Hospice Society, with $2 from every adult admission earmarked for donation.

Admission is $5, or $3 for seniors and $2 for children 12 and under.

The event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the farm, 3500 Telegraph Rd., Cobble Hill. Parking is accessed off Telegraph Road, with a golf cart trip from the parking lot for guests with limited mobility. Limited wheelchair access. For details, go to damali.ca.

Party on at B.C. Aviation Museum  

The B.C. Aviation Museum celebrates the 50th Anniversary of North Saanich with an open house and barbecue on Saturday.

The museum collects, restores and displays aircraft and artifacts, with special emphasis on B.C. aviation history.

There will be more than 20 aircraft at the event, including a Canso flying boat and other visiting aircraft. The permanent collection includes a replica of a 1897 Chanute glider, a 7/8-scale replica of a Nieuport 17, a Noorduyn Norseman, a 3/4-scale Spitfire and a Fleet Model 2 float plane. The latter was flown in the province from 1930 to 1981. At the time of its retirement, it was the oldest active aircraft in Canada.

Some planes and artifacts date back to the Second World War, when Pat Bay was a training base for Commonwealth airmen.

During the event, visitors can sit in the cockpit of a warplane, try a flight simulator, take an airplane ride and chow down on barbecue food. There will also be activities for children.

A cake celebrating the District of North Saanich’s 50th anniversary will be cut at 1 p.m.

Admission is by donation at the event, which runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum, 1910 Norseman Rd. (off Canora, east of Victoria International Airport).

For $35, visitors can take 30-minute sightseeing plane rides in Cessna 172s, piloted by members of the Victoria Flying School. Please consider public transit to the museum as parking is limited. For information, go to bcam.net.