Esquimalt residents will get an early-morning wake-up call on Saturday from the Buccaneer Days Wakey Wakey Wagon — a van full of firefighters calling out “Wakey, Wakey” through a loudspeaker at 7:30 a.m.
“I usually get one or two calls every year [from newcomers],” said Bob McKie chairman of the Friends of the Buccaneers. “They don’t appreciate getting woken up … I just calmly tell them all: ‘Welcome to Esquimalt.’ ”
Still, most Esquimalt residents look forward to this weekend’s festivities and some even don naval and pirate attire from their sea chests to join in the jolly party.
The three-day community celebration attracts upwards of 3,000 people to events for all ages, including a midway, dance, rugby tournament, skydiving demonstration, kids play zone, races and a parade.
Esquimalt has held spring celebrations for more than 60 years, starting with May Queen celebrations in the early years of the municipality. The event evolved into Esquimalt Days and eventually, in 1966, Buccaneer Days.
More than 20 community organizations will take part in the celebrations.
Buccaneer Days kicks off Friday with a barbecue for seniors at noon and midway rides until 11 p.m.
Saturday begins with a pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m., and a parade at 10 a.m. along Esquimalt Road (between Dominion Road and Admirals Street). The day concludes with a community dance that shuts down at 2 a.m.
New this year is a stage in Bullen Park with live entertainment, including local bands and dancers. Events during the day include the midway, nail-driving contest and a children’s pirate den.
Sunday is just as busy, with a Mini Tyke lacrosse tournament, rugby polo, model train and dog agility demonstrations. A skydiver will parachute onto the grounds to determine the winner of the pie plate contest.
Nine food booths will keep everyone well fed on both days.
The Songhees First Nations will be represented at the event this year, with craft demonstrations and food such as barbecued salmon and bannock.
Attendees are advised to leave pets at home.
Admission is free. The event runs Friday to Sunday at Archie Browning Sports Centre and Bullen Field, 1151 Esquimalt Rd. Dance tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The dance starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Archie Browning Sports Centre.
For a schedule of events, go to esquimaltbuccaneerdays.ca.
Take a beachy field trip
Join the Friends of Uplands Park and the Royal B.C. Museum at their Beach Seine at Willows Beach on Sunday.
This hands-on event is part of the museum’s Field Tripper Series celebrating 125 years of public programs outdoors.
The museum staff will run a seine net over the eelgrass beds to collect marine life and then bring in the nets to shore.
Families can find creatures, put them into little containers of sea water and have them identified by experts.
SeaChange Marine Conservation Society will be on hand with a new map of eel grass fields off the shores of Oak Bay.
The event is free. It runs 9 to 11 a.m. at the north end of Willows Beach, off Beach Drive. Participants should wear boots or water shoes.
For information, go to friendsofuplandspark.wordpress.com.
Admire some tiny, perfect gardens
Discover some of Victoria’s smallest backyard gems as 10 garden owners open their gates for the 10th Teeny Tiny Garden Tour on Sunday.
This year, the gardens are clustered in the neighbourhoods of James Bay, Fairfield, Rockland, and Fernwood — making the tour convenient and bicycle friendly.
Nearly 4,000 people have toured more than 130 gardens since the tour’s inception in 2006. The event has raised more than $100,000 for Victoria Hospice’s compassionate end-of-life care programs.
Tiny sanctuaries include Barbara’s garden in Fairfield, where every square inch has been worked to create an oasis of calm with an outdoor kitchen and healing garden.
Gardens feature everything from lemon trees to goji berry vines. Bonus stops include Villa Marco Polo, James Bay Community Allotment Garden and the garden at the Open Door Spiritualist Sanctuary.
Tickets are $25. The self-guided tour runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets at Thrifty Foods, Dig This, Capital Iron, Mayfair mall concierge desk and Victoria Hospice. For details, go to victoriahospice.org.
Celebrate with an ale at Morris dancer Fred’s 90th
The largest gathering of Morris dancers Victoria has ever seen takes place this weekend as teams of dancers travel to town for Fred’s Nine T Ale (Fred’s 90th birthday party).
Morris dancing is a centuries-old English tradition, done by teams of dancers called sides. A gathering of several Morris sides is called an ale.
Fred Carr joined the original Victoria Morris Men in 1974. The side eventually became Hollytree Morris and is arguably the oldest in Canada, with Carr, still dancing more than 40 years later.
His friends thought the achievement was worth celebrating with an ale.
The general plan includes dancing, singing, eating and drinking, repeated several times over the course of the weekend.
Sides performing at the ale include Hollytree, Tiddley Cove, Bridgetown, Drumbeggar, Quicksbottom, Island Thyme VVM and Sound and Fury.
The event is free to watch. There are two tours performing at the same time in different areas of town on Saturday.
Tour 1 (Hollytree, Tiddley Cove, Bridgetown, Drumbeggar) runs 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the James Bay Market, 11:30 a.m. at Market Square and 1:30 p.m. at Centennial Square.
Tour 2 (Quicksbottom, Island Thyme, Vancouver Morris Men and Sound and Fury) runs 10-10:45 a.m. at Langford Market, 11:30 a.m. at Bastion Square and 1:30 p.m. at Market Square.
Both tours will gather to perform from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the front lawn of the legislature, complete with the town crier.
Spectators at the legislature will be encouraged to try a dance or two.
For details, go to ale.quicksbottommorris.ca.
Geek out at gaming industry art show
Get a behind the scenes look at one of the fastest growing industries on the island at Geek: Into the Pixel Art Show on Saturday.
The tech industry in Victoria has never been bigger, with at least 19 gaming studios active in and around the downtown core. Four of those studios (1Bit Labs, Codename, InLight an Kano/Apps) have come together to celebrate the diversity, talent and passion of their art and video games.
The show is by a group of gaming artists, not just to show pieces from their careers in the industry, but to feature their personal work as well.
Attendees can view geek-inspired art and meet the artists in person. Some prints will be available for sale.
There will be snacks, beer, wine and a classic video-game lounge.
Admission is free. The event runs 7 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday at Fort Tectoria, 777 Fort St.
For information, go to the event’s Facebook page.
Run, walk for Special Olympics
The public is invited to join police for the Law Enforcement Torch Run to support Special Olympics B.C. on Saturday.
It’s part of a global movement to raise funds for the Special Olympics. Police forces around the province have raised more than $3 million for the event since 1990.
Participants can walk or run with members from Saanich, Central Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay and Military Police departments with a message of respect for the special athletes.
Registration is required. The 5K event starts at
9 a.m. at the Saanich Police Department, 760 Vernon Ave. Participants will walk/run on the Galloping Goose, followed by pancakes at 10 a.m. Details at specialolympics.bc.ca/letr.
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