Explore: Marine sale, orienteering, halibut derby and more

Find whatever floats your boat at the annual Massive Marine Garage Sale, hosted by the Maritime Museum of B.C. on Saturday.

The event, in its 12th year, is an important fundraiser for the Maritime Museum. Proceeds support the museum’s outreach programs and, this year, its move to a new downtown location in 2016.

The Garage sale offers boat lovers, fishermen and others the opportunity to buy and sell marine, sports and outdoor-related items at reasonable prices.

“People can find anything in, on, around and about boats — including boats themselves — at the sale,” said volunteer co-ordinator Ann Jones.

She said the event attracts up to 1,000 people looking for nautical treasures. Some items, such as a 30-foot former tender for the Canadian Coast Guard weathership, were donated to the museum by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, to be sold in a silent auction.

People with nautical items for sale; from fishing gear to boats, sails and motors, can rent a table either indoors in the customs building or outdoors from their vehicles along the cruise-ship dock. Small boats can be brought in on trailers.

Commercial sellers will also display their wares at the event.

While items for sale vary every year, past sales have included rare gems, such as a Pixie Fairey Marine folding boat from the 1950s.

A highlight of this year’s sale is a binnacle off an old coastal sailboat.

The event is sponsored by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.

Admission for buyers is $5, free for children under 12. Vendors are $40. The event runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pier A, at Ogden Point off Dallas Road. Parking is free. Set up for vendors is from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday or 6.30 to 8.45 a.m. Saturday. Details at mmbc.bc.ca/massive-marine-garage-sale.

Family fun in the fresh air

Families looking to meet new people and have fun in the fresh air should check out Sunday’s Family Orienteering drop-in event.

Orienteering is a great way to get active with the whole family. At the event, run by CRD Regional Parks, naturalists will have a beginner-level course set up with maps.

Orienteering is like a treasure hunt in the great outdoors and develops decision-making and team-working skills.

The free event runs 1 to 3 p.m. at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park in Saanich. Meet at the information kiosk in the Beaver Lake parking lot. The park is served by B.C. Transit No. 70 or 72.

Try to arrive 10 minutes before the start of the program. Please leave pets at home. For details, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.

If you like big halibuts and you cannot lie

Fish for prizes of all sizes at the Just For the Halibut Derby, presented by Island Outfitters on Saturday and Sunday.

This is the 19th year of the two-day event, which sees cash prizes of $7,500 for first place, $2,500 for second place and $1,000 third. But even if you don’t land the largest fish, there are three $1,000 hidden weight prizes up for grabs, as well as the SG Power prize for the average weight.

Up to 500 people are expected to dip their lines in local waters with the hopes of catching a big one. The record for the derby stands at 91 kilograms, with an 81-kilogram specimen hooked (and released) last year.

Partial proceeds benefit the TLC Fund for Kids.

Tickets are $60 per rod. Catch and release packages must be picked up by Friday. The derby runs 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, with final weigh-in at 2 p.m. Sunday at Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas St.

For information, go to fishingvictoria.com.

Eat canapés and send children to art classes  

Colour Your Palate is Victoria’s version of the Iron Chef — with a twist. The event, which takes place on Tuesday, is the signature fundraising event for the artsREACH program.

Watch local chefs compete against each other to create a colour-inspired canapé, using a randomly drawn colour. Colours this year include: yellow, blue, red, purple, orange and green.

The chefs have one month ahead of the event to select ingredients, experiment and perfect their canapés before the competition. At the event, professional judges vote for winners in two categories: Best Tasting and Most Colourful creations.

Guests receive a complimentary glass of wine or beer, visit each chef’s station and sample each creation. Guests vote for their favourite canapés as part of the People’s Choice award, bid in the silent auction and enter to win a door prize.

Proceeds from the event benefit artsREACH, a program that helps children from low-income families participate in arts programming. More than 21,000 elementary school children have participated in workshops since 2005.

Admission is $60 in advance or $65 at the door. The event runs 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the University Club, 3800 Finnerty Rd.

For details, go to artsreach.ca/colour-your-palate.

Saving the planet, one festival at a time 

Enjoy an all-ages community event featuring local food, more than 35 local musical acts and 60 innovative displays at the Fourth annual Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival, Saturday and Sunday.

The festival features free electric-assist bicycle test rides, electric vehicles, world-class photography, installation art, painters, poets and afternoon tea.

Attendees are encouraged to dress up in costumes for the event, where they can learn about yoga, the healing arts and locally sourced organic dinner parties. Short films and documentaries will be screened and there will be children’s activities.

Creatively United for the Planet is a registered not-for-profit society run entirely by volunteers.

Admission is free, but some events are by ticket or donation.

The festival runs noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the English Inn, 429 Lampson St.

For information, go to creativelyunited.org.

 Eat, drink and be entertained for Vanuatu cyclone relief 

Help rebuild a hospital by having a cocktail, enjoying appetizers and listening to live entertainment at the Vanuatu, We Are With You! gala on Sunday.

The fundraiser is presented by the Pacific Peoples’ Partnership and a consortium of Victoria- based aid agencies banding together to support relief efforts for citizens of Vanuatu affected by Cyclone Pam.

The cocktail-style party will include cider tastings and a silent auction.

Entertainment will be provided by students from Pearson College, South Pacific Islander Community dance, Pearls of the South Pacific and Tradewinds.

Funds raised will go to Victoria-based Disaster Aid Relief, rebuilding hospitals and medical centres, reconstruction and to grass roots organizations in the area.

Tickets cost $75 at evenbrite.ca.

The event runs from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse, 2487 Mt. St. Michael Rd. For details, go to pacificpeoplespartnership.org.