Whether your mom loves flowers, music, crafts, tea in a historic setting or the planet, there is an event (or two) to which you can take her — and the rest of the family — this weekend:
• The Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Musical Garden Tour takes place on Saturday and Sunday at various area gardens.
This is the 36th year of the fundraising event, which pairs beautiful gardens with music performed by conservatory students, faculty and guests.
Be dazzled by riots of floral colour, water features and spectacular greenery. The 10 floral oases in the tour include rock gardens, four-season gardens and even a putting green.
“The range of the garden experience, as well as the commitment of our committee and volunteers this year, is inspiring,” said Jane Butler McGregor, CEO of the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
There will be a plant sale and a silent auction for planters.
Tickets are $35 for a two-day pass purchased in person ($37 if bought online) for adults, and free for children 12 and under. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at venues in Greater Victoria. You can buy tickets in person at the Victoria Conservatory of Music front desk, 900 Johnson St., at retail locations in Greater Victoria or online at vcm.bc.ca/victoria-garden-tour.
• The Creatively United for the Planet Society and the World Tree Carbon Offset Program have teamed up to host Mothers for Mother Earth, Sunday at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific.
This family-friendly event features music, art, eco-friendly displays, sustainable fashion, a live floral sculpture, chair massage and body work. There will be a silent auction, photo opportunities, electric-car test drives and organic tea and coffee on offer.
The event is free with regular garden admission, $12 adults, $9 students and seniors, and free for children 16 and under. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday inside and outside the wood-timbered Couvelier Pavilion to the right of the main entrance of the centre, 505 Quayle Rd.
For information, go to creativelyunited.org.
• Celebrate Mother’s Day in beautiful Hatley Park at the Royal Roads University Mother’s Day Paint-in and Craft Fair on Sunday.
This is the 23rd year of the popular community outdoor festival, set in the castle’s heritage gardens. You can watch plein air painters, and enjoy family entertainment and main-stage performances.
There will be children’s crafts, local artisans, vendors and historical displays inside Hatley Castle.
The event is free. It runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hatley Park National Historic Site on the grounds of Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd.
For more information, go to www.royalroads.ca.
• Take mom for a cuppa at the Mother’s Day Tea Party at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites on Sunday.
Dazzle her with the sight of the Garry Oak Learning Meadow in full bloom.
Dress up and join in a tea party in honour of mothers and flowers, with music, fun activities and crafts in a picturesque setting.
After tea, you can take a walk through time with historians from the Victoria-Esquimalt Military Re-enactors Association.
Regular admission to the site. Tea service is $3.90 for adults, $3.40 for seniors and free for youth 17 and under.
The event runs from 1 to 3 p.m. at the historic site, 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd. For more information, call 250-478-5849 or go to pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill.
Early start sets the mood for Buccaneer Days
Wakey, wakey, Esquimalt mateys. On Saturday morning, the municipality’s annual Buccaneer Days sails into town, with entertainment in Bullen Park on Saturday and Sunday.
If you are a new resident of Esquimalt, prepare for a unique welcome to the seafaring municipality by the Buccaneer Days Wakey Wakey Wagon — a van full of firefighters calling out “Wakey, Wakey” through a loudspeaker at 7 a.m.
Seasoned residents probably will be up early after rummaging through their sea chests to look for their most appropriate naval or pirate attire to join in the jolly annual revelry.
The township of Esquimalt has hosted spring celebrations for more than 60 years, starting with the May Queen event in the early years of the municipality. That evolved into Esquimalt Days and eventually, in 1966, to Buccaneer Days.
More than 20 community organizations have joined in to make the event possible.
The community festival typically attracts more than 3,000 people of all ages over three days. Many dress up — some with eyepatches, stuffed parrots perched on their shoulders and hooks for hands — to take in a midway, dance or enter nail-driving contests, children’s and family races and a parade.
The event kicks off Friday with a barbecue for seniors at noon and midway rides until 11 p.m.
Saturday begins with the wake-up call, followed by a pancake breakfast at 7:30 and a parade at 10 a.m. along Esquimalt Road (between Dominion Road and Admirals Road).
The day concludes with a community dance at the Curling Rink that ends at 2 a.m. There will be background music from 7 to 9 p.m. and bands playing between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Sunday sees swordfighting demonstrations, local bands and dancers on stage at Bullen Park.
A skydiver will parachute onto the grounds to determine the winner of the pie plate contest.
There will be community food booths, the Buccaneer Market Place and a model-train demonstration.
Leave your pets at home.
Admission is free. For a schedule of events, go to esquimaltbuccaneerdays.ca.
Ceramic artists’ work goes up for sale
Local potters will showcase artfully handcrafted, unique ceramic creations at the Pacific Rim Potters Show and Sale, Saturday at the Knox Presbyterian Church Hall.
This is the 32nd year of the annual event, making it Victoria’s longest-running pottery show.
The event shows off functional, decorative or sculptural items for the home or garden, produced by local ceramic artists, who will be in attendance.
You can find pottery for the kitchen, elegant Ikebana vases, dramatic display pieces and humble coffee mugs. The show is a great place to find a gift, or something for you, your backyard birds or for inspiration for your next pottery class.
Complimentary refreshments will be provided.
Admission is free. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church Hall, 2964 Richmond Rd. The venue is wheelchair-accessible and parking is free.
For more information, call 250-658-4523.
Bargains on offer at garage sales
Get out and enjoy a packed, family-friendly day at the Oaklands Street Party and Neighbourhood Garage Sale Day on Saturday.
Start with a $5 pancake breakfast followed by scrounging for treasures at garage sales throughout the neighbourhood.
There will be music, food trucks, an inflatable amusement, face painting, colouring contest and other activities.
Organizers encourage people to walk or ride their bikes as parking will be limited. Be sure to bring your own water bottle.
All events and activities are free. Breakfast runs from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Oaklands Community Centre.
Garage sales run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The street party runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Ave. For details, go to oaklandscommunitycentre.com.
Pipes call for Tartan Parade
If you love the sound of massed bagpipes and the swirl of tartan, you will not want to miss Saturday’s Tartan Parade along Government Street.
The parade is a prelude to the upcoming Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival, held over the May long weekend.
It includes pipe bands, Highland dancers, heavy-event athletes, floats and members of local Scottish organizations and associated groups.
The parade starts at Centennial Square and travels along Government Street to the legislature lawns, where pipe bands will play, the Highland fling will be danced and the caber will be tossed.
The parade is free to watch. It starts at 11 a.m. at Centennial Square. For information, go to victoriahighlandgames.com.
Get a bird’s eye view of migration
Learn about the seasonal movement of birds from their wintering to breeding grounds at World Migratory Bird Day, Saturday and Sunday at The Raptors in Duncan.
In North America there are more than 350 species of migrating birds. They typically travel long distances (north to south) every year in major migratory bird corridors (or flyways).
At the event, you can learn about their journey and what you can do to help them on their way.
The event runs 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Raptors, 1877 Herd Rd.
For more information, go to pnwraptors.com.
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