Your cup will runneth over with a parade, midway rides, bathtub and teacup races at the family-friendly Oak Bay Tea Party, Saturday and Sunday at Willows Park in Oak Bay.
This is the 56th year of the annual event, which attracts up to 20,000 people of all ages to enjoy a wide range of activities and entertainment.
“It is the most fun community event to take place in Oak Bay,” said Sandy Germain, chair of the Oak Bay Tea Party Society.
One of the most-anticipated events is a 45-minute parade that starts at Windsor Park at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. It winds through Oak Bay and finishes at Willows Beach, just before the opening ceremonies.
The Esquimalt Lions will once again be cooking up a pancake breakfast for the early risers, the Royal Oak Lions will serve up corn on the bob and volunteers will carve up 500 kilograms of AAA top inside round roast beef for the celebrated barbecued baron of beef.
The Girl Guides will be serving Tetley Tea in Willows Park and the Oak Bay Kiwanis Tea Room will be open for business throughout the weekend.
There will be lots of fun for children, too.
“Last year’s Castle Kids Corral was so popular, they ran out of supplies,” Germain said. “So this year they have expanded it — and added a sand castle activity as well.”
Entertainment will include events on stage, on the beach, grass, water and even in the air.
This is the 50th year for the Bathtub Race, with 10 tubbers expected to show off their skills. Less skilful, but no less entertaining, will be the Mayor’s Challenge Floating Teacup Race.
Up to 15 skydivers will show off their precision skills. Three acrobatic aircraft will be joined by a Canadian Forces Sea King and Aurora maritime patrol aircraft and a flyby by a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter.
Midway rides and games will satisfy thrill-seekers of all ages.
Admission is free. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday at Willows Park on Beach Drive in Oak Bay.
Parking is limited in and around the area. Please consider taking transit or arriving by bicycle. The secured bicycle storage facility has been enlarged this year, with attendants on duty. For information, go to oakbayteaparty.com.
Arts festival open to performers, public
Enjoy performances by B.C.’s up-and-coming performing artists as Victoria hosts the Performing Arts B.C. Provincial Festival, five days of special master classes, lectures, coaching, workshops, technical classes, adjudications and concerts, today until Saturday at various venues in the city.
The festival is open to performers between the ages of 10 and 28. It is regarded as the pinnacle of B.C.’s festival circuit, made up of 34 regional performing arts festivals (including the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival) held throughout the province.
Every year the Provincial Festival is held in a different region of B.C.
While the classes, lectures and workshops are for the benefit of the participants, everyone is invited to attend the festival’s public concerts:
Future Stars Dance Concerts, 11 a.m. today at Dance Victoria, 2750 Quadra St. and 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Canadian College of Performing Arts Theatre, 1701 Elgin St. Admission $2.
Future Stars Music and Speech Arts Concerts, at noon today and Friday in the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, University of Victoria. Admission $2.
Provincial Highlights Concert, 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, UVic. Admission $15.
Dance Finals and Highlights Concert, 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Farquhar Auditorium, UVic. Admission $22.
National Finals and Highlights Concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, UVic. Admission $15.
Tickets available at the door for all concerts.
For more information, go to bcprovincials.com.
Best in Show event raises funds for SPCA branch
The SPCA is presenting a fun charity show for man’s best friend, Saturday at the Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.
The ninth Best In Show event features prizes for the top three finalists in each contest category, including dogs that are best dressed, most endearing rescue dog, cutest, most original hair and able to do the best trick.
Judges include a real judge — B.C. provincial court judge Adrian Brooks.
Other judges include former Times Colonist columnist and journalist Jody Paterson and Roanna Haggith, a former community council member with the SPCA.
The event is a fundraiser supporting abused, abandoned and injured animals rescued by the B.C. SPCA’s Victoria Branch. Net proceeds will be donated to the branch.
“This is a really fun event, celebrating the amazing dogs who share our lives, with all proceeds going to help our community’s most vulnerable and at-risk animals,” said Annie Prittie Bell, manager of the Victoria SPCA.
The show is free. The entry fee is $20 for the first event and $10 for each additional event. Dog registration runs noon to 1 p.m.
The show starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Delta Hotels by Mariott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa, 45 Songhees Rd.
Party fit for a Queen
Hear ye, hear ye!
Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin cordially invites you to attend a Garden Party in celebration of the 65th anniversary of the coronation of the Queen, Saturday at Government House.
You will be served light refreshments and entertained by music by the Commodores Big Band playing in the Government House Bandshell.
There will be a crown-making craft station for children.
In the spirit of an English garden party, attendees are asked to wear their best hat (fascinator hat or fancy headpiece), gloves and finery for the occasion.
The event is free to attend. It runs 2 to 4 p.m. on the grounds of Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave. Limited parking is available on site.
For more information, go to ltgov.bc.ca or call 250-387-2080.
World Oceans Day at Gorge
Join World Fisheries Trust and the Township of Esquimalt to commemorate World Oceans Day with a fun-filled day of community, conservation and all things ocean related, Saturday at Esquimalt Gorge Park.
There’s something for everyone: Nature walks, guided canoe tours along the Gorge waterway, live music by local musicians, food trucks, children’s activities and a wide variety of local vendors.
This year’s celebration will also feature the World Fisheries Trust Nail Sail Bail — The Gorge Edition. Teams of two have two hours to build a boat, then complete a water course while keeping it afloat. The boat building starts at noon, with the race beginning at 2:15 p.m.
World Oceans Day events are meant to draw attention to the fact that the oceans contain 97 per cent of the world’s water, provide up to 75 million tons of fish each year, regulate our climates and support 90 per cent of the world’s trade.
The event is free. It runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Gorge Waterway Nature House, Esquimalt Gorge Park, 1070 Esquimalt Rd. For more information, go to Facebook.
Arbutus choir celebrates 20th
The Arbutus Singers celebrates their 20th season with The Best of the Best celebration concert, Friday and Saturday at the First Metropolitan United Church.
The six-part choir sings modern arrangements of popular music, ranging from familiar chart-topping hits to Broadway medleys.
Founded by Jack Boomer, the 80-member choir has raised more than $400,000 to support local and international social- needs organizations in the past 20 years.
Their major community project is ChoirKids. Over the past 10 years, more than 2,000 children from seven schools have benefited from their support for children’s choirs.
Tickets are $30 for a family, $15 adults and $12 students and seniors. The concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Metropolitan United Church, 932 Balmoral Ave. For more information, go to arbutussingers.com.
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
