Join the conversation about climate change, environmental sustainability and water and food security or just learn about indigenous peoples from the South Pacific at the One Wave Festival today through Saturday.
This year, the festival takes place in conjunction with the 22nd Pacific Networking Conference with three days of conference programming and four days of public events. At the conference, First Nations people will meet with their counterparts from the South Pacific to discuss issues on human rights, cultural strength, health, globalization and socio-economics.
“The event provides opportunities to learn together through showcasing best practices and for opening dialogue and exchange,” said April Ingham, executive director of Pacific Peoples’ Partnership, which organizes both the conference and the festival.
The One Wave Festival’s big public event is on Saturday with more than 1,000 people expected to flock to Centennial Square to watch as local and indigenous people from as far away as Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia in the South Pacific take part in a day of music, dance and performances.
There will also be face painting and other children’s activities in the square. The talent of local youth will be on display, in art forms such as poetry, the spoken word, dance, Coast Salish drumming, hip-hop jams, painting and carving.
Other public events include an evening of speakers and film screenings and a First Nations feast.
A Night of Pacific Films includes locally-produced multimedia projects, a keynote presentation by a slow food activist and a documentary film screening. Admission is by donation. The event runs 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at the Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St.
Sharing the Harvest: A Community Honouring Feast is presented in partnership with Songhees Nation and features a delicious feast of Pacific foods. Tickets are $40. The event starts at 6 p.m. Friday at the Songhees Wellness Centre, 1100 Admirals Rd.
Saturday’s Pacific Arts and Cultural Festival features entertainment, activities, an artisan market, food trucks and community-group kiosks. Admission is free, noon to 6 p.m. in Centennial Square.
For information, go to pacificpeoplespartnership.org.
All the babies will be there
Breastfeed your new bundle of joy in a Baby Bistro, buy the latest hip and fun products or enter your baby in his or her first race at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair, Saturday and Sunday.
This is the ninth year of the event, which features more than 100 exhibitors of child-related products and services of interest to parents and grandparents.
Entertainers, professional educators and speakers will take to the main stage for topics such as pregnancy, birthing preparation, tips on breastfeeding and navigating parenthood and the toddler years.
A professional photographer specializing in newborn and child photography will be on hand to take pictures of young attendees. Proceeds from a $15 mini photo shoot, which includes a 5 x 7 photo, will benefit the Cridge Centre for the Family. The pictures will also be entered into a contest (two age categories: under two and two to six years old) with the winners announced in November.
There will be Baby Races at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day with little crawlers from five to 11 months racing in a series of heats, leading to one final championship race. There are prizes for the winners of each heat and a prize package for the overall winner.
The event is designed for the needs of new parents, with comfortable pit-stops to nurse and feed your little bundle. Want more privacy? Pop in to the Baby Bistro baby feeding space. The fair also has a café with affordable menu choices for children and grown-ups.
Admission is $8, free for children 12 and under. The two-day event runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd. Details at www.vancouverislandbabyfair.com.
Go treasure hunting at retro expo
Happy days are here again as the Victoria Vintage Expo returns to town Friday and Saturday.
This is the third year of the event, which saw more than 3,500 people last year browsing tables of vintage and retro clothing, jewelry, textiles, housewares, collectibles, up-cycled and reworked items.
More than 70 vendors, from Victoria and Vancouver Island, are expected to be on hand to showcase their wares.
Non-stop entertainment includes a rockabilly-themed fashion show, a workshop on how to add age and patina to a piece of furniture, a best-dressed contest, sewing using vintage fabrics, a history of fashion show, how to sell on eBay or Amazon, make-up and beauty tips and up-cycling demonstrations.
Attendees can boogie to Motown hits while enjoying an alcoholic beverage on Friday night.
Proceeds from the event support the Victoria Women In Need Community Cooperative.
Tickets are $8 single day or $9 for a weekend pass for adults, free for children 13 and under. The event runs 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Crystal Garden,
713 Douglas St. Details at victoriavintageshow.com.
Celebrate Fairfield at the fall fete
Bring your wackiest garden veggies for the harvest table, change for the donation boxes and a smile for your neighbours at the Fall Fairfield: Harvest Fete on Saturday.
This is the fifth anniversary of the annual fall gathering, hosted by the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association
to thank the community for making Fairfield a great place to live.
Entertainment includes live music with Balkan-inspired band Bucan Bucan and Masala Band as well as folk dancing.
There will also be circus performers, dancers, old fashioned games, harvest hat making, art activities and food vendors.
Admission is free. The event runs 1 to 5 p.m. in Robert J Porter Park, 1330 Fairfield Rd. Details at fairfieldcommunity.ca.
Wine-lovers unite at Victoria festival
Challenge your palate and sample wines from more than 100 international and local wineries at the Victoria International Wine Festival on Friday and Saturday.
In its second year, the festival is designed for both curious wine-loving neophytes and seasoned oenophiles.
There are three public tastings and one trade tasting event over two days.
Guests will be exposed to the highest level of wine knowledge with sommeliers on site ready to answer questions.
Attendees can also enjoy tapas and coffee from local restaurants and vendors throughout the venue.
The public tasting sessions run 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday as well as a more in-depth session with limited space from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. A trade tasting takes place 1 to 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Seminar topics include Exploring Australian Wine, Speed Pairing, Wines of Spain and California Diversification.
Partial proceeds from the festival will go to the B.C. Hospitality Foundation, which provides assistance to the industry’s ill or injured workers.
Tickets for the evening tastings are $75 and $50 for the Saturday afternoon tasting. Prices include wine or beverage samples as well as food. Seminars are $35 each. The festival starts at 6 p.m. Friday in the courtyard of the Parkside Hotel and Spa, 810 Humboldt St.
Tickets for the individual events are only sold in advance and are available online at vicwf.com. This is a 19-plus event; no minors permitted.
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