Aug 10 - A weekend of festivals in Victoria

Good morning !

Just as one fire on the Island is brought under control—Sooke’s Old Man Lake fire is no longer expected to spread after growing to 230 ha—another one has sparked. A wildfire just near the Nanaimo River was discovered yesterday and is deemed out of control at 2.3ha as of Friday night.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 22 / 14

Tomorrow: ⛅ 22 / 15

Monday: ⛅ 19 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

Festivals galore in Victoria this weekend

We’re set to have one of those perfect summer weekends, where the days are expected to be the right amount of sunny without being too hot. It couldn’t have come at a better time, considering the abundance of festivals happening in the city. From live music to live sports, there are multiple ways to get out and enjoy some fun with the community.

Check out our roundup of festivals happening today and tomorrow:

Phillips Backyard Reverb
Today & Tomorrow | 3-9pm
The second weekend of the fest takes place this weekend at Matullia Lands, with Earl Sweatshirt, Black Pumas, and Jungle set to perform. Grab a Phillip’s beer and some snacks from local food trucks in between sets.  [$105+]

Victoria Dragon Boat Festival
Today | 8am-5pm
Catch the annual fest in the Inner Harbour, with iconic dragon boat races, music and cultural shows, Chinatown booths, and more. [Free]

Upper Fort Street Fest
Today | 11am-5pm
Check out this fun block party, with live music, local vendors, food, and games for the whole family. Fort will be closed off from Vancouver to Cook. [Free]

Sooke Music Festival
Today 1-9:15pm | Tomorrow 12:30-8pm
Back for its ninth year, this festival in Fred Milne Park puts the spotlight on Island musicians. Local visual artists and artisans will also display their work. Enjoy food and drinks, and bring the whole family to take part in the kids activities. [Free]

Free-B Movie Fest
Tonight | 9pm
What’s better than an outdoor movie in the summer? A free outdoor movie! Bring a picnic blanket to the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park to watch The Breakfast Club tonight. The fest will be on again next week with Stand By Me playing Friday and the Last Unicorn playing Saturday. [Free]

Day of the Dog 
Today | 10am-4pm
We may be in the dog days of summer, but today is a special celebration for furry friends. Bring your pup to this dog-centric festival at Bullen Park, with a special dog brunch, contests, and photo booths. There will also be dog races and an exhibition to watch. [Free]

Bowker Creek Brush up
Tomorrow | 11am-4:30pm
Take a stroll along Bowker Creek near Oak Bay High School and watch as Oak Bay artists create new work and show off finished pieces. Enjoy some live music and BBQ while you wander through the fest. [Free]

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

High-risk missing senior found after being reported missing yesterday in Vic West.

CCTV and traffic delays today for downtown demonstration. [2-4pm]

Air quality: Low risk today (3/10). Current smoke forecast.

Heat warning issued for East Island. [Island Health]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

New vegan fast-food joint opening its doors this weekend

After nearly a year of anticipation, the paper is finally coming down at a downtown vegan burger joint this weekend. Odd Burger will open its doors at 790 Fisgard St. today.

Odd Burger is a fast-food restaurant that focuses solely on vegan food that utilizes sustainable and minimally processed ingredients. Since its start in Ontario in 2014 it has quickly gained popularity, with locations opening across Canada. The Victoria location will be the chain’s first restaurant in BC. 

The restaurant will begin with soft open hours, kicked-off by a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon. It is celebrating its grand opening with $1 soft-serve ice cream and free tote bags for the first 30 customers. 

Read all about Odd Burger’s opening here.

SPONSORED BY BEAM BEAUTY & WELLNESS CENTRE

Beam Beauty to host IV Therapy night

Join Beam Beauty & Wellness Centre for an exclusive evening on August 15, from 6–8pm where they will discuss IV Therapy and how it can enhance your health and wellbeing. Hosted by Dr. Ayla Lester, discover how Beam Beauty’s custom IV vitamin infusions can help you replenish your body’s essential nutrients. The evening will also feature specials on selected services, discounts on skincare products, as well as tasty appies and bubbles.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your health journey! Learn how IV Therapy can benefit you. RSVP today to: [email protected]

⭐️ Capital Picks

🥇 Follow 🍁 athletes at Paris 2024

⚾ HarbourCats playoffs start today in Nanaimo. [Get there on the fan bus]

🍽️ Merridale’s Cider Harvest Festival: Taste ciders from across BC at the cidery’s annual festival on Sep. 22. Tickets available now.

🗞️ In Other News

Police storm ‘illegal gaming house’ in Saanich, arrest 14
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit BC (CFSEU-BC) has been surveilling the building that used to house the Cook and Quadra Medical Clinic on Cook/Quadra. On Thu. afternoon they went in and claim that they essentially found a casino, complete with poker and baccarat tables, cards and dice games. No weapons were found. The 14 were not immediately charged and all have since been released as police continue their investigation. [CHEK]

Truck in highway crash near View Royal was carrying equipment for music fest
The rig crashed just before noon, forcing the shutdown of southbound lanes near the Six Mile Road off-ramp and landing the driver in hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. The sound equipment was picked up by the Phillips Backyard organizers, who said the accident wasn’t expected to disrupt the ongoing festival. [Times Colonist]

BC fisherman fined 33K for harvesting globally unique glass sponge reefs
The owner of a commercial halibut vessel was fined after harvesting and selling the illegal catch from a marine protected area near Bella Bella. The DFO says that some sections of the reef are approximately 9K years old, and considered the largest living example of glass sponge reefs that were “abundant” millions of years ago. Any damage to the reefs could undermine decades of restoration work. [CP/ Yahoo]

🗓️ Things to do

🚲 🌍 Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour kicks off: See the riders supporting grandmothers and their families living amidst the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Mile Zero. Tomorrow, 9am. [Info]  

🏈 Westshore Rebels host Okanagan Sun in BCFC play, today at Starlight. 4pm. [Info]

🛍️ Metchosin Makers Market: Shop from over 40 artisan vendors and enjoy food and drink, music, and kids activities at Old Metchosin School today. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🎻 Summer Concert Classical: UVic and UBC musicians come together for this concert at Sylvan United Church in Cobble Hill today. 4pm. [Info] 

🍺 Big Patio Days: Whistle Buoy Brewing is hosting a Surf Rock Beach Party featuring DJ sets, live music, a dunk tank, and food from Good Time Glizzy and Dumpling Drop. Today, 3-9pm. [Info] 

🎷 Uncle Wiggly's Hot Shoes Blues Band: The blues band will perform at Hermann’s Jazz Club tonight. 7pm. [Info] 

🖼️ Arts & Music in the Gardens: Check out live music, artists, and vendors at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific today. 9am-4pm. [Info] 

🎵 Colwood’s Music in the Park: The Groove Diggers will perform at Royal Bay Commons today. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info] 

🎶 Music in the Park: Noedy HD Quintet will perform jazz tunes at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park today. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info] 

🌱 Fall Plant Sale: Shop fall veggies, perennials, and native plants while listening to bicycle-powered music at The Compost Education Centre today. 10am-12pm. [Info] 

🎸 Latin Funk Night: Dance to soul, reggae, and funk tunes played by The West Coast Cuban Orchestra at the Victoria Event Centre tonight. 8:30pm. [Info] 

😂 Mike Masilotti: The comedian will perform his stand-up set at Hecklers tonight. 7:30pm. [Info] 

🃏 Afro-Disiac Vol. II: Quarterback Baby—the former singer of Electric Sex Panther at Canoe—returns to Victoria with Chai Sully, tonight at Lucky Bar. 7pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: There are jobs and money in seaweed; Golf carts coming to Victoria streets; Martin Mars to take last flight to museum; And more. [Aug. 9]

James Bay speed limits next to drop. [Capital Daily] 

Sooke Potholes wildfire under control. [Old Man Lake]

Fall recreation registration: City of Victoria. [Opens Aug. 19]

Find parkade spots in real time with Victoria's parking tracker.

Rifflandia is hosting a Supper Club: Tickets are on sale for a foodie event at the music festival in Sept.

That’s it!

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