Aug 12 - Dragon Boat Festival

Good morning !

Today we’re giving you a rundown on all of the exciting events going on around town, from the history of dragon boat festivals to the biggest concerts and community gatherings to check out.

— Robyn

Today’s approx read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 23 / 13

Tomorrow : ☀️ 29 / 14

Monday: ☀️ 29 / 14

7-day forecast 

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (3/10), no smoke expected.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Three decades of dragon boats:
Iconic festival returns to harbour today

Today kicks-off the Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival, a weekend packed with races through the Inner Harbour, live music, and cultural performances. Over 40 dragon boats will compete today and tomorrow in a 470m race from Laurel Point to Ship’s Point.

The annual festival began with the Commonwealth Games in 1994 and has been a hallmark of the summer ever since. The dragon boats were brought to Victoria from Vancouver by the Victoria Chinese Commerce Association to commemorate Hong Kong Day. It is the only Canadian festival that takes place in a working harbour.

Dragon boating is a traditional Chinese cultural sport that originated 2,400+ years ago. According to popular legend, dragon boating began as an effort to find the body of the great poet Qu Yuan after he was drowned by a river dragon. Traditionally, dragon boat racing was done on the anniversary of Qu Yuan’s death to bring about an abundant harvest.

Aside from the main race event, activities this weekend will include a festival breakfast, craft vendors, a beer garden, a dragon dance performance, and more.

Read our story on what you can expect this weekend.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Royal Canadian Navy sailing update: The scheduled sailing of Vancouver, Ottawa, and Asterix past Clover Point, Saxe Point, and Esquimalt Lagoon will take place on Mon. at 11:40am instead of original scheduled sailing on Fri.  

Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak tonight, with shooting stars expected every minute.

Hwy 4 now open after closing briefly on Friday night due to rock hazards near Cathedral Grove.

Last chance to get free seedlings from the city in this summer round of Get Growing Victoria. Available at Irving Park (James Bay) 10am-noon.

NEWS

Outdoor music, movies, art, sports, & more:
This weekend’s Victoria events

With a month left of summer, there are endless events continuing to happen in and around Victoria. Our list of some of the best things to do this weekend has a little something for everyone, from sports enthusiasts and gardeners to music fans and movie buffs.

Beer and outdoor music: Reverb at Phillips Backyard

The Phillips Backyard festival continues today and tomorrow for its second weekend this summer. Today’s concert is headlined by Vancouver indie pop band Peach Pit and features Allen Stone, Ruby Waters, Bankes Brothers, and Babe Corner.

Tomorrow’s headliner is Seattle folk band Fleet Foxes—in a rare Island appearance—with sets from Hollow Coves, Jon and Roy, Steph Strings, and Cold Fame.

3D movie in the park: Free-B Film Festival 

Free classic movies return to Beacon Hill’s Cameron Bandshell on weekends this August. Coming up are Napoleon Dynamite, Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla, and Paris When it Sizzles.

Tonight, bring blankets and snacks at 9pm for 1961’s The Mask, a horror thriller about a psychiatrist who is given an ancient mask that gives him visions. This cult hit was the first fully Canadian-produced film to get wide international distribution. It will be shown in 3D, and blue-and-red 3D glasses will be given to the first 1,000 people.

Must-win playoff baseball: HarbourCats host Bells

Victoria’s top baseball club puts its record-setting season on the line today in a single-elimination semifinal game against Bellingham. The 6:35pm game could be Victoria’s last at home, where the team has a league-record 26 wins and just 2 losses.

This might be the ‘Cats’ last home game even if victorious (Monday’s Finals opponent may outrank them). The ball club has rewarded its home fans more than any other in West Coast League history—the challenge now is for locals to come out and return the favour.

Read our behind-the-scenes photo feature about the team’s opening day.

Bowker Creek celebrations: Biodiversity Day and Brush-Up Art & Show Sale 

The Friends of Bowker Creek Society celebrates the Biodiversity Corridor with a community family event at Kings Community Nature Space today (1-4pm). Learn about the creek through local speakers and table displays, and check out live music by The Bald Eagles Band, crafts, games, and ice cream.

Tomorrow 40+ artists will show off ceramics, painting, photography, and jewellery along the Bowker Creek Walkway from Armstrong to Hampshire. This Bowker Creek Brush-Up Art Show and Sale also hosts an art booth where kids can make some art of their own.

August Plant Sale at Compost Education Centre 

The non-profit’s annual summer sale is today in Fernwood at Haegert Park, 10am-2pm. Shop overwintering vegetables and perennials from local farmers. Plus: artisan vendors, live-bike-pedal-powered music, and a raffle. The parent-child workshop “Garden Arts & Crafts” teaches kids about composting. Admission by donation / free for Compost Education Centre members.

Pet-a-palooza: The Day of the Dog

The Victoria edition of the multi-city Pet-a-palooza annual Day of the Dog festival features puppy yoga; a pool party; haircuts; free dog superhero photos; exhibits; and races of corgis, French bulldogs, and fast dogs. Esquimalt’s Bullen Park, Sat. and Sun., 11am-4pm.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA

Full-flavoured opera on sale now

Pacific Opera Victoria's season of full-flavoured opera is on sale now! 3-opera subscriptions starting at $75, single tickets starting at $30.

Wagner’s Die Walküre | October 12 – 21
Golijov’s Ainadamar | February 21 – 27
Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro | April 3 – 9

Buy tickets and subscriptions here!

⭐️ Capital Picks

📚 The Federation of BC Writers’ annual literary contest is now open for submissions of unpublished flash fiction, short fiction, poetry, and non-nonfiction. Contest deadline Sep. 15.

🎧 Radio La Cafeteria on CFUV: An hour of music, culture, and news from throughout Latin America and Canada in both English and Spanish. Saturdays, 4-5pm.

🌱 Your family’s health comes first. A team of experts with big hearts and big brains. In-person, over the phone, on-call, and easy to access. This is Sprout.*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Crashed hang glider rescued from tree on Salt Spring
The experienced glider, 61, was found hanging upside down 20m from the ground after losing control following his launch from a platform 700m up Mt. Bruce. The complex 4.5-hour rescue required an expert arborist on site. [Gulf Islands Driftwood]

Man sentenced to community service, fined 1,200 for crash that killed Island teacher
Christopher Hoelzley, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of driving without due care and attention for the crash that killed Melissa Stathers, 29, in 2022 after his car veered into oncoming traffic. Stathers had just moved to Courtnay with her fiancé to start a new teaching job. Hoelzley showed no signs of intoxication at the time of the crash and couldn’t explain his lack of attention. [CTV]

Former councillor ‘cells’ tourist on Victoria
Former Victoria councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe made like Hercule Poirot or perhaps Nancy Drew when, with a little help from her friends, she returned a misplaced cellphone to a visiting French tourist. [CHEK]

🗓️ Things to do

🌻 Beyond Yoga at Beyond Van Gogh: Get moving today to classical music surrounded by projections of Van Gogh’s masterpieces. 9am.

🎙️ The Sutcliffes at Butchart Gardens: The Beatles tribute band will perform today on the open-air stage, 6:15pm.

🎸 Robert Wang at Phillip T. Young: The guitarist will perform Bach, Sor, Scriabin, and baroque guitar today at the UVic recital hall, 7:30pm.

🧶 Nomad Homestead Market: Take in artisan vendors, live music, and food today at Caleb Pike Heritage Park, 1am-5pm.

🎤 Roughcut Diamonds Tour at Sticky Wicket: Willie Nile will be joined tonight by Johnny Pisano, Stephen Stanley, and Chris Bennet. 8-10pm.

⚾ HarbourCats playoffs: The ‘Cats host the Bellingham Bells in the North Division final. Winner advances to WCL championship game Monday. First pitch at 6:35pm. Tickets.

🎹 John Lee Trio at Hermann’s Jazz Club: The multi-instrumentalist will perform tonight. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm.

🎙️ Edie Daponte Trio at St. Paul’s United Church: The vocalist will be joined by pianist Attila Fias and bassist Joey Smith to perform jazz and world music tonight in Sidney. Doors 6:30pm, show 7-9pm.

⛳ Charity golf tournament: The annual tournament today at Metchosin Golf & Country Club will raise funds for RJH Hospice Foundation, 2pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Networking event for Island women in STEM: Last night’s event centred around the theme of “future-powered possibilities.” [Victoria Tech Journal]

Friday’s headlines: Rutledge Park’s upcoming renovations, Fairy Creek case update, pitbull that mauled greyhound put down, and more. [Aug. 11]

Zellars pop-up opens inside the Hudson’s Bay at the Bay Centre.

Upstairs Cabaret suddenly cancelled all upcoming shows, citing maintenance issues. Unable to find alternate venues, performers including Regular Occasion cancelled their concerts and issued refunds.

Saint Franks reopens after a nearly three month hiatus.

Tacofino to open at Westshore Town Centre later this year. It will be the taco restaurant’s second location on the South Island.

That’s it!

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