After a long absence, The blog is getting a restart. The last year was tough and this week is now tougher for many in our community. Likely someone you know will have been affected by the additional closures of some of our favorite places. There is no better time to #supportlocal so when something closer to normal returns, all our favorite places return with it.
Events
Event listing and associated links
Support Local
MeetupVictoria has been going for almost 3 years. We have been dedicated to bring you free, family friendly events. Every month we try to bring you some of the best events around Victoria, Saanich, the Western Communities and other communities around the Southern Vancouver Island. We have been dedicated to bring you free, family friendly events. As we all realize ‘free’ is not entirely the whole story.
The events all of us enjoy are put on thanks to the hard work of volunteers, local service organizations, and many, many local sponsors. Community Events can’t happen without a community. In one way or another, all of these events are brought to us thanks to the goodwill of many of our fellow community members.
If you enjoy any of these events then please take a moment to think about how you can help support them. Volunteering for an event or as part of the many non-profit organizations are the most direct contributions you can make. There are also some simply, everyday choices you can make that support local.
We support shopping local with the many businesses that help sponsor our events and employee our neighbours that volunteer to make events possible. It is easy, especially in the summer, to look at throngs of visitors to our region to think that the money comes from ‘somewhere else’. The fact is your favorite coffee shop or restaurant pays their bills because of their regular, local patrons. That goes for the farmers’ market, movie theatre, butcher shop or garden store.
If you don’t believe us, ask them.
Talk to these folks and get to know those places where you chose to spend you money. Find out if those business also support their local suppliers. Does your favorite coffee place use a local bakery? Is the resturant you go for lunch getting local produce and meats? Does your favorite watering hole serve local brews?
The more we support one another, the more we can do for each other.
As summer is almost upon us, we hope that you and your family get a chance to take in the great events.
The Markets of 2012
We are happy to throw out a special edition of our monthly updates to focus on the great markets around Greater Victoria and the South Island. In addition to having links to the markets, we are adding the twitter addresses and facebook sites where we can find them.
If you know of updates or corrections.. drop us a line at events@meetupvictoria.com
These local markets really fill the Calendar with great events, local food choices, and a nice way to spend a warm evening or sunny weekend afternoon.
Before we mention some of the great markets and their schedule for 2012, a tip-o-the-hat to BC Association of Farmers Markets. They have a great listing of markets province wide. BCAFM promotes markets that promote farmer and locally produced products. Their market finder lists all these markets. You also can follow them on twitter at @bcfarmersmarket or on Facebook. Markets from BCAFM are marked with a ‘*’ in our list below.
For 2012 the week of markets looks like this
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Colwood Farmers’ Market*
Oaklands Sunset Series: Farmer’s Markets & Community Events * July 4th, 18th, August 1st, 15th
Thursday
Sidney Summer Market*
Bastion Square Market
Friday
Bastion Square Market
Saturday
Duncan Farmers’ Market*
Goldstream Station Market*
Moss Street Farmers’ Market*(@MossStMarket)(Facebook)
Bastion Square Market
North Saanich Farm Market*
James Bay Market (@jamebaymarket)(Facebook)
Peninsula Country Market
Sooke Country Market
Sunday
Metchosin* (Facebook)
Esquimalt
Centennial Square
* = BCAFM market
Victoria Events for June 2012 #MUVMonthly
Special Days and Holidays
– 17 Father’s Day
Welcome to our Monthly Update this is our regular update with the highlights of the upcoming month.
June is a time to party in your local community. We start of with Oak Bay and the Oak Bay Tea Party on June 2/3. With a Parade, an airshow and a bathtub race there are a full range of events for everyone. Esquimalt gets in the act on the following weekend with Bucanneer Days. This is a special one for Esquimalt as they also celebrate the Esquimalt Centennial this year. Fernwood is next up with Fernfest taking to the streets of this Victoria neighbourhood June 22–24.
If mountain biking is your thing then check out the Jumpship Contest at Ship’s Point on June 22–24th.
Also starting on June 22nd is the Victoria International Jazzfest with venues around town with free events in additon to the paid admission program.
Victoria Events for May 2012 #MUVMonthly
Special Days and Holidays
– 13 Mother’s Day
– 21 Victoria Day
Welcome to our Monthly Update this is our regular update with the highlights of the upcoming month.
May brings us the preview of the summer with a number of busy weekend events.
Quadra Village Day will spill out on to Kings Street on May 12 with great family events.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms as they get their day on Sunday May 13th.
This leads us into one of the busiest weekends, Victoria Day, you kind of get the hint from the name. The Luxton Pro Rodeo will be wopping up the entertainment from the 19th to 21st.
And finally the big Island Farms Victoria Day parade will take over Douglas and Government streets at 9AM Monday the 21st.
The sails will be up for the 69th Swiftsure Yacht Race May 26th to 28th.
Victoria Events for March 2012 Monthly Summary #MUVMonthly
Special Days and Holidays
10-25 – Spring Break (Greater Victoria Schools)
17-25 – Spring Break (Saanich and Sooke Districts)
15 – Ides of March
17 – St Patricks Day
25 – Daylight Savings Time
March should bring some bussle back to the streets of Victoria, especially after our recent flash of winter weather. Be A Tourist In Your Own Hometown kicks of March 1st with many holding tickets to some of Victoria’s best know attractions.
The Victoria Flower Count will also run the first week of March (1-7). he Flower Count is an annual light-hearted promotion sponsored and organized the Greater Victoria and Saanich Peninsula chambers of commerce, Butchart Gardens and Tourism Victoria.
Dining Out for Life fundraiser runs March 29th. Many fine establishments around the Captial Region will contribut 25% of food proceeds to help in the fight against AIDS and AIDS Vancouver Island.
For those lookign to get active, the Coast Capital Free Swims and Free Skates contiue with Skates at SEAPARC, Pearkes, and Panorama; and Swims at Crystal Pool, SEAPARC, Panorama and Juan de Fuca. So many chances to get out and have some fun with the whole family.. on the cheap!
Speaking of getting out on the cheap, CRD parks offer a number of free activities in our regions parks. This month includes the Spring Fling at Beaver Lake on March 20th and teen events throughout Spring Break. Check the Website for thee complete list of events.
And for the Arts, March 20th will see the start of the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival which will run through May 12th with a wide range of music and performing arts.
Victoria Events for October 2011 #MUVMonthly
Special Days and Holidays
– 10 – Thanksgivings
– 31 – Halloween
Welcome to our Monthly Update this is our regular update with the highlights of the upcoming month. With the first days of school behind us and the routine setting in, It’s a good time to look at some of the regular events and activities from our community centres, libraries and rec centres.
Fall Programs for Adults, Kids, and teens are on at you local branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library. Check out the Fall program guides. Sunday openings return to the libraries October 16th.
If you need to stretch your recereation dollar, remember Coast Capital Free Swims and Skates at your local recreation centres.
The City of Victoria Recreation Services and Save-On-Foods have partnered to offer monthly free skates in the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre starting in October and running through March. Watch for dates and details at the City’s Website.
Most Municpalities have their local events listed in their “Active Living Guides”
– Esquimalt
– Saanich
– Victoria
– Oak Bay
Also some Recreation Centres have their own “Activity Guides”
– Juan De Fuca
– Panorama
–
For the October events, we will have some fall harvest activies leading up to Thankgiving weekend. Most of the local markets will be ending at the end of the month.
For the runners in Victoria Goodlife Victoria Marathon takes to the streets with 8K, half and full marathon races. It will be a full house downtown on Sunday October 9th.
As Halloween approaches the farm events and the Pumpkin hunts will be in full swing with events like Galey Farms Corn maze
Halloween Events (October 31st)
– Mallowe’en at the Oaklands Community Centre 3 p.m.–5 p.m.
Twitter Updates for 2011-09-14
- RT @lacouvee: Aids Walk for Life Victoria Wed Sept 21 6pm Centennial Sq – candlelight walk to Legislature http://ow.ly/6pY8r #yyjevents #
- RT @playinvictoria: RT @lacouvee: Harvest Fair-Threshing Weekend at Heritage Acres Sept 17-18. Great family fun! http://ow.ly/6q8rN #yyjkids #
- RT @burnsidegorge: The #gorgecleanup is this Sat, Sept 17 9am-12pm. #Volunteer your time for clean shores in #yyj http://t.co/QBysoih #
- RT @playinvictoria: Public Invited to Torpedo Test Range 'Open House' Saturday #nanoose @marpac http://t.co/YWuGIZe #
- RT @playinvictoria: 3rd Annual FCNS Charity Golf Tournament – Cedar Hill Golf Course #yyjevents http://t.co/h40RJ8p #
- RT @icavictoria: RT @lacouvee: Esquimalt Lantern Festival Sat Sept 24, 6pm Capt Jacobsen Park (Head St near walkway). http://ow.ly/6paqA... #
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Twitter Updates for 2011-07-28
- … getting excited about the BC Day weekend.. Splash and more #yyj #
- RT @infovictoria: The 2nd Annual Blue Moon Blast! – Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre Jul 29 6-10pm FREE Centennial Sq #yyj http://t.co/vIOf8uF #
- RT @wannawafel: We will be at the First #ChinaTownMarket tonight: 5-9pm #YYJ Tell your friends and neighbours! See you tonight. #
- RT @vibrantvictoria: How do you feel about gas-powered bicycles and electric commuter scooters being used on the Galloping Goose? #yyj #
- RT @vicsymphony: more #Splash2011 vol. training 2nite & there’s still room 4 a few peeps! Get in touch w/ vol. coord Robin 250.412.1982 #yyj #
- RT @villagenownet: Sooke Farm & Garden Tour Starts August 14 #yyj #gardening #sustainability
http://dlvr.it/cpr1k # - RT @aviawestresorts: New Blog Post by @jwindh: When local organic food is free – berry season on the Island http://goo.gl/UgS3o #yyj #
- Plan your BC Day music on Monday with Captial Festival http://www.capitalfestival.com/ #yyj #
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Victoria Events for August 2011 #MUVMonthly
June sees the school year coming to and end.. and will lead us into another great Victoria Summer..
Special Days and Holidays
- 1- BC Day
For students, province wide, the summer is rapidly becoming half empty not half full. And parents everywhere are silently breathing a little relief.
The BC Day weekend breaks our summer holiday months neatly in half with one of the truly great events of the year as Symphony Splash takes the stage on Sunday. This event has grown from an evening concert with Victoria’s Symphony to an all day celebration of music. The evening will end with the traditional 1812 Overture accompanied by the Netherlands Centennial Carillon, the cannons of HMCS Quadra, and Fireworks.
The Capital Festival runs on Monday with more music on 3 stages around St Ann’s Academy.
And the Music continues all month with the Summer in the Square Lunchtime Concerts weekdays at Noon in Centennial Square, “Music in the Park” Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Beacon Hill Park. If you are more of a movie fan then the Victoria Film Festival’s B-Movie Film Festival and the Mayfair Mall’s Drive-in movies are for you. Short Circuit, Finding Nemo, and Raiders of the Lost Ark are just some od the free shows. Space may be limited and for the Mayfair showings do require you pick up tickets at the Concierge Desk.