Despite the gloomy and unseasonable weather (let’s face it, getting rain during a drought is like drawing the short stick), the Cadboro Bay Village Fine Arts Festival on July 26 was another success – even if it only lasted a few hours.
What started out as another bright and sunny Saanich day turned to grey skies. The storm hit hard around 2 p.m., forcing the festival to end two hours early. By then several works by local artists, including some substantial sculptures, had already been purchased. And most of the artists have already contacted to return for next year.
“It is unfortunate because we needed the rain, just not on that day,” said Leanne Allen, who organizes the festival as community co-ordinator for the Cadboro Bay Village Business Association.
The Reverb-Matics kept it retro with the groovy ‘60s tunes they’re known for.
Sadly, as Cadboro Bay Village’s twitter feed so appropriately put it, paintings and rain don’t do well together.
Hopefully, the weather will co-operate for the upcoming Cadboro Bay Festival at Gyro Park on Sunday.
This is the first time in three years that the Fine Arts Festival happened separately from the beach festival, which carries more of a family focus.
“We will do it separately again next year,” Allen said. “Fine arts draws a bit of a more mature crowd, while the Gyro festival is family focused,”
The proceedings begin at 11 a.m. for the Aug. 9 Cadboro Bay Festival at Gyro Park with live music by Russell in the Bushes at 11, followed by The O’Briens at 12:30 p.m. and Shaky Ground rounding things out at 1:45 p.m.
Parking is made easy with a shuttle that runs from noon to 4 p.m. from lot 5 at the University of Victoria.
reporter@saanichnews.com