Festival

Dandia’s 2019 festival in Saanich – attendees look forward to the outdoor event Sept. 10 to 12 in Beckwith Park. (Photo courtesy of Manish Prajapati)

Saanich’s Beckwith Park will be filled with three-day traditional Indian dance festival

Event organized by Victoria Hindu Temple will run Sept. 10 to 12

Dandia’s 2019 festival in Saanich – attendees look forward to the outdoor event Sept. 10 to 12 in Beckwith Park. (Photo courtesy of Manish Prajapati)
Lots of tickets left for All Ways Home festival in Langford. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Lots of tickets left for All Ways Home festival in Langford. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
The Lekwungen Traditional Dancers were one of the acts at Beckwith Park’s first IYAKT music festival. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Successful IYAKT event in Saanich gives Indigenous talent opportunity to perform

The event aimed to shine light on the many talented Indigenous performers across the region

The Lekwungen Traditional Dancers were one of the acts at Beckwith Park’s first IYAKT music festival. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Howl Brewing, co-owned by Daniel van Netten and Alayna Briemon, is one of 17 North Saanich venues featured in the 2021 Flavour Trail scavenger hunt. (Black Press Media file photo)
Howl Brewing, co-owned by Daniel van Netten and Alayna Briemon, is one of 17 North Saanich venues featured in the 2021 Flavour Trail scavenger hunt. (Black Press Media file photo)
Muralist Lydia Beauregard poses with her work. The Esquimalt Community Arts Hub hopes to unite the township’s community via the festival. (Courtesy of Laura-Beth Keane/Esquimalt Community Arts Hub)

Mural festival to take over Esquimalt buildings

August event aims to promote public art, celebrate community

Muralist Lydia Beauregard poses with her work. The Esquimalt Community Arts Hub hopes to unite the township’s community via the festival. (Courtesy of Laura-Beth Keane/Esquimalt Community Arts Hub)
Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)

Merritt country music festival’s ‘crazy-ass scene’ recalled in photographer’s new book

Campground C party zone and more remembered in Dee Lippingwell’s third book

Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)
Brewery & the Beast returns for its ninth year following a pandemic hiatus. The festival will take place this September in Langford. (SMC Communications Inc. for Brewery & The Beast)

Beasts and brews return to Langford this September

Tickets go on sale July 7 for ninth year of Brewery & The Beast

Brewery & the Beast returns for its ninth year following a pandemic hiatus. The festival will take place this September in Langford. (SMC Communications Inc. for Brewery & The Beast)
The Pacific Rim Whale Festival is breaching for a COVID-safe return in March. (Poster photo by Owen Crosby)

Pacific Rim Whale Festival aims for virtual return in March

Educational celebration scheduled to arrive in Tofino-Ucluelet on March 15.

The Pacific Rim Whale Festival is breaching for a COVID-safe return in March. (Poster photo by Owen Crosby)
Director Arnold Lim (centre) works behind the scenes with crew members on All-in Madonna, which premieres virtually at the Whistler Film Festival on Dec 9. (Patrick Coble/Blue Lake Films Ltd.)

Saanich director’s first feature virtually premieres at Whistler Film Festival

All-in Madonna, directed by Arnold Lim, streams Dec. 9 and is available through Dec. 31

Director Arnold Lim (centre) works behind the scenes with crew members on All-in Madonna, which premieres virtually at the Whistler Film Festival on Dec 9. (Patrick Coble/Blue Lake Films Ltd.)
The SkeenaWild Film Festival is an annual compilation of films highlighting the beauty of northern B.C. (Screenshot taken from the SkeenaWild Film Festival 2016 trailer)

Thursday night online film festival displays beauty of northern B.C.

Residents can tune in and vote on their favourite films on Nov. 12

The SkeenaWild Film Festival is an annual compilation of films highlighting the beauty of northern B.C. (Screenshot taken from the SkeenaWild Film Festival 2016 trailer)
Thea Driver, 6, brought her own lantern to the Saanich Moon Festival Lantern Celebration for a mini lantern procession as she toured the displays with her family. Colourful paper lanterns and displays glowed in Gordon Head on Saturday night as residents on foot, on bikes and in cars celebrated the annual Moon Festival Lantern Celebration. See story and photos on page A28. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Hundreds walk, bike, drive through Saanich’s full moon lantern festival

Harvest Moon celebration draws crowds for pandemic-friendly fun

Thea Driver, 6, brought her own lantern to the Saanich Moon Festival Lantern Celebration for a mini lantern procession as she toured the displays with her family. Colourful paper lanterns and displays glowed in Gordon Head on Saturday night as residents on foot, on bikes and in cars celebrated the annual Moon Festival Lantern Celebration. See story and photos on page A28. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Saanich’s annual Moon Festival Lantern Celebration starts at 6:20 p.m. on Sept. 26 but festivities look a little bit different for 2020 as the district adapts to the ongoing pandemic. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich’s autumn full-moon lantern celebration shifts to drive-thru

Harvest Moon event takes place Sept. 26 in Gordon Head

Saanich’s annual Moon Festival Lantern Celebration starts at 6:20 p.m. on Sept. 26 but festivities look a little bit different for 2020 as the district adapts to the ongoing pandemic. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
Volunteers Paige Holms (left), Demi Koutougos and Steph Kosmas pack orders at Greek Fest 2020. Greek Fest is back this weekend, running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 4 to 7. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Opa! First weekend of Greek Fest 2020 kicks off in Saanich

Lamb, loukoumades, mountains of Greek salad handed out at drive-thru

Volunteers Paige Holms (left), Demi Koutougos and Steph Kosmas pack orders at Greek Fest 2020. Greek Fest is back this weekend, running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 4 to 7. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Aria Lam, 5, and Raymond Lam were among the 8,000 who attended the Saanich Strawberry Festival Sunday in 2017. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich serves up virtual Strawberry Festival

Residents invited to look back on 54 years of festivals

Aria Lam, 5, and Raymond Lam were among the 8,000 who attended the Saanich Strawberry Festival Sunday in 2017. (Black Press Media file photo)
March (or drive) into the Harbour City this month!

March (or drive) into the Harbour City this month!

From Festival Nanaimo’s 40-plus events to waterfront sights and sounds, mid-Island city has it all

  • Mar 2, 2020
March (or drive) into the Harbour City this month!
British character actor Bill Nighy, who co-stars with Annette Bening in Hope Gap, screening at the 2020 Victoria Film Festival, will be in town for a post-screening conversation on stage Feb. 8 at The Vic Theatre. (Film still courtesy Screen Media Films)

Famed character actor Bill Nighy to be part of 2020 Victoria Film Festival

Nighy to chat after Feb. 8 screening of the film Hope Gap

  • Jan 10, 2020
British character actor Bill Nighy, who co-stars with Annette Bening in Hope Gap, screening at the 2020 Victoria Film Festival, will be in town for a post-screening conversation on stage Feb. 8 at The Vic Theatre. (Film still courtesy Screen Media Films)
Early ideas of some of the elements which could be incorporated in the upcoming Lights of Wonder holiday light village. (File contributed/ DVBA)

Massive holiday light village coming to downtown Victoria

The Downtown Victoria Business Association’s ‘Lights of Wonder’ festival begins Dec. 13

Early ideas of some of the elements which could be incorporated in the upcoming Lights of Wonder holiday light village. (File contributed/ DVBA)
Jiannis Voularinos and Dionysia Efentaki of Elkelam perform Greek dance during Saanich’s Greek Fest last year. (Black Press File)

Greek Fest brings taste of Mediterranean to Victoria

Annual celebration offers 15 music groups, folk dances and mouth-watering cuisine

Jiannis Voularinos and Dionysia Efentaki of Elkelam perform Greek dance during Saanich’s Greek Fest last year. (Black Press File)
Attendees at Car Free YYJ on Douglas Street take advantage of the absence of vehicles on the normally busy thoroughfare. This year’s event happens, as usual on Father’s Day Sunday, June 16. Photo by Lillie Louise/Car Free YYJ

Leave the vehicle at home, bring dad down to Car Free YYJ

Annual shutdown of downtown Douglas Street for the day evokes thoughts of ‘what if?’

  • Jun 3, 2019
Attendees at Car Free YYJ on Douglas Street take advantage of the absence of vehicles on the normally busy thoroughfare. This year’s event happens, as usual on Father’s Day Sunday, June 16. Photo by Lillie Louise/Car Free YYJ
Yiru McIsaac-Yong shows of her skills with a hoola hoop at FernFest on Saturday. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS

PHOTOS: People soak up summer fun at FernFest

The annual community event saw families and friends gather for food, games and markets

Yiru McIsaac-Yong shows of her skills with a hoola hoop at FernFest on Saturday. Nicole Crescenzi/VICTORIA NEWS
Pop-up banner image