It’s that time of year again.  The Sidney Summer Street Market starts Thursday June 2nd from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm and runs every Thursday through to the end of August.

Beacon Ave will be closed from 5th street down to the water to accommodate the myriad of vendors, local artisans and buskers.  Browse the wide variety of farm produce from local farmers while sampling the delicious baked goods.

Be serenaded by local musicians while perusing the artisan displays of crafts from pottery to welded sculptures and stained glass.  Food vendors are also on site for those wishing to have dinner while at the market.  Be careful of the mouthwatering mini donuts!

Enjoy this season’s Sidney Summer Street Market.  See you there!

The Wine Islands Vintners Association has produced a Wine Islands passport that acts as an excellent guide to the vineyards of Vancouver Island and the surrounding Islands. This is the second year in a row that the WIVA is hosting the Passport to the Wine Islands!

Pick up a passport at any participating winery, local tourist info centre or print off a PDF of the Passport at WIVA.

Once you have your Wine Passport, visit participating wineries (shown on the Passport) and receive a unique stamp from each.

As well as acting as a guide to the Wine Islands, the stamped passport can also be submitted to the WIVA via mail and you will be entered to win 1 of 3 fabulous prizes. Please visit the WIVA for further details.

We hope you enjoy your trip through the Wine Islands!

The Sidney Fire Department will conduct a fire training exercise at Van Isle Marina in the evening on Thursday May 26th.  This is an exercise only.

Salt Spring Island Lavender Festival

On Saturday July 3rd, visit Salt Spring Island for their Saturday Market and also their 9th Annual Lavender Festival from 10 am to 5 pm.  Stroll through the lavender fields at Sacred Mountain Lavender and take in the aromatic scents wafting in the air.  Explore the many different ways lavender can be used in foods, drinks and crafts.

Schedule of events for the Lavender Festival:

• Lunch prepared by Bruce’s Kitchen (local to Salt Spring)
• Lavender Cafe offers new lavender coffee and regular drinks
• Tango Extraordinaire demonstrations
• Mystery Mime entertainment
• Guest Speaker Linda Gilkeson Ph.D.
• Readings
• Lavender Demonstrations
• U-Pick lavender
• And much more

Adults are $5 and children 12 and under are FREE.

Please visit Salt Spring Island Lavender Festival for further details.

Salt Spring Island Saturday Market

Salt Spring Island Saturday Market is every Saturday starting in April through to the last Saturday in October from 8:30 am to 4 pm come rain or shine. The market is located ocean side at Centennial Park in the heart of Ganges.

This is an internationally acclaimed arts and crafts market that features some of the best potters, jewelers, fiber artists, woodworkers and fine decorative arts.  The farmer vendors have delicious cheeses and organic foods for sale.

Please visit Salt Spring Market for further details.

Vancouver Island’s 7th Annual Nanaimo Floating Boat & Marine Trade Show is from June 3rd through 5th, 2011.  The Boat Show will take place in Nanaimo’s Boat Basin located downtown at 10 Wharf Street.  There will be new and previously owned boats displayed on the 3500 feet of dock space!

For those new to the boating world, the Trade Show offers information and education to get you started.  Qualified agencies will be on site to provide course material and testing for the basic Pleasure Card Operators Certificate, which has been mandatory for all boaters since September 15, 2009.

The Vancouver Island University Culinary Arts Program will provide gourmet seafood samplings, prepared on site and sponsored by the local commercial fishermen.

Trade Show dates and times are:

• Friday, June 3rd from Noon to 7 pm
• Saturday, June 4th from 10 am to 6 pm
• Sunday, June 5th from 10 am to 4 pm

Van Isle Marina Yacht Broker’s will be on site with display material on-hand regarding our new Yacht Park opening July 2011 and displaying the following vessels:

• 33′ Tiara 3300 Open 1997
• 34′ Pacific Seacraft Sloop 1999
• 37′ Riviera Flybridge Convertible 2004

Please visit the 7th Annual Nanaimo Floating Boat & Marine Trade Show for further information.

North Saanich’s weekly summer Farm Market starts on Saturday, June 4th from 9:30-12:30.  Visit St. John’s United Church Gardens at 10990 West Saanich Road to browse the delicious fresh produce from the North Saanich Farms.

North Saanich Farm Market has something for every age.  Bring the children down on Saturday and purchase delicious breads, fruits and vegetables.   To make it interesting, North Saanich Farm Market also has 50/50 draws held at 11:00 am on market days!  All funds raised help support the initiatives of the North Saanich Food for the future Society.

Interested in buying duck eggs?  North Saanich Farm Market has unique produce available.

For further details and the latest news, visit North Saanich Farm Market.

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club is the host of this year’s Swiftsure 2011 International Yacht Race May 28th-30th.  Boats start arriving on Wednesday May 25th at Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the Swiftsure tents will go up on Ship Point.  During Thursday and Friday the sailors check in for the races and live music and merchadise will be on site for everyone to enjoy.

Saturday the races begin!  Please visit the Weekend Schedule of Events for detailed information.

Maple Bay Marina hosts the 16th Annual Wooden Boat Celebration on Saturday May 21st to Sunday May 22nd, 2011.  Wooden boats of all types will gather at the docks for your viewing enjoyment and nautical and other displays will be located on shore.

The public is welcome to walk along the docks free of charge to view the wooden boats on display.

For further information, please contact Carol at Maple Bay Marina at 250-746-8482 or 886-746-8482.

Support your local community by attending Blush: A Taste of the Peninsula.  It is a wine tasting and dinner fundraiser held on Saturday May 7th at 4:30 pm located at the Mary Winspear Centre.   Bid on silent and live auctions while sampling the wines of the peninsula.

Tickets are $50.00 each and are available at the Mary Winspear Centre.

The local charities supported by the fundraiser include:

• Mount Newton Centre
• Mary Winspear Centre
• Parkland Grads