For our American guests, the San Juan Islands offer many events and activities to partake in during the July 4th long weekend.

Roche Harbour’s Weekend Schedule:

• Musical entertainment July 1-4th
• July 4th Events
  • 9am Fun Run
  • 11am – 1pm Kids Games
  • 1:30pm Donut Eating Contest
  • 3:30pm Blind Folded Dingy
  • 4pm Log Rolling
  • 4:30pm Mayor Election
  • 5pm Keith Highlanders Pipe Band
  • 6pm Boat Decorating Judging
  • 10:30pm Fireworks

Friday Harbour July 4th Events:

• Firecracker 5,000 Fun Run
• 10:30am Spring Street Parade
• Pig War Picnic
• 6pm Rock the Dock
• 10pm Fireworks at Friday Harbour Marina

Orcas Island is hosting its First Annual Festival on the 4th in Eastsound from 11am to 4pm.  Enjoy old fashioned 4th of July celebrations at the Village Green.

Lopez Island‘s July 4th Events:

• Lion’s Club Fun Run/Walk starts at 8:30am
• 11am 4th of July Parade
• 12 – 3pm BBQ and Concert at Lopez Center
• 10:30pm fireworks over Fisherman Bay

There are many Canada Day celebrations to attend this long weekend starting with the Sidney Summer Street Market on June 30th.  The Market runs from 5:30-8:30 pm and the pre-fireworks entertainment is from 8-10pm with popular R&B groups and Soul 62 performing in the Beacon Park Pavillion.

The Fireworks Extravaganza begins at sunset around 10pm.  What a great way to kick off the Canada Day long weekend!

On July 1st, Sidney has all day activities and events planned that include a 5K Run and Walk, Pancake Breakfast at 9am, a Canada Day parade from 11am – 12pm, a Family Fun Fair from 12 – 4pm and a Build-a-Quick Boat Race at 4:45pm.

If you are traveling to Victoria for Canada Day, don’t miss out on the fun filled day of activities:

• A Flavour of Canada 11am – 8pm
• Monster Mural 12 – 4pm
• DVBA Living Flag 2 – 3pm
• Main Stage Concert 3:00 – 10:20pm
• Fireworks over the Inner Harbour 10:20pm

Saturday July 2nd kicks off Butchart Garden’s Fireworks display.  Arrive early for the live music on the Concert Lawn and stay for the fireworks display at dusk.  Every year the firework theme is changes and so it is always new and exciting!

Saturna Island hosts the 62nd Annual Saturna Lamb BBQ on Canada Day.  Advanced ticket purchase is strongly suggested.  The event features a lamb BBQ dinner with hot dogs, refreshments, booths and games all day.  You can take a ferry or water taxi over to Saturna Island or anchor in Winter Cove with dinghy shuttle service to the docks.

The marina is pleased to be assisting in the sponsorship of an 18-year-old Central Saanich girl who is planning to represent Canada at the World Youth Climbing Championships and the European Youth Cup, both of which take place in Austria in August.

The donation in the amount of $1,000 is to help pay the travelling costs of Maegan Kelleway, a member of The Boulders Climbing Gym youth team. The Boulders is a not-for-profit society located at Stellys Secondary School.

Maegan is a very bright and talented young girl who will go far in this world and we are very happy to be able to assist her with these world championship challenges.

She is part of a team competing under the auspices of Competition Climbing Canada, the sport’s national body.

Riviera’s invaded Roche Harbor from June 17th to 19th, 2011.  Emerald Pacific Yachts & Van Isle Marina co-hosted this year’s Riviera Rendezvous at Roche Harbor.  To date this was the largest Riviera Rendezvous in North America with 40 Riviera’s in attendance!

Weekend festivities included 9 holes of Golf at San Juan Golf & Country Club, Disc Golf at Roche Harbor Resort, and a Dinghy Treasure Hunt around the islands in Roche Harbor.  Emerald Pacific and Riviera hosted a banquet dinner on Saturday evening which included a Casino event.

Please visit our Boating Lifestyle Photo Gallery to view more photos of the event.

Thank you to all Riviera owners who participated in this year’s Rendezvous!

Nancy Barbour, Human Resources Manager at Van Isle Marina, was one of the 2879 riders who cycled the 200-plus kilometer ride this past weekend to raise funds for the BC Cancer Foundation Fundraiser Ride to Conquer Cancer.  The fundraiser raised a record-setting $11.1 million for the BC Cancer Foundation.  Nancy and her team raised $14.5 thousand dollars!

Congratulations Nancy for completing the 200-plus kilometer ride and for supporting the BC Cancer Foundation.

For further information on the event, please visit Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Peninsula Country Market has entered its 20th season and is proud to be the longest running Open Air market on South Vancouver Island.  The market is open every Saturday starting June 4th and running until October 8th.  The market is located on the Saanich Fairgrounds, 1528 Stelly’s Cross Road and is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The Peninsula Country Market has over 50 vendors selling fresh local fruits and vegetables.  Local artisans sell their beautiful wares and crafts.  The festivities include a Celebrity Chef Series that starts July 2, 2011 and entry forms for fun prizes can be found in the Times Colonist.

For further information, please visit Peninsula Country Market.

The Peninsula Players & Muse Winery presents “Gone With the Wine“, a musical romp with rum runners.  The production is an original play by Sasha Moriarty-Schieven and is based on the theme of rum runners during Prohibition on Vancouver Island.  Don’t miss this speakeasy, wine smuggling play.

Opening night is Saturday June 25th with following performances on July 2, 16, 30 and August 13th with a matinee on Sunday July 17th at 4pm.

Van Isle Marina’s Submit a Photo Draw starts June 1st, 2011 and runs through the Labour Day Long weekend, ending on September 5th, 2011.  The winner of the draw will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Fuel Dock.  The winner will be announced on September 6th, 2011.

Submit photos based on the theme ‘Boating Lifestyle’ and they will be posted to our Boating Lifestyle Photo Gallery page.  Only one draw entry per person, but you are welcome to submit as many photos as you like.  Please submit photos for the draw through our submission form on our Boating Lifestyle Photo Gallery page.