18th Annual Victoria Dragon Boat
Festival, Friday through Sunday, Inner Harbour. Events Friday: 1 p.m. Eye Dotting Ceremony, Taoist Priests awaken the dragon; 5-9 p.m. Lights of Courage Lantern Celebration and Night Market on Ship Point Wharf, 7 p.m. Soul Shakers main stage, 9 p.m. Official lightning of Lights of Courage display. Saturday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Races and family entertainment all day, 5: 30-10 p.m. Paddlers' Party in Beer Garden, 7 p.m. Paddlers' Air Band competition. Sunday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Races and family entertainment all day; noon Breast Cancer Survivors' Race and Pink Carnation Toss. See victoriadragonboat.com
Star Party in Metchosin. The annual RASCals Star Party, presented annually by the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of sa国际传媒, takes place at the cricket field and municipal grounds in Metchosin, 4450 Happy Valley Rd. just behind the Metchosin Fire Hall, Friday and Saturday. Opening Friday at noon with guest speakers both night at 8: 30 p.m. followed by telescope walks at 9: 30 p.m. and observing until sunrise the following morning. Tel. 250-818-4820 or victoria.rasc.ca/events/StarParty/
India Mela 2012, by the India sa国际传媒 Cultural Association in Centennial Square, Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Enjoy Bhangra beats, traditional music, dancing and performances, fashion show, Indian cuisine and Sunday performance by A-Slam and Bollywood Hungama. iccavictoria.com
The Valley Antiques and Collectibles sale, Friday 5-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. with over 200 tables at Cowichan Exhibition Park, 7380 Trans-sa国际传媒 Hwy., north of Duncan at Mays Rd. Cost: $5.
Ladysmith Show and Shine, Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. car show along First Avenue, Ladysmith. members.shaw.ca/ladysmithssns
Vime Train Run at Saanich Historical Artifacts Society, 7321 Lochside Dr., off Island View Road, Saturday and Sunday, noon-3 p.m. vime.ca
African Children's Book Box Society corn roast fundraiser, Saturday, 4-9 p.m. at Island Arabians Farms, 11200 West Saanich Rd. Cost: $50. Tel. 250-665-4131 or africanbookbox.org
The Big Time Out, eight venues, one village - Cumberland music festival Saturday and Sunday. Details at thebigtimeout.com
Summer Flower and Arts Festival, Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. at St. Paul's Historic Naval and Garrison Church, Anglican Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul, 1379 Esquimalt Rd. with floral displays, music, arts and crafts plus afternoon tea, 1-3 p.m. $10. stpeterandpaul.ca
Special Woodstock 2012 at Providence Farm, 1843 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan with music, dance and festivals, Sunday, 10: 30 a.m.-6 p.m. Donation. facebook.com/specialwoodstocksociety
Victoria Stamp, Coin and Collectible Fair at Topaz Room, Comfort Hotel, 3020 Blanshard St., Sunday, 9: 30 a.m.-4 pm. Donation for school stamp program.
Multicultural Food Fair, Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Cook Street Village Activity Centre,1-380 Cook St. Donation. cookstreetvillageactivitycentre.ca
Fibrations: based on all things fibre, craft show and market at St. Ann' Academy, 835 Humboldt St., Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. fibrations.ca
2012 Motorcar Gathering in support of Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children. Annual Car Picnic re-invented! Spectacular cars, music, food, fun and family! Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 2400 Arbutus Rd., donation. Tel. 250-519-6935.
Clothesline Art Sale and Festival of Animals with artist display, and local animal rescue groups participating in Festival of Animals at Coast Collective Art Centre, 3221 Heatherbell Rd., Colwood, Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Donation. coastcollective.ca
Chinatown Night Market: The Night of the Sevens, Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. lower Fisgard Street.
The Pawshist Cocktail party in support of SPCA at Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel and Marina, 146 Kingston St., Thursday, 5-7 p.m. Tickets: $25.
Butchart Gardens Summer Festival, nightly to September. 1. Tel. 250-652-5256 or butchartgardens.com Friday: 7: 30 p.m. Deanna Knight and the Hot Club of Mars. Saturday: 6: 15 p.m. Sutcliffes; Fireworks at 9: 15 p.m. Sunday: 7: 30 p.m. Cuban Fire. Monday: 7: 30 p.m., Colleen Eccleston and John Gogo. Tuesday: 7: 30 p.m.Chris Frye and The Analog Ghosts. Wednesday: 7: 30 p.m. The Rakish Angles. Thursday: 7: 30 p.m. Chris Millington & Dancin'.
Quality Foods Canadian Open Sandsculpting Exhibit at Parskville Beach, day to Sunday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. parksvillebeachfest.ca
Ayako Sasaki, a survivor of the tsunami that hit Japan will speak at the Maritime Museum of sa国际传媒, 26 Bastion Square, Tuesday, 1 p.m. Tel. 250-385-4222 ext.113 or mmbc.bc.ca
Tour sa国际传媒's oldest surviving synagogue, Congregation Emanu-El, 1461 Blanshard St., every Tuesday and Thursday to August 30, every hour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost: $5. Tel. 250-382-0615.
