Celebrate the arts at a pair of Oak Bay events
Oak Bay Avenue will be transformed into a week-long art show for the inaugural Oak Bay Avenue Art Walk, which will include live music and special events on Saturday.
Up to 25 businesses on Oak Bay Avenue between Richmond Road and Monterey Avenue will take part in the free self-guided art tour, with artwork on display in the windows of their shop windows from Aug. 10 to 18.
In addition there will be live music on the street, with various locations holding special events including artist demonstrations, prize draws, art activities and more, from noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 10.
The event coincides with the Bowker Creek Brush Up, Sunday, Aug. 11. Hosted by the Oak Bay Community Artists Society, the event will be held on the banks of Bowker Creek, from Hampshire Avenue to Armstrong Avenue. The event features the works of more than 50 artists.
Arts Alive Oak Bay, which has several pieces of art in Oak Bay Village, also offers a self-guided tour of art throughout the district.
For more information on the Oak Bay Avenue Art Walk, including a downloadable, printable map of the self-guided tour, go to visitoakbayvillage.ca.
For more information about the Bowker Creek Brush Up, go to oakbayartists.com/bowker-creek-brush-up.html.
Upper Fort hosts block party
Fort Street between Cook Street and Vancouver Street will be closed for the Upper Fort Street Fest, a family-friendly neighbourhood block party, Saturday, Aug. 10.
This is the second year of the block party, hosted by the Downtown Victoria Business Association with Volvo Cars Victoria as the title sponsor.
The event features live music, a beverage garden, a local Maker’s Market, live music and family-friendly activities.
There will be art activities, face painting, balloon twisting, an inflatable amusement and drag story time for children.
The event is free to join. It runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on Fort Street between Cook Street and Vancouver Street.
For more information, go to events.downtownvictoria.ca/event/volvo-cars-victoria-presents-upper-fort-streetfest.
Celebrate pagan pride
Gather for a day full of music, speakers and tables of Pagan-friendly products at the Vancouver Island Pagan Pride Day at Charles Hoey Park, Duncan, Saturday, Aug. 10.
First held in 2005, Pagan Pride Day is both a gathering of like-minded people and an event to connect, educate and dispel common misconceptions about Neopaganism.
Apart from a variety of entertainment, demonstrations and vendors, there will be tables of reading materials with members from a range of Neopagan denominations who can educate outsiders about the details of their particular way of life, beliefs and practices.
The event also serves to give back to the community, through donations in support of local food banks and other organizations.
The event is free to join. It runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Charles Hoey Park, 124 Canada Ave., Duncan. For more information, go to vipaganpride.org.
