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From jazz to Shakespeare, from pottery workshops to whale-watching cruises, from sand sculpture competitions to trumpeter swan festivals... Choose your adventure - and don't forget your camera!

October 2008
Sat Sat	3/22- 10/25	SaltSpring Island Saturday Market Each Saturday, from March 22, 2008 through the last Saturday in October. From about 8:30 to 3:30, rain or shine. For internationally acclaimed arts and crafts from Canada's "Island of the Arts". For potters, jewelers, fiber artists, woodworkers, and fine decorative arts. For farmstead cheeses, organic foods, music, and free festive fun.
Tue Tue	6/17- 10/7	Market In The Meadow Market In The Meadow - fresh, local foods - Tuesdays 11am to 3pm - Hereford Ave at the United Church Meadow, Saltspring Island.
Thu Sat	9/11- 10/25	The Miracle Worker The American rural south 1887. Annie Sullivan, a gifted and unconventional tutor, steps into the life of Helen Keller, a blind, deaf, and mute girl. Through their explosive relationship, Helen is liberated from a world of dark silence and confusion. An unmitigated success in its original two year run on Broadway, this play is a triumphant exploration of the power of communication to unlock the mind and the soul. Chemainus Theatre, Chemainus.
Sat Sat	9/13- 12/6	One Human Family Gospel Choir Workshops Workshop style rehearsals begin Sept 13th from 11am – 3pm for the One Human Family Gospel Choir directed by singer, composer, arranger, director Eric Dozier at Sylvan United Church, 985 Shawnigan/Mill Bay Rd. Email taylortunes@shaw.ca for more information.$20 per 4 hour rehearsal. www.onehumanfamily.org
Thu Wed	10/2- 10/8	Victoria International Improv Festival The Victoria International Improv Festival consists of three days of performances by local, regional, national and international improvisational theatre companies. Victoria Event Centre.
Thu Sun	10/2- 10/5	2008 Pumpkin Art Tour: Duncan Come and view hundreds of pumpkin carvings set up in themes featuring Canadian Idols, cartoon characters, prime ministers, presidents, TV shows, the royal family, sixties icons, CBC history and more! Click for More »
Sat Sun	10/4- 10/5	SHOP THE WILD FESTIVAL 2008 The 3rd annual Shop the Wild Festival offers the perfect opportunity to learn about the benefits of going green and choosing local - come and enjoy fresh and delicious wild edibles direct from BC’s farms and forests and explore the rich variety of 'goods from the woods' that producers have to offer. This is a free public event with over 50 exhibitors, wild food demos, guided nature walks and musical entertainment – its fun for the whole family! For more information visit: www.buybcwild.com
Sun	10/5	Fashion with Passion: More than Meets the Eye Ticket Purchase Required: Champagne Lunch, Fashion Show & Live Auction - Supporting Operation Eyesight Universal $85 ($50 Charitable Receipt). Tickets in advance at Fashion Showcase Stores in Victoria, BC: SHESHE Bags & Shoes, Artsee Eyewear, Hughes, Sweet Nancy’s & Tulipe Noire Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 11:30am – 3pm Three Point Motors - Mercedes Benz Showroom, 2546 Government Street, Victoria.
Fri	10/10	Thanksgiving Studio Tour Road rally, social event and free, self-directed art tour all in one…it’s the 12th annual Gabriola Studio Tour! This Thanksgiving Weekend, art fans will outnumber local deer as visitors zip among the 60 studios showcasing the works of 96 Island artists! Breathtaking scenery, sandy beaches and friendly “Gabes” plus art! Pure heaven! For more info: www.gabriolaartscouncil.org
Fri	10/10	'Sojourn To India' Child Haven's 14th Annual Fundraiser; Enjoy the exotic sounds of the sitar, while strolling through a bustling Indian marketplace. Hors d'oeuvres and no-host beverage. Leave room for a sumptuous Indian buffet. Silent auctions up for bid. Music by the 'One Human Family' gospel choir. Parksville Conference Centre, Parksville. Limited seating. Doors open 5pm. Tickets $35 ($40 at door) info: 250 752 4741 or 250 752 3144.
Sat Mon	10/11- 10/13	Gabriola Studio Tour Join us on Thanksgiving weekend for an Art Extravaganza as artists welcome visitors for the annual Gabriola Studio Tour! Featuring 90+ artists in 60 studios, this free, self-guided tour clearly demonstrates why Gabriola deserves its unique reputation as the “Isle of the Arts.” Meet the artisans during the tour to find out how they transform their creative energy into works of art for everyone.
Sun	10/12	Royal Victoria Marathon The Royal Victoria Marathon is one of the most popular and scenic running events on the west coast. It attracts runners and walkers from all over Canada and the United States. Shorter racing options on Sunday, October 12 include a Half Marathon, 8K Road Race, and a 1.2K THRIFTY FOODS Kids Run. Festivities kick off on October 10 and 11 at the Victoria Conference Centre with the RVM Race Expo and Race Package Pickup. It features over 40 exhibitors with samples, merchandise, souvenirs, interactive displays, health and fitness products, and more. We will see over 17,000 visitors come through the Expo. It is free and open to the public.
Thu Sat	10/16- 10/18	Nanaimo Sings! Gala Concert For 3 days this October, explore and be entertained by the richness & diversity of 14 choirs from the Nanaimo choral community in our first-ever festival.
Fri Sat	10/17- 10/18	Port Alberni's Oktoberfest Oktoberfest is a time of music and merrymaking featuring The Alpiners Band from Vancouver BC., under the direction of Al Pichler. This versatile group plays everything from oompapa to sing-a-longs and modern tunes. The Edelweiss Dancers provide entertainment with the Schuplattler dancers from the Bavarian and Tyrolean Alps. The Silverstar Band also from Vancouver, BC., are known to be quite versatile in their playing as well, from old-fashioned polkas or waltzes to rock music. The Swiss Horn players with their 12 foot horns will play tunes from the Swiss alps. *Free Oktoberfest Afternoon Show on Saturday, October 18, 1 p.m. at: Alberni Athletic Hall.
Fri	10/17	Co-op Rendezvous A Co-op Week Event for the members, directors and friends of all co-ops No cover charge. Buy your own food & drinks - Spinnakers Brew Pub, 308 Catherine Street, Victoria. Door Prizes. A change to meet, chat and socialize with other co-operators. Hosted by the South Islands Regional Co-op Council - www.victoriaco-ops.ca - 250-415-9272
Sat	10/18	Light The Night A 5km. Twilight walk to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by blood cancer. Participants hold illuminated balloons - white for survivors, gold for those walking in memory and red for supporters. Uvic Parking Lot 10, 5:30pm Registration. www.lightthenight.org
Sat	10/18	Day of Action Against Troops in Afghanistan After the Election: Don’t Mourn; Organize! Pan-Canadian Day of Action Against Troops in Afghanistan October 18th - 1pm @ Centennial Square. Rally & March; Including: Speakers, Music and Theatre. Send a strong message to the next Government of Canada to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan.
Sat	10/18	The Bamfield Mushroom Festival Found growing on the forest floor, on logs, in bogs and on roadsides, mushrooms abound in Bamfield...making this perfect place for delicious discovery. For more info: www.mushroomfestival.ca
Sat	10/18	The VNCS Japanese Cultural Fair Powerful taiko drumming, delicious sushi, exquisite ikebana flower arrangements and cultural games for the kids… it must be Victoria’s longest running Japanese Cultural Fair! Admission is free!
Sat Sun	10/18- 10/19	Nanaimo Pumpking Festival Enjoy some family time at Shady Mile Market's Pumpkin Festival. Family fun events all weekend. Giant pumpkin weigh off contest, pumpkin carving, petting farm, hay rides. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Sat	10/18	3rd Annual Grape Harvest Ball A great way to celebrate the Grape Harvest. Events may include: The Oyster Shuckers at 5pm; Oyster Bar opens at 6pm; Dinner at 7:30; Grape Stomp at 9:00; DJ at 9:30 . Tickets in advance at Salt Spring Vineyards, 250-653-WINE, $50 for oyster bar, live music, dinner and entertainment. Attire is: Mothballed gowns/tuxes/overalls and gumboots (or whatever old fancy stuff you have in the back of your closet and never wear).
Sat	10/25	Annual Spooktacular Event Annual Rotary Spooktacular fundraising event at Farmers Institute. Charity Casino, great music by Uncle Jim's Blues Band. Come dressed up and win terrific prizes. 8pm to 1am. Tickets $20 each. Available at Berkshire Securities, Martin Hoogerdyk.
Sun Fri	10/26- 12/31	Salmon Run Elk Falls Provincial Park, from a riverside trail along the Quinsam River you can watch chinook, coho, chum and pink salmon returning to spawn. Viewing from late October through December.
Sun Fri	10/26- 12/31	Salmon Run Stamp Falls Provincial Park, each year thousands of salmon fight their way up the falls and fish ladder to spawn in upper Stamp River and Great Central Lake. Viewing from late October through December.
Sun Fri	10/26- 12/31	Salmon Run Goldstream Provincial Park, from late October through December, some 20,000 salmon make the journey from the Pacific Ocean up Finlayson Arm to spawn in the river they were born in 3/4 years earlier. Park naturalists offer hourly programs during the weekend at the park's Nature Centre describing the life cycle of chum salmon and their spawning activity with a special noon program at the picnic site. For more info on the salmon run scheduled programs at Goldstream Park, call 478-9414.
Wed Sat	10/29- 11/1	Pumpkin Art at Ogden Point The pumpkins are back! Well known locally as the former Pumpkin Art event at Government House, hundreds of intricately carved lit up pumpkins are returning to Victoria this fall as part of a five city tour in support of UNICEF's BC's Unite for Children, Unite Against Aids campaign. Visit over 35 themed, lit up displays including cartoon characters, former prime ministers, the Royal Family, local personalities and much more. Fun for the whole family. Location: Ogden Point Cruise Ship Warehouse.
Thu Fri	10/30- 10/31	The 12th Pumpkin Yard The 12th Pumpkin Yard: Festival of Jack O'Lanterns; Over a hundred works of pumpkin art, using 100% real pumpkins. Intricate designs by local and international artists include: David Bowie, ghostly gamblers, Celtic beasts and much more. The pumpkins are set in spooktacular outdoor displays including a graveyard and vampire lair. Be part of the festival: bring your own pumpkin creation. Family-friendly. Donations appreciated. 2527 Fernwood Rd. pumpkinyard@telus.net
Fri	10/31	The Hallowe'en Pumpkin Trail On Hallowe'en night, October 31st, in Errington, parents bring their costumed kids to the Community Park at 6:30pm where they run the gaunlet past the 'spooks' hidden along the dark trails. At each spook they'll get a treat. At the end of the trail, near the market site, they can get a hot chocolate from the coffee shop, warm themselves by the bonfire, and watch the fireworks display. Come and enjoy the fun and festivities on Halloween!