On your to-do list: a sexy film festival, live-action art battle, Port Hardy’s first-ever Pride festival, the fall fair, outdoor wine dinners and more.
Cover illustration by Caitlin McDonagh.
Victoria
September 13 | Art Battle It’s just like an epic wrestling cage match, but for art. Paintbrushes will be flying, splattering and dabbing feverishly while you watch at a close distance. There will be three fast-paced rounds of live painting and you get to play judgmental art critic and vote for a winner. And the spoils of war can be yours, as each artwork created is for sale afterwards via silent auction. Tickets are $20.
September 14 | Hump! Film Festival It has nothing to do with Wednesday and everything to do with humping. Dan Savage’s Hump! Film Festival is pretty much exactly like it sounds. Everyday people make short, sexy amateur films and they all screen back-to-back at the Vic Theatre. Tickets $20 to $25.
September 12 | Farm to Table Dinner House of Boateng Cafe’s Chef Castro (whose restaurant was recently shortlisted for Canada’s “Best New Restaurant” by EnRoute Magazine) is teaming up with the Plot Market Garden, a small farm in West Saanich, to craft this locally farmed and foraged family-style meal. Tickets are $70. Starts at 6:30 p.m.
September 13 to 15 | Luxton Fall Fair and Carnival You know the drill: gravity-defying rides, neon lights, cotton candy, and getting suckered into winning giant stuffies through skill, luck and force (whack that mole!). It’s nostalgic amusement and the perfect place to indulge your inner child, whether you’re amongst friends, on a date, or hanging with family. Daily wristbands are $40. Events and rides are weather dependent.
September 13 | What’s Good Brands x Dumpling Drop This intimate gathering promises to be a “fun filled evening of dumplings and curated beverages,” and is brought to you by the What’s Good Brands team, who will be pairing Dumpling Drop’s delicious, stuffed wares with beverages from their portfolio, including cider from Merridale and wine by Okanagan Crush Pad, Haywire and more. Starts at 5 p.m.
Duncan
September 14 | On This Harvest Moon Averill Creek winery is celebrating the upcoming harvest at their vineyard with a cocktail-style party on the terrace. There will be wine-paired dishes from Chef Lauren Cartmel of Ma Maison Restaurant, and each food station will shine a light on a different Cowichan Valley farmer. Your $100 ticket includes dinner and wine pairings. The event kicks off at 6 p.m.
Ucluelet
September 9 to 11 | Wild ‘n Queer 3-Day Kayak Expedition The Broken Group is an archipelago off the west coast with islands surrounded by clear blue-green water that looks like a tropical paradise (a vision only slightly tempered by the very un-tropical ocean temperatures). Wild ‘n Queer was founded by Mark, a passionate queer educator, certified sea kayak guide, yogi and wild-food cooking enthusiast. This is the first in his series of west coast expeditions. The three-day adventure is headed up by Mark, along with Kevin, the head guide for Hello Nature tours in Ucluelet and a Level 3 guide, guide trainer and sea kayaking instructor. You’ll be in great hands as you explore one of B.C.’s most beautiful natural settings.
Port Hardy
September 14 | Port Hardy PRIDE Day The first-ever Port Hardy Pride Day kicks off this weekend, and looks to be a great mix of pride activities in North Island style. There will be music and drag performances, a drum dance, along with free food, door prizes, children’s activities and a march through downtown Port hardy. Hosted by the Port Hardy Pride Society, this age is all-ages and family-friendly. Pride day kicks off from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with events like Fish Taco Drag (more on that below) happening later in the evening.
September 14 | Fish Taco: A Seaside Drag Fish tacos and drag—what more could you want from an event? Fish Taco: A Seaside Drag continues Port Hardy’s Pride day festivities well into the night, and will be a fun, glitter-fuelled, song and dance revelry. Drag performers from across the Island are set to descend on Port Hardy bringing laughter, creativity, talent and yes, nudity, to the stage. Fish tacos and beer are just a bonus.
Know of an event or cool gathering that we missed? Email us at breakwater@gmail.com to keep us in the loop.
