Metchosin Day a last blast of summer
Summer just isn’t over until Metchosin Day, a free community celebration always held on the first Sunday after Labour Day.
Enjoy a lazy day shopping at the Metchosin Farmer’s Market, watching wool-spinning demonstrations or checking out the wares of more than 100 vendors, from pottery to produce, dog treats, soaps, plants, herbs, balloons, fashions, honey, aprons, baked goods, flowers, natural wood products, jams, body art and more.
The day starts with a five-kilometre run /walk at 8 a.m., followed by a pancake breakfast at the Scouts tent. Animal lovers can bring their furry and fuzzy friends to the 11 a.m. pet contest, followed by children’s games at noon.
Enjoy watching a blacksmith at work, sheep-shearing and wool-spinning demonstrations, a dunk tank and backhoe and hay rides for the children.
New this year is a Yikes Bikes Extravaganza for people with decorated bikes, followed by a motorcycle demonstration by Victoria Motorcycle Club. The motor sport involves riding over obstacles, some manmade, others natural. These riders will be riding their bikes over logs, walls and giant triangles.
An astral show features a Space Bus with models of the solar system and an Ecliptic Calendar setup across the field. Sharing the field will be the Project Germani, a historical reenactment of the first century B.C. to the first century A.D.
The Metchosin Equestrian Society has several events planned, including the Manestream Vaulters performing gymnastics on horseback. Breakfast and lunch will be served from a concession under the grandstand.
Those who like to kick up their heels can take part in the Metchosin Day Kick-Off Dance on Friday, an ’80sthemed dance with live music in the Community Hall. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance from the Metchosin Community House.
Admission to Metchosin Day is free. The event runs 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the Metchosin Municipal Grounds, behind the fire hall, at 4450 Happy Valley Rd. Free vehicle parking is next to the Village Green. Enter off Happy Valley Road and exit onto Rocky Point Road. Free bicycle parking is just beyond the handicapped parking. To get to the site from Victoria by bike, take the Galloping Goose Trail to kilometre 251⁄ and turn left on Rocky Point Road to Happy Valley Road, then right on Happy Valley. Pets welcome. For details, go to metchosinday.ca.