Farm Fresh Feasts and Flavours on the Peninsula

North Saanich Flavour Trails Festival

Aug. 17, 18, 19 Experience a fantastic weekend of local food, music, farm-life, community history and bounty from land and sea. Part rural ramble and part celebration, the Flavour Trails Festival lets you explore what is being grown, harvested, made and served on the Peninsula. Venues and activities offer an array of tastes and behind-thescenes glimpses into the working life of Peninsula growers and makers. Watch ancient grain mills at work, sip local wines in the vineyard, and sample roasted local meats hot off the spit. Download the brochure, flavourtrails.com/index.php/northsaanich-flavour-trails-festival. Or pick a copy up at local businesses, public buildings and tourist information centres. Plan your route. Biking is a great way to go. There are two Park and Bike lots for you to park your car. Beyond the two full days of activity, the festival hosts two special events: GALA Festival Launch Farm to Table Feast Deep Cove Winery. Friday, Aug. 17, 6 to 10 p.m., Seasonal four-course farm-totable dinner, accompanied by some of the best music of the region. Visit: flavourtrails for tickets. Community Pancake Breakfast Sunday, Aug. 19, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., The Field at Epicure, 10555 W. Saanich Rd. Tickets at the door.

Feast of Fields

Sunday, Aug. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. Kildara Farms, 11293 Chalet Rd., North Saanich Feast of Fields is a three-hour wandering gourmet harvest festival that highlights the connections between farmers and chefs, fields and tables, and between farm folks and city folks. With a wine glass and linen napkin in hand, you'll stroll across a farmers field, traveling from tent to tent (sometimes through the barn, past the tractor or around the chicken coop) listening to live music, and tasting gourmet creations from some of BC’s top chefs, bakers, food artisans, vintners, brewers, distillers and other beverage producers. Kildara Farms, certified organic since 1994, is the largest producer of organic salad greens in BC. Kildara Farms grows over 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables, raises pigs, meat chickens and laying chickens. Join this event on Aug. 26 for a magical afternoon of local fare while strolling the grounds of this iconic island farm. Purchase tickets in advance. For details, contact: feastoffields.com