CALENDAR: Comic Con, Aretha Franklin tribute
FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Capital City Comic Con with three days of comics, gaming, special guests and cosplay. Guests include Dan Folger, Skeet Ulrich, Malcom McDowal and Marina Sirtis. Today through Sunday at the Victoria Conference Centre and Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas St.; capitalcitycomiccon.ca.
Aretha Franklin Tribute Show, Respect to the Queen Tour starring Denita Asberry at the Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at marywinspear.ca. Kellylee Evans at Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View St., 8 p.m. Tickets at jazzvictoria.ca, rmts.bc.ca, tel. 250-386-6121 and at the door; hermannsjazz.com.
Bear Necessities, a guided walk for ages five years and up at East Sooke Regional Park to learn about the natural history of the black bear. Today, 10-11:30 a.m., meet at the kiosk in the Aylard Farm parking lot off Beecher Bay Road. Capital Regional District Parks programs, crd.bc.ca/parks, tel. 250-478-3344. Spark Festival at the Belfry Theatre featuring four productions along with workshops and a host of free events. Performances tonight are Pathetic Fallacy, 8 p.m. and Old Stock, 8 p.m. Tickets at tickets.belfry.bc.ca. The Lynnes at Upstairs Lounge, Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St., 7:30 p.m. Tickets at Nicholas Randall Ltd. and Oak Bay Rec Centre at the door. Songs in the Round with Daniel Cook, Robbie Hancock, Dave Gallant and Ray Spencer at Gorg-eous Coffee, 300 Gorge Rd. E., 8:30-10:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Aretha Franklin Tribute Show, Respect Asberry at to the the McPherson Queen Tour Playhouse, staring Denita 7:30 tel. 250-386-6121. p.m. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca or German Alix Goolden pianist Hall, Martin 907 Pandora Stadtfeld Ave., at 7 p.m. Tickets at ticketfly.com; in benefit of the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Choir of Clare College Cambridge performs at Christ Church Cathedral,930 Burdett Ave., 8 p.m.; christchurchcathedral.bc.ca. The Sleeping Beauty Ballet performed by Ballet Étoile at the Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets at marywinspear.ca. EV (Electric Vehicle) Extravaganza. Meet EV owners and inspect their vehicles; different makes and models, new and used, electric bicycles and a Segway. 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Edward Milne Community School Theatre, 6218 Sooke Rd. Maureen Thorpe signs her debut novel, Tangle of Time, at Indigo Book Store, Mayfair Shopping Centre, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Master Gardeners at Central Branch Library. Save up your questions and drop by the rotunda to speak with members of the Victoria Master Gardener Association. Also featuring a seed swap and information table. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 735 Broughton St. ; gvpl.ca. Identity Crisis at Bartholomew’s, 777 Douglas St., 9 p.m. No cover; bartholomewspub.com.