What’s open — and what’s not — in the capital region this weekend

Hold your horses, Victoria. It might be a glorious weekend, but Dr. Bonnie Henry hasn’t loosened the reins quite yet.

The weather forecast, combined with this week’s release of the province’ s plan to ease corona virus related restrictions, has many people champing at the bit — and perhaps a bit confused about what is and is not open.

As a rule of thumb, municipal parks are open but their playgrounds and other facilities are not. The same applies to Capital Regional District parks.

Most provincial parks — including Goldstream — are to reopen for day use, but not until May 14. Camping will resume June 1. Some parks, such as Juan de Fuca and Cathedral Grove, will stay closed.

Butchart Gardens returned on May 1, but the longstanding Mother’s Day Paint-In and Craft Fair at Royal Roads University won’t happen this weekend. The Times Colonist Book Sale was supposed to begin today, but has been shelved with no replacement date inked in. The Victoria HarbourCats baseball team, which would normally begin playing next month, cancelled its entire season Friday.

Most Victoria-area golf courses have reopened, with municipally owned ones the last to do so. Play resumes at Oak Bay’s Henderson par-three golf course on Monday, though with reserved tee times and other new restrictions. Saanich’s Cedar Hill, Sooke’s DeMamiel Creek and the par-three at Juan de Fuca all opened in the last week.

The Beacon Hill Park petting zoo is still closed, with many of the animals staying at another farm. Although the harbour authority is discussing its future, the Ogden Point breakwater remains gated for now. Roadwork means even cyclists and pedestrians may not use Ocean Boulevard through Esquimalt Lagoon — already temporarily off limits to cars — until May 15.

For the most part, even the first phase of the province’s restart plan — covering the likes of retail, restaurants, cafés, museums, libraries and beaches — won’t kick in until after May 19.

The Royal B.C. Museum plans a phased reopening, but can’t confirm dates until it gets approval from WorkSafe B.C. and the health authority and has a reliable supply of hygiene products and protective wear.

The Greater Victoria Public Library will notify the public at least two weeks before opening its branches.