– by Gillian Crowley –
Sidney & Peninsula Literary Festival
There’s still time to get tickets for readings, workshops and evening galas for the Festival to be held Oct. 2-4. Don’t miss well-known authors like Steven Galloway, Richard Wagamese, Lorna Crozier, William Deverell and Fred Stenson. Enjoy Zsuszi Gartner’s short stories and Kay Stewart’s mysteries starring a female RCMP officer. Gardening guru Des Kennedy will inspire and entertain. So much to take in! Tickets at Tanner’s Books and online at sidneyliteraryfestival.ca. Some at the door.
Fri. Oct. 2 Opening Ceremonies: 7 p.m. at North Saanich Middle School – 7 authors.
Sat. Oct. 3: Pairs of authors reading all day at the Pier Hotel’s Sallas Room. 9.30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sat. evening Gala: 7.30 p.m. at the Charlie White Theatre, Mary Winspear Centre – 7 more authors.
Sun. Oct. 3: 9 a.m. Breakfast with the Authors at Haro’s (only a few tickets left at time of writing).
ArtSea Festival
Celebrate the visual arts at the ArtSea Festival when over 400 artists from across Vancouver Island converge in Sidney for a 10-day celebration. ArtSea opens with the Sidney Fine Arts show Oct. 16-18 and closes with the self-guided Fall Studio Tour Oct. 24-25. In-between, more than 40 Peninsula businesses will be hosting individual artists and painting demonstrations at their place of business.
A new fun event is the Paint and Wine night held Oct. 17 at the Shaw Discovery Centre in Sidney and Oct. 24 at the Village Empourium in Brentwood Bay. Under artist Odette Laroche’s tutelage, every participant will leave with their own original painting.
Learn more in October’s Distinctly Sidney brochure or at http://cacsp.com.
Gala Fundraiser
Last year ArtSea raised $10,000 to donate to the “Arts in the Schools” program. Now students who benefited from past donations are giving back in the ArtSea Gala Fundraiser. Several Peninsula arts organizations donate time and talent in an unforgettable musical and dance journey. Proceeds benefit the ‘Arts in the Schools’ program.
Tickets: $10 at the Community Arts Centre at Tulista Park, 9565 Fifth Street, Sidney. Wed., Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Charlie White Theatre, Mary Winspear Centre.
Other Visual Arts Events
Live painting and sculpting demonstrations at the Village Gallery with interpretive acrylic artists Chris Alers and Barry Tate on Friday and on Saturday oil painter Keith Hiscock and renowned Bronze Sculptor Nathan Scott will demonstrate their talents.
Oct. 16-17, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
At Brentwood Bay Resort a demonstration by Victoria wildlife watercolour artist Richard Wong will take place in the lobby as part of the ArtSea Festival. Sun. Oct. 18, 12 – 2p.m.
David Essig in Concert
David Essig started out in 1971 as a “talented newcomer” at the legendary Mariposa Folk Festival. Now, over 40 years later, he has an international career as one of Canada’s finest interpreters of original, contemporary folk music. Always paying homage to his roots in Bluegrass and Country Blues, David uses these traditions to create timeless new songs. Hosted by Deep Cove Folk Society.
Tickets at Tanner’s Books.
Fri. Oct. 30, 7.30 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church, 2410 Malaview Avenue, Sidney.
