Calendar: Food, Libations and Fun!

September may be drawing to a close and our fall routines defined, but that’s no excuse for boredom. Head over to the CBC Radio station to record your own station ID and meet their hosts. Get your fill of stories and crafts at the Esquimalt Story Festival. Or indulge in a little decadence with Art of the Cocktail and the Chef Survival Challenge.

Culture Days – Get into Victoria’s culture scene, enjoy performances and interactive visual arts activities. SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11am-3pm in Centennial Square. Free.

CBC Radio Open House  – Step into the CBC Radio studio and record a station ID. Meet hosts Gregor Craigie, Jo-ann Roberts, Khalil Ahktar, Kelly Nakatsuka, Don Genova, Shelagh Rogers, Quirks and Quarks Bob McDonald and win great draw prizes. Bite into an apple pie to help Lifecycles, or apple muffins from the Camosun College Culinary School. SATURDAY 10am-2pm at CBC Radio (1025 Pandora). Free. 250-360-2227.

Esquimalt Story Festival – Hot dog lunch for kids (and for parents by donation), craft tent and seven children’s storytellers, including Tim Gosley, Peg Hasted, and the Tickle Trunk Players. SATURDAY 10:30am-2:30pm at the GVPL, Esquimalt Branch (1231 Esquimalt). Free. 250-414-7198.

Art of the Cocktail – Victoria’s premier cocktail festival returns. Tastings, workshops, competitions and more. SATURDAY noon-9:30pm, SUNDAY 10am-2am & 11am-8:30pm at locations throughout Victoria. $90-$170. artofthecocktail.ca.

Chef Survival IV – Join 20 of the finest chefs in Victoria as they crawl, pick and cook their way. Proceeds support TLC’s farmland conservation program. SUNDAY noon-6pm at Madrona Farm (4317 Blenkinsop). $50-$100. chefsurvivalchallenge.com.

Food Security: It’s in Our Hands – Network with others in Food Security, learn about and get involved with Transition Food Group projects, upcoming events and more. Includes panel discussion on food security. TUESDAY 6:30-9:30pm at the Fernwood Community Association Hall (1923 Fernwood). By donation. 250-380-6383.

Calendar: Get Steamy

Anachronism seems to be on the menu this week. Get your fill of steampunk at the Steam Expo or learn how to navigate using the stars. Get your pets blessed by the Friars of St. Francis of Assisi or look into the past with a Night Sky Viewing.

Steam Expo – Discover the collision of history, technology, imagination and attitude that make up the world of steampunk. SATURDAY & SUNDAY at Craigdarroch Castle (1050 Joan). Weekend pass $40. victoriasteamexpo.com.

Basset Hound Picnic – Honor the splendor that is the basset hound at this annual picnic. Includes blessing of pets by the Friars of St. Francis of Assisi. SATURDAY 10:30am at Dominion Brook Park (8732-8864 East Saanich). Free. 250-382-1754.

Starry Night Navigation – Learn the methods and science behind navigation using the stars, moon and planets. Then test your skills out on the water aboard one of Five Star’s Whale Watching’s signature vessels. SATURDAY 6:30-9:30pm at the Maritime Museum of BC (28 Bastion Square). $85/$65 for youths(6-18 years). 250-385-4222.

Night Sky Viewing – Enjoy the wonders of the night sky with the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Including inside activities for adults and children, equipment demonstrations and audiovisual presentations relating to the night sky. Outside observing activities will take place weather permitting. MONDAY 6:30-10pm at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association (1330 Fairfield). Free. 250-380-6358.

Win a prize pack and two tickets to Vox Humana’s CD release concert for Summer Rain by emailing calendar@mondaymag.com (SUBJECT: VOX). Enter ASAP, as the the concert is this SATURDAY (Sept 24).

Calendar: Dancing in the Streets

So much to do, so little time. Make the most of what you’ve got by enjoying some of this week’s events.

Find the artisan your looking for at Rock Bay Square’s open house . Get to know your neighbours at South Jubilee’s Street fest or The Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club’s September Social . Get an early start on hayrides with the Harvest Threshing weekend.

Wedding season may be coming to an end, but the Victoria Bridal Expo will help you plan next years nuptials.

Rock Bay Square – Open house featuring furniture makers, jewelers, leather artisans, writers and more. FRIDAY 3-8pm at 205-2614 Bridge. Free. 250-382-0098.

Harvest Threshing Weekend – Hay threshing demos, museums, refreshments, trails, entertainment, train rides and heritage express tractor rides. SATURDAY & SUNDAY 9:30am-4:30pm at Heritage Acres (7321 Lochside). $7/free children under 12. 250-652-5522, shas.ca.

Streetfest – The South Jubilee neighbourhood’s annual street party invites everyone out for an afternoon of music, food, performers, a garden exchange, baking table, children’s activities, community info and much more. Everyone welcome. SATURDAY 1-5pm at Redfern Park (Leighton road). Free. 250-589-0113.

September Social – Meet other downtown residents and try your hand at lawn bowling! Cash bar & food sales on-site. Registration is first come, first served. SATURDAY 3-6pm at The Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club (720 Belleville). $10. 250-386-5501, wdbowkett@gmail.com.

Bridal Expo – Find everything wedding under one roof. Dresses, favours, florists and more! SUNDAY 10am-4pm at the Crystal Garden (713 Douglas). $18. bridalevents.ca.

Calendar: Fall Can Be Fun Too

Students are back at school and summer has indeed come to a close. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still fun to be had. Enjoy some art and wine at Art Incognito while raising funds for the Vancouver Island School of Art. Know a writer? Take them to Wired Words and find out what the writing profession is all about. Eat, drink and be merry at the Tibetan Cultural Society of Vancouver Island’s Tibetan dinner, Victoria’s Eat Here Now! festival or the Vining Street Block Party. There’s no excuse for boredom this weekend!

Art Incognito – Enjoy fine art, wine, silent auctions, treats and more at this fundraiser. FRIDAY 6-9pm at the Vancouver Island School of Art (2549 Quadra). $30. 250-380-3500.

Wired words – Writers of all genres (emerging or professional) are invited to this writers festival focusing on social media and new technological opportunities for writers. SATURDAY 10am-5pm at the Maritime Museum of BC (28 Bastion Square). $61. 250-208-4811.

Fantastic Fun Day- Games, music, bouncy castle, arts and crafts, and free coffee, hot dogs and hamburgers. SATURDAY 10am-2pm at St. Luke’s (3821 Cedar Hill Cross). Free. Cemetery tours at 11am & 1pm. 250-477-6741, stlukesvictoria.ca.

Tibetan Cultural Society of Vancouver Island – Hosts a fund raising dinner of authentic Tibetan food. Proceeds support the settlement of some of the 1,000 Tibetan refugees on Vancouver Island. SATURDAY 6pm at the Church of St. John the Divine hall (1611 Quadra). $25. 250-386-0211, tdolma@shaw.ca.

Eat Here Now! -  A family-friendly festival featuring some of the best farmers, fishers, butchers, bakers, processors, vintners, brewers, coffee roasters and restaurants in the region. SUNDAY 11am-4pm in Centennial Square. Free.  victoriapublicmarket.com/events.

Vining Street Block Party – Woop it up with entertainment, food, silent auctions and more! 1-8:30pm at the corner of Stanley and Vining. Free.
African Marimba  Workshop- Learn how to play those big wooden xylophones you’ve seen people playing downtown! No musical experience necessary, all instruments supplied. SUNDAY 2-3:30pm at 1333 Gladstone. $20. 250-732-1950, info@bopoma.org.

Monday Magazine’s calendar is always looking for prize donations: tickets, books, CDs, gift certificates, you name it. If you’ve got something you’d like to donate to our blog give-aways, email calendar@mondaymag.com.