COMMUNITY
CHINESE NEW YEAR AFTERNOON TEA
Interested in trying reinvented Chinese eats and learning more about Chinese New Year? Join executive chef Rick Choy as he prepares a meal to delight your senses. Reservations are required so call 250 380 4458 to reserve seating.
Feb. 18–28, recurring daily
Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St.
Admission: $44 per person
For more information please visit hotelgrandpacific.com
SEEDY SATURDAY
Seedy Saturday is back with another year featuring spring seeds and garden shows. Highlights include seeds for sale, gardening talks included with admission, garden and food products, and much more. This event is fun for the whole family with a special session for gardeners aged five–eight years of age. Get excited about spring cleaning this year and plan your garden for the year ahead with helpful tips from experts.
Feb. 21, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas St.
Admission: $7 cash at door, 16 and under free
For more information visit jamesbaymarket.com
CHINESE NEW YEAR DRAGON DANCE AND PARADE
Chinese New Year begins on Feb. 19 and will continue into March. If you haven’t had a chance to celebrate the New Year, head down to Chinatown to partake in the many festivities. From lion dancing, kung fu and tai chi demonstrations, to dragon performances, this event will be a cultural experience.
Feb. 22, 12–4 p.m.
Chinatown, 500 block of Fisgard St., Victoria
Admission: Free
VICTORIA SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL
Victoria’s Spoken Word Festival is back for it’s fifth annual festival with poetry mash ups, improv writing, and collaborative performances. Venues include the Victoria Event Centre, Intrepid Theatre, and Metro Theatre, and spans Feb. 23–Mar. 1. For the festival finale, the All-Star Festival Ensemble will perform a show written in one day.
Feb. 23–Mar. 31, various times
Intrepid Theatre (1609 Blanshard St.), Metro Theatre (1411 Quadra St.), Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad St.)
Admission: $12 students, $15 adults, $45 festival pass, tickets available at door
Tickets available online at ticketrocket.org. For more information, visit victoriaspokenwordfestival.com
MUSIC
PACIFIC BAROQUE FESTIVAL
Celebrate the Pacific Baroque Festival this year as they present “The Justly Celebrated Mr. Handel”. The festival includes a series of five concerts aimed to show off George Frederick Handel’s rich musical works.
Feb. 19–22, recurring daily
Alix Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Ave.
Admission: $20- $35, $100 festival pass, $80 seniors/students
For more information and ticket locations visit pacbaroque.com
BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH CHANCE LOVETT QUARTET AND JUSTIN CARTER
Songstress Chance Lovett will be joined by Nicholas Mintenko, Sean Thompson, and Dakota Hoeppner celebrating Black History Month with gospel, blues, and jazz. Justin Carter, known for his one-man play, “Son Of Africville”, will open the evening with a special performance. This event is sponsored by the Belfry Theatre, the Greater Victoria Public Library, and the B.C. Black History Awareness Society.
Feb. 23, 7–9 p.m., doors at 6:30 p.m.
Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Ave.
Admission: By donation, all ages welcome
For more information visit belfry.bc.ca
BANDFEST 2015
UVic’s School of Music presents over 30 concert bands from the Pacific Northwest. This non-competitive festival will have on-stage clinics by an adjudicator following each band’s performance. Bandfest spans over two days with up to eight hours of music each day.
Feb. 25–27, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Farquhar Auditorium, University Centre, UVic, 3800 Finnerty Rd.
Admission: Free
For more information visit finearts.uvic.ca
