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Annual Luxton Pro Rodeo featuring: saddle and bareback bronc riding, bull riding, tie down and team roping, steer wrestling, ladies barrels, specialty acts, mutton bustin’, and mutton scramble.

Free grounds admission starting noon daily to: antique farm equipment, carnival rides, blacksmith demos, heritage displays and vendors.  FREE parking Hwy 14 Corner of Sooke and Luxton Roads.

Price: Adults $15.00; Students/Seniors $10.00; Children 14 and under Free with an Adult admission. Daily wristband specials available for carnival rides.

See professional cowboys and cowgirls compete in steer wrestling, bull riding. Saddle and bareback bronc riding, tie down and team roping and ladies barrel racing. Sign the little Cowpokes up to enjoy Mutton Bustin’ and the Mutton Scramble.

Luxton Pro Rodeo is committed to providing quality family entertainment and, as an added attraction; visitors will be treated to the antics of the two-time Canadian Rodeo Entertainer of the Year, Professional Rodeo Clown and Barrel Man, Dennis Halstead.

The Luxton Pro Rodeo brings international attention to the quality of entertainment this community has to offer. Despite the long distances, the rodeo continues to attract talented athletes at the top of their sport, including Canadian and World Champions. Cowboys/Cowgirls spend untold hours perfecting the skills necessary to excel.

The Luxton Rodeo is a non-profit organization totally run by volunteers. Proceeds are put back into the community through the Luxton Fairgrounds and various sponsorships. Attracting up to 15,000 spectators over three days, the rodeo is one of the largest events in the West Shore.

The Luxton Pro Rodeo has been cited five times as the Canadian Rodeo Committee of the Year. Co-manager Sandy West was named CPRA Committee Person of the Year in 1996 and co-manager Charlie Prince in 2007.

Rodeo events start at 2pm daily with tickets available at the gate. Covered family seating and licensed stands available.

Free grounds admission includes carnival rides, vendors, antique farm equipment, and blacksmith and heritage displays. Advanced tickets are available at Willow Wind Feed and Tack, 2714 Sooke Rd.

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Sidney’s outdoor market every Thursday night from June 5 - August 28.

150+ vendors sell gifts, fresh produce, hand-made crafts and great food. Entertainment can be found on almost every block.

The market lines the main street of Beacon Avenue, between 1st and 5th Streets. Parking is available on side streets and public lots, and is permitted in municipal lots after 5:00 pm.

Sidney Summer Thursday Market expands
Times Colonist April 24, 2008

The successful market will stretch out about another block when it opens June 5, adding the area from below First Street to the entranceway to the pier at the bottom of Beacon Avenue.

"It’s much more inclusive this way, and fair to the businesses down there," market director Edward Connor said yesterday.

Businesses below First Street missed out on the thousands of people who come to the Sidney market on Thursday evenings in the summertime, Connor said, hence the application to council to expand.

The market association has to provide two trained crossing guards for the extension, on either side of the roundabout.

The Sidney Summer Market draws about 5,000 people every Thursday night between June to August, with tourists and locals alike meandering the town’s main street looking at the wares, grabbing a bite from food kiosks and listening to local music.

The extension will add another 28 spots for vendors, bringing the total to about 215, Connor said.

Sidney council earlier agreed to having the market open to the public an hour longer, and to allowing kiosks to extend 12 metres onto Second and Fourth streets off Beacon Avenue.

The market will open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 9:30 p.m. Its ninth season begins June 5 and goes until Aug. 28, Connor said.

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Organizers of the 2008 Tall Ships Festival have landed the Eagle

The three-masted barque from the U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed its participation in the festival, set for June 26-29 — a coup because the vessel is a Class A type, which means it’s one of the biggest tall ships.

Anchoring one or more Class A vessels is critical to drawing crowds, John Anderson, festival chairman, said yesterday. “The Eagle is a big ship with lots of mast and lots of sail. Those are the kind of vessels that draw people to the water.”

In 2005, the first year of the highly successful festival, two Class A vessels came to Victoria, the Pallada from Russia and the Cuahtemoc from Mexico. By next year, organizers hope to secure three more Class As, defined as all squarerigged vessels and those more than 40 metres in length.

In 2005, there were 26 tall ships anchored in the Inner Harbour, a number Anderson expects will be matched or exceeded next year. Eighteen vessels are already signed on.

The festival is operating with a $1.3million budget, with 30 per cent of that allocated to paying for ships’ appearances and/or piloting and port costs.

Organizers have gone to Victoria city hall to ask for $50,000 for the festival, which attracted close to 38,000 people in 2005. According to an economic study, the 2005 event pumped between $4.2 million and $5.1 million into the region’s economy.

Tall Ships®, Tall Ships Challenge® the ASTA logo are trademarks owned by the American Sail Training Association

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The highlight of the August long weekend is the Symphony Splash. Victoria’s Inner Harbour is transformed to a concert venue of gargantuan proportions. The orchestra and guest performers are set up on a barge directly in front of the Parliament Buildings. Powerful speakers carry the sound to the thousands who ring the harbour to listen. The concert traditionally closes with The 1812 Overture, complete with guns and the carillon. This free event is not to be missed.

Tania Miller, conductor Victoria Symphony Orchestra

HOW TO GET THERE

Parking is limited; organizers suggest walking, cycling or taking the bus

ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

There will be a special roped off area on the Empress lawn on Government St. near Belleville. Buses and vehicles can drop people off at the corner of Government and Belleville.

STREET CLOSURES

Belleville Street in front of the legislature closes at 3 p.m. Other roads around the inner harbour will be closed as required.

BE PREPARED

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, possibly umbrellas, binoculars, sunscreen, food, water, hats and cameras

BEST PLACES TO WATCH

The water, of course. Canoes, kayaks and small boats must wait until after 6:45 p.m. when the performance barge is fully secured and a 90-metre sound cable is run from the barge to shore. Splash organizers have arranged for 360-degree sound, so there’s more good seats behind the barge. On land, choice seats are on the lower causeway of the Inner Harbour. More speakers than ever before will help ensure even broadcasting of the sound.

Victoria Symphony Splash Photos

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One of Victoria’s most popular summer events, the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival is a remarkable combination of culture and sport. Showcasing our world-renowned inner harbour, I understand it is the only dragon boat festival in North America to take place in a working harbour.

The Festival also reinforces our distinction as a Cultural Capital of Canada; it is a first-class example of our culturally diverse and healthy community. Legend has it that hosting a dragon boat festival brings prosperity and health to the host community. I can only infer that is one reason Victoria boasts one of the highest quality of life ratings in the country.

History of  Dragon Boat Races