BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for September 3 – 9

Credit: TV Week

Relax poolside after a wine tasting at the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa

What to do in BC this week

Sail on over to the Victoria Classic Boat Festival – September 2-4
It’ll be ships ahoy at the 34th annual Victoria Classic Boat Festival from September 2 to 4, when the capitol city’s Inner Harbour will be bobbing with boats of all varieties. Give your sea legs a workout by poking through the 100-plus antique vessels or just sit back and watch as they motor through the harbour. The most popular attractions? It’s a three-way toss-up between the Classic Rowing Race, steamboat parade and Sunday Sailpast.

Forage for Treasures at the Kerrisdale Antiques Fair – September 3-4
Why forage at flea markets and yard sales when you can troll for quality collectibles all in one place at the Kerrisdale Antiques Fair? Taking place September 3 and 4 at Kerrisdale Arena (5670 East Boulevard, Vancouver), this antiques extravaganza features more than 250 tables and booths, making it a one-stop shop for everything from estate jewellery and Depression-era kitchenware to old memorabilia and antiquarian books. Admission to the sale, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is $7 at the door, with more details available at 604-980-3159.

Catch Some Rays at the Sunshine Music Festival – September 3-4
We all know Lower Mainlanders didn’t get to enjoy much sunshine this summer. One way to make up for it? At the 30th annual Sunshine Music Festival, taking place September 3 and 4 at Palm Beach Park in Powell River. When you’re not taking in performances by international and homegrown acts like The Paperboys, you can browse the craft market and enjoy world eats at the on-site food fair. Buy tickets for $30 per person, with $5 discounts for seniors and students, at the admission gate, River City Coffee and Rocky Mountain Bakery. Check it out starting at noon.

Cross the Border to Bumbershoot – September 3-5
Ending the summer holidays on a high note, Bumbershoot, Seattle’s biggest urban arts festival unfolds from September 3 
to 5 with a lineup of musical up-and-comers like Legendary Oaks, Gail Pettis Quartet, Mavis Staples, Caleb Klauder Country Band and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. But music is only some of the action in store at this blowout 41st annual bash, featuring everything from a carnival, comedy shows and counterculture-comix exhibition to a film festival, dance and food fair. Cross-border lineups or not, we think this one is definitely worth the drive down south. Check it out at the Seattle Center (305 Harrison St). 
For single-day tickets, priced at $35, visit ticketmaster.ca or buy your pass at the gate for $45 per person.

Celebrate the 1920s at Burnaby Village Museuem – September 5
Quaint contests like corn-shucking, watermelon-eating and bake-offs are remnants from a distant age. So where better to reboot them than at Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave), a 1920s-era town hosting an old-fashioned Fall Fair on September 5. The 10-acre site, comprised of period and replica buildings peopled with costumed townsfolk, will be teeming with musicians, children’s entertainers and “games of skill and chance.” So swing by from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and don’t forget to take a spin on the 1912 CW Parker Carousel, cool your heels at the ice-cream parlour and check out the live demonstrations at the old-time blacksmith’s, general store and farmhouse.


See a Show at the Vancouver International Fringe Festival – September 8-18
If your artistic appetite runs toward the offbeat, you’ll find just the ticket at the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, B.C.’s biggest and best-loved stage spectacular running from September 8 to 18. With over 600 performances by more than 80 theatre troupes, this sometimes-edgy, always eclectic fest runs daily on indoor and outdoor stages throughout Granville Island, including everything from garages to a moving Aquabus. And whether your curiosity is piqued by shows like The Crackwalker or Houdini’s Last Escape, the festival’s mandate is “Theatre for Everyone,” making it one of the most popular and populist events on Vancouver’s cultural calendar. For information and showtimes, pick up a festival brochure at any Blenz Coffee location.


Spend a Night with Ray Forbes – September 9-10
It’s been said that Roy Forbes, one of Canada’s best-loved acoustic musicians, can make audiences melt in his hands. Or, as one critic wrote: “They sing, they clap, they laugh, they cry, they think.” What’s all the fuss about? The Dawson Creek-born artist, a veteran troubadour whose “high keening voice” is said to have “no equal in popular music,” celebrates 40 years in the biz on September 9 and 10 at Deep Cove Shaw Theatre (4360 Gallant Ave, North Vancouver), starting at 8 p.m. The intimate setting is ideal for showcasing the stripped-down sounds of this “startlingly soulful” artist, long considered one of B.C.’s national treasures. Tickets are $30 from 604-929-9456.

Walk for the Animals with Paws for a Cause – September 11
Did you know that the BC SPCA assists, shelters and finds homes for more than 36,000 animals in need each year? Do-gooding of that degree wouldn’t be possible without the public’s help, so on September 11 why not check out the Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause…Walk for the Animals, a fundraising and awareness campaign taking place in dozens of communities throughout the province, including everywhere from Vancouver to Victoria and Quesnel to Kamloops.

Take Mission Hill’s Art + Wine Tour – until October 9
Apart from maybe a martini — shaken not stirred, of course — no libation exudes “culture” quite like a glass of fine wine. Now amp up that feeling 50-fold and you’ll have a sense of Mission Hill Family Estate’s new Art + Wine Tour, taking place until October 9. This sommelier-led tasting tour guides guests through an onsite exhibition by Parisian sculptor Nathalie Decoster, whose 53 large-scale works are artfully installed throughout the award-winning estate. As you sip a selection of Mission Hill flagship wines, your guide will discuss the meaning behind each sculpture, positioned at every turn during your journey, indoors and out. Like a fine-art treasure hunt, this unique experience is offered Fridays through Sundays.

Enjoy a Brew at the Granville Room – anytime
Haven’t been to the Granville Room (957 Granville St, Vancouver) in a while? You might not recognize the place. Fresh off a full-scale reno, this classic cocktail tavern is showing off its new-and-improved looks by hosting weekly Cask Nights. Taking place every Monday from 6 p.m., guests can drink up from a freshly tapped cask of conditioned craft beer from local breweries like Driftwood, Howe Sound and Elysian Brewery. And of course, beer always tastes better with appies, so check out the boutique dining menu to order up a round of tasty dishes specially prepared by executive chef Kye Agrios. You won’t break big bank, either, ’cause sleeves of cask beer are just $4.75 and small plates $7 each.

Escape to Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa – anytime
There’s no doubt about it: saying so long to summer is sad. One way to banish the back-to-work blues? By booking a weekend escape to the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa (4330 Island Highway South, Courtenay), where picture-perfect landscapes are likely to get you all snap-happy. But hang on; don’t book a trip until you check out the special Kingfisher Package offered by BC Ferries Vacations, featuring a two-night stay, round-trip ferry ride from Vancouver and a Pacific Mist Hydropath therapy treatment for two. The price? From $213 per person, based on double occupancy. The experience? Priceless. For all the details on this and other packages, call 1-888-223-3779.

Rejuvenate at Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa – anytime
Famously called “Napa of the North,” the South Okanagan is known as Canada’s premier wine country, thanks to its sun-drenched summers and acres of orchards. But why just read about it when you can experience it for yourself at Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa (1200 Rancher Creek Rd, Osoyoos), now rolling out a Deluxe Wine Package starting at $99 per night. The offer includes a complimentary wine tour and tasting — normally a $55 value ­— at three of the region’s best-known estate wineries. Later, you can take in a round of golf or just kick back at the luxe resort, featuring such on-site amenities as an outdoor pool, Sonora Desert Spa and PassaTempo Restaurant. To book, call 1-877-737-6782 or reserve online, quoting code “GDES.”

Originally published in TV Week. For daily updates, subscribe to the free TV Week e-newsletter, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.