What's Up? A List of Events in Cowichan

It's another busy week in Cowichan. So many things going on!  From country music at SunFest to Family Day at the Forest Discovery Centre, there are activities for every taste and interest. Get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and join in the fun!

 Summertime means road work here on the island.  If you are traveling to or from Victoria, you'll find this schedule, listing planned road work on the Malahat useful.  Bookmark the page or print the schedule out so that you have it on hand when planning your trips.

BC Forest Protection warns of extreme fire danger here in the valley.  Campfires and open cooking fires are prohibited. Find more information here.

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It's great weather for hiking but please do remember that you are sharing the area with wildlife.  There have been cougar and grey wolf sightings in the Mesachie Lake area this week.  If you are hiking in that area, take a buddy along with you.

• Ongoing – Penny Drive fundraiser for MS Support Group. Drop off your pennies at the MS Society office, Duncan
• Ongoing – Penny Drive fundraiser in support of four food banks, Wavaw, & The Salvation Army, News Leader Pictorial office, 2-5380 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan
• Ongoing – Frances Kelsey student art show, Whiskey Point Grill, Mill Bay
• June 1 - October 1 - Stage 1 sprinkling regulations are in place for all CVRD water systems.  For more informaton on regulations contact the CVRD at 250-746-2513 or visit cvrd.bc.ca
• June 11 - October 11 - The Chemainus River Bridge located on Chemainus River near Pinson's Corner (between Swallowfield Rd. and Ashcroft Road) will be closed to all traffic including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
• June 18 - October 26 - Cowichan Valley Intercultural and Immigrant Aid Society Tapestry Gala, Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Center, 200 Cowichan Way, Duncan.  Info, 250-748-3112
• June 28 - August 5 - Duncan Cowichan Summer Festival, Downtown Duncan.  Info, cowichanfestival.com
• July 15 - August 30, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Alpine Stables Summer Riding Camps.  For detailed schedule info visit http://www.alpinestable.com/ 
• August 1- 4, 12:00 noon - 11:00 p.m. - Sunfest Country Music Festival, Cowichan Exhibition Grounds.  Info, http://sunfestconcerts.com/
• August 1 - 5, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Biondo Junior Grass Court Championships, South Cowichan Lawn Tennis Club, 2290 Cowichan Bay Rd.  Info, scltc.bc.ca 
• August 2, 3, and 4 - Ladysmith Days.  Info, www.ladysmithdays.com
• August 2 to 4, 4:00 p.m. - 12:00 midnight - Annual Island Star Party hosted by Cowichan Valley Star Finders Astronomy Society, Bright Angel Park, Koksilah Rd, Cowichan Station.  Info, starfinders.ca 
• August 2, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. (and every Friday) - Art Beat, a weekly art walk and street party, Willow St., Chemainus.  Info, www.cvcas.com
• August 3 and 4 - 33rd Annual Cowichan Bay Regatta.  Info, cowbay-regatta.ca 
• August 3, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (and every Saturday until Thanksgiving) - Honeymoon Bay Outdoor Market, Coffee Mill, Honeymoon Bay.
• August 3, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. (weekly on Saturdays) - Open Mic, Duncan's Courts Sports Lounge
• August 4, all day - Bamberton Historical Tours, Bamberton Museum.  Info, 250-743-9196
• August 4 (and every Sunday through Oct. 6) 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. - South Cowichan Farmers’ Market, 4485 Trans Canada Highway at Koksilah Rd.
• August 4, 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Kids' Day, BC Forest Discovery Centre, 2892 Drinkwater Rd., Duncan.  Info, bcforestdiscoverycentre.com
• August 4, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Crofton Jazz with Nanaimo bassist John Lee and his trio, Crofton Hotel Pub, 1534 Joan Ave., Crofton
• August 6, 12:00 noon (weekly on Tuesdays) - Toastmasters Noon Hour Club, Duncan Travelodge, 140 Trans-Canada Hwy.
• August 6, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. (and every Tuesday until fall) - Ladysmith Make it, Bake It, Grow It Farmers Market, 1st Ave., Ladysmith
• August 6, 7:00 p.m. (weekly on Tuesdays) - Dads Make a Difference, 213 - 80 Station St., Duncan. Info, 250-597-2801
• August 7, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. (continuing weekly on Wednesdays) - Choir with Cari Burdett, all welcome, M'akola Centre, Ts'i'ts'uwatul'Lelum Assisted Living, 5755 Allenby Rd., Duncan.  Info, www.joythroughmusic.com
• August 7, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (and every Wednesday) - Chemainus Wednesday Market, Waterwheel Square, Chemainus.  Info, 250-246-3944
• August 7, 7:00 p.m. (weekly on Wednesdays) - Cowichan Toastmasters Club 950, Duncan Travelodge, 140 Trans-Canada Highway, Duncan.  Info, 250-743-1785
• August 7, 7:00 p.m. (weekly on Wednesdays) - Cowichan Men’s Circle, The Hub, Cowichan Station.  Info, 250-597-2801. 
• August 7, 7:00 p.m. - H'Sao Quintet from Chad, Africa, St. Peter's Church, Duncan
• August 8 (and every Thursday) - Free nature meditations with Dr. John Scull.  Info, 250-746-6141
• August 8, 2:00 p.m. (weekly on Thursdays) - Chronic Pain Self Management Program, MS Society of Canada, 204-394 Duncan St., Duncan.  Info, 1-866-902-3767 (toll free)
• August 8, 2:30 p.m. (weekly on Thursdays) – Multicultural Leadership Group, Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram St.
• August 8, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. (weekly on Thursdays) - Family Choir - 100 Voices for One World, Cari Burdett, 3228A Gibbins Rd., Duncan.  Info, www.joythroughmusic.com
• August 8, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (weekly on Thursdays) - Triple P Preteen Parenting Program, Margaret Moss Health Centre, Duncan.  Info, www.triplepvip.ca
• August 8, 7:00 p.m. (weekly on Thursdays) – Meditation, VIU Cowichan Campus.  Info, 250-710-7594
• August 10, 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. - 2013 Youbou Regatta.  Info, 250-749-6742 
• August 10, 5:30 - 11:30 p.m. - Third Annual Thetis Island Summer Soiree and Art Auction, Forbes Hall, Thetis Island.  Info, thetisislandcommunityfund.org 
• August 10, 9:15 p.m . (approx.) - Summer movies in the park, Field A, Kerry Park Sports Fields. Admission by donation.  Info, 250-743-5922
• August 11, all day - Bamberton Historical Tours, Bamberton Museum.  Info, 250-743-9196
• August 11, 10:00 a.m. - 2013 BC Kidney Walks, Cowichan Valley Sportsplex.  Info, cowichanvalleykidneywalk.ca
• August 11, 2:00 p.m. - Marie-Josee Lord, opera diva, St. Peter's  Church, Duncan
• August 16, 2:00 - 6:15 p.m. – RCMP Musical Ride, Avalon Equestrian Center.  Info and tickets, 250-746-7529
• August 17, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Cowichan River Cleanup and Bottle Drive, Lake Cowichan Town Hall, 39 South Shore Rd., Lake Cowichan. Info, cowichan-lake-stewards.ca 
• August 17 and 18, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Ladysmith Show and Shine, downtown Ladysmith.  Info, members.shaw.ca/ladysmithsns/
• August 18, all day - Bamberton Historical Tours, Bamberton Museum.  Info, 250-743-9196
• August 18 - September 8 - Frank Jameson Community Center in Ladysmith will be closed for maintenance.
• August 18, 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Special Woodstock's 14th Annual Music Festival, Providence Farm, 1843 Tzouhalem Road, Duncan.  Info, specialwoodstock.ca
• August 18, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - A Jazz Dinner in the Vineyard, Maria Manna Concert - a fundraiser for Jeneece Place, Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, Amuse on the Vineyard, 2915 Cameron-Taggart Rd., Mill Bay.  Info, amuseonthevineyard.com 
• August 19 - 23, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - O.U.R. Ecovillage Family Camp: "Circus Extravaganza," 1565 Baldy Mountain Rd., Shawnigan Lake.  Info, 250-743-3067 
• August 19 to 30, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - CTRA Summer Horse Camps for children of all abilities aged 6 to 17, Providence Farm, 1843 Tzouhalem Rd., Duncan.  Info, ctra.ca 
• August 22, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (and the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month) - Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery and Handwork Group, 3696 Gardner Rd., Saltair
• August 24, all day - Jubilee Jazz Festival, Chemainus.  Info, chemainusjazzfestival.com
• August 24, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - 104th Annual Cobble Hill Fair, Cobble Hill Fair Grounds, 3550 Watson Ave., Info, cobblehillfair.ca/ 
• August 24, 9:15 p.m . (approx.) - Summer movies in the park, Field A, Kerry Park Sports Fields. Admission by donation.  Info, 250-743-5922
• August 25 – Art on the Avenue artists’ show and sale, downtown Ladysmith
• August 25, 2:00 p.m. - Miles Black Little Big Band and singer Maureen Washington, Arbutus Ridge Golf Club
• August 27, 8:00 a.m. - noon - Oak and Carriage First Annual Show and Shine, 3287 Cowichan Lake Rd., Duncan.  Info, 250-715-6218
• August 27, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Historic Cowichan Bay Village walking tour - Cittaslow Cowichan Bay, Hecate Park. Info, 250-732-3541
• September 5 - 8, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Cowichan Exhibition, Cowichan Exhibition Grounds, Duncan.  Info, www.cowex.ca
• September 6 to 8, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Introduction to permaculture, designing your own property, Cowichan Valley Green Community, 360 Duncan St.  Info, 250-748-8506 
• September 7 and 8, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Vulture Awareness Weekend, Pacific Northwest Raptors, 1877 Herd Rd., Duncan. Info, pnwraptors.com 
• September 7 - 15 - Cowichan Wine and Culinary Festival.  Info, wines.cowichan.net
• September 7, 1:00 p.m - 1:00 a.m. - Farm to Table Picnics & Music in the Vineyard, Blue Grouse Estate Vineyard, 4365 Blue Grouse Rd., Cobble Hill.  Info, 250-732-3834
• September 7, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. - Damali Sangria Fiesta, 3500 Telegraph Rd., Cobble Hill.  Info, 250-743-4100.
• September 8, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. - Island Chef's Collaborative - Freedom to Farm Dinner II, Dragon Fly Farm, 4064 Vaux Rd. Info, 240-743-1638
• September 9 - Frank Jameson Community Centre in Ladysmith resumes regular operating schedule.  
• September 17, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Organic Master Gardener Course Info-Session, Cowichan Green Community, 360 Duncan St. Info, 250-748-8506 
• September 21, all day - Great Lake Walk and ultramarathon, all around Cowichan Lake.  Info, greatlakewalk.com
• September 28 and 29, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Salmon and Mushroom Festival, Lake Cowichan Centennial Hall.  Info, salmonmushroomfestival.com 
• October 8 - November 30, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Organic Master Gardeners Course, Cowichan Green Community, 360 Duncan St. Info, 250-748-8506