If the 23-day heat wave didn't clue you in that summer is here, then the pile of festivals taking over our fair city certainly will.
This is a good weekend to bust open that piggy bank because there's going to be a lot of performers pining for your change.
There's lots of festivals to watch out for beginning with my favourite -- the busker festival. I'll be there talking to buskers about what it's like to be, well, a busker.
Can they make a living on such a seasonal gig? What does it take to be a successful busker and what's the deal with eating fire anyway?
I hope to get an inside look at the busking lifestyle and hey, if writing doesn't pan out, I've always had a knack at making odd noises.
Maffeo Sutton Park will be bustling with activity as buskers take over the walkway hoping to enthrall you with their trunk full of goodies.
It gets underway at 10 a.m. and lasts until dusk.
There's sure to be the best jugglers on the Island at the park this weekend so bring the kids, a blanket and some snacks and watch the strangeness unfold in front of you.
Just 25 minutes north, the third annual Island Jazz and Blues Festival will be heating up stages throughout the Oceanside area.
The festival started Thursday with the Arrowsmith Big Band. If you missed them, don't worry, there's lots of other incredible acts today and Saturday.
Today, Houston Person, who hails from New York, will grace the stage at Knox United Church.
On Saturday go to Planet Music or Errington Hall to catch other great acts. Tickets and programs are available at Timbuktu, Cranky Dog and Fascinating Rhythm or go to www.vijb.ca for schedule information.
The Coombs area will be crawling Saturday with celebrities like Elvis, Reba, Neil Diamond (impersonators that is) as the fourth annual Whiskey Creek Music Festival takes over the Coombs rodeo grounds.
Tickets are $20 for the day and children 12 and younger get in free. Call 752-3664 or 752-1777 to get information on camping sites and scheduling.
Not to be overlooked is Sunday's Silly Boat Regatta from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Swy-a-Lana Lagoon. A contest to build the silliest boat and race around a marker without capsizing is sure to be a good time.
It's just one of the many events that makes Nanaimo unique along with the Bathtub race that kicks off next weekend.
All proceeds for the Silly Boat Regatta go to the Child Development Centre and last year, the regatta raised $60,000. For information go to www.sillyboat.com.
- Check out the community calendar for other weekend listing. Please send your listings to [email protected]