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There’s plenty to celebrate in the summer
Wednesday, May 17th, 2006 by GetawayBC.com
Lake Days – June 8-14
This annual festival features the following:
- June 8, Strawberry Tea in Centennial Hall.
- June 10, Lady of the Lake Opportunity Night in Centennial Hall.
- June 12, Lady of the Lake Ball on June 6 in Centennial Hall; Lake Cowichan Idol in Central Park.
- June 13, pancake breakfast at the old fire hall next to town hall; the largest parade at Cowichan Lake; fair in Saywell Park that includes logger sports, a volleyball tournament, carnival events and the crowning of the Lady of the Lake.
- June 14, road hockey tournament in Saywell Park; volleyball tournament, miniature golf, 5-kilometre and 10-kilometre fun runs, Baby of the Lake and kids’ colletable displays in Saywell Park; river races; KinDucky Derby.
MD Slo-Pitch Tournament, June 20-21
This annual event is held at the Sky Dome in Mesachie Lake by the Cowichan Valley fire departments. It is a major fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada.
The weekend includes a ball tournament Saturday and Sunday and a huge auction, which over the years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for muscular dystrophy.
Honeymoon Bay Days, July 31-August 2
This annual B.C. Day long weekend festival is highlighted by a parade, children’s fair and adult dance on August 2, followed on August 3 by a pancake breakfast at the Honeymoon Bay Hall, the sandcastle building contest at Beaver Lake Resort from 10 a.m. to noon and the Beaver Lake Regatta from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Some of the best fireworks on Vancouver Island are at Central Beach Sunday evening.
Call 250-749-3841 for more information.
Youbou Regatta, August 8
This annual one-day festival starts with the shortest parade in the world that starts at the Youbou Hall and finishes at Arbutus Park.
After that, in Arbutus Park, there’s the Whittington quarter mile swim, swim races, canoe races, three-on-three volleyball, children’s races, a belly flop contest, a cannon ball contest and watermelon eating. Call 250-745-3712 for more information.
Mixed Summer Bonspiel, August 27-30
Bring your shorts for this curling event, one of the largest bonspiels of the year at the lake, with teams coming from across Vancouver Island and other parts of B.C.
Honeymoon Bay Blackberry Festival, Sept. 5
This annual event celebrates the berry that grows abundantly around Cowichan Lake.
There’s a bingo on the evening of August 29 in the hall, then on August 30 there’s a blackberry pancake breakfast and a tea and craft sale. Call 250-749-3841 for more information.
Appollos Slo-pitch Tourney, Sept. 4-7
This Labour Day classic has been attracting slo-pitch teams for close to 30 years, with ball games being held in Lake Cowichan, Honeymoon Bay, Mesachie Lake and Youbou.
The tournament includes a dance on the Saturday night. The playoffs go all day on September 7. Call 250-749-3410 for more information.
Great Lake Walk and Ultramarathon, Sept. 19
This will be the eighth year of this late summer event that has people walking or running 56 kilometres around Cowichan Lake from Youbou to Lake Cowichan, passing through Caycuse, Honeymoon Bay and Mesachie Lake on the way.
The runners have been breaking the five-hour mark the past few years, while most of the walkers seem happy just to finish. Entrants can take pledges for their favourite charities.
Since the Great Lake Walk started in 2002, close to $500,000 has been raised for various charities, from the Lake Cowichan Food Bank to the Cowichan Lake Community Services’ Christmas hampers.;