No kids? Dress up your dog instead at the Wagoween costume contest

Fall Guide: Etc. Listings

Open-minded gals looking for some good vibrations can check out the Sex Ed Exchange’s Women’s DIY Erotica Workshop on October 2 at Camas Books, featuring queer, feminist, erotic photographer, erotica author and sex educator (whew!) Heather Corinna.

Raise a stein or two, as well as some brats, and enjoy some tunes from the with the Edelwise Guys at Oktoberfest on October 4 at Edelweiss Hall. And if that doesn’t slake your thirst, there will be more Oktoberfest events at Edelweiss: one with S-Bahn performing on October 17 and another with the Rheinlanders on October 25.

Take a look back at 100 years of women’s clothing, as historian Ivan Sayers is the featured guest as the Canadian Federation of University Women Victoria celebrate their centennial with a tea and fashion show on October 4 at the Empress. Or for something a little more earthy, try the third annual Shop the Wild Festival, which will give you a chance to go green and shop local with more than 50 local exhibitors, food demos, nature walks and much more on October 4-5 at Royal Roads.

That same weekend is also CIBC’s annual Run for the Cure, which will take place on October 5 and help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. Get an eyeful of style at Fashion with Passion: More than Meets the Eye, a fashion show fundraiser for Operation Eyesight Universal, which also happens on October 5 at Three Point Motors. And if you’re a breastfeeding mom and you want to be make history, on October 11, bring the babe along to SilverCity for the Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge, the first ever globally synchronized breastfeeding event.

Birdwatchers from around the globe will take part in another synchronized event on October 11-12, the Big Sit, where birders are encouraged to do a little fundraising by sitting in one spot for 24 hours and collecting data on all the birds you see and hear in that period. And you’ve still got a couple weeks to get in shape for the annual Royal Victoria Marathon, which happens on October 12. On October 18, the Victoria Lesbian Seniors Care Society present their 21st annual Gala evening. Then there’s the B.C. Fruit Testers Association, who are hosting their annual event featuring fruit identification, demos, cooking tips and more at their new location, West Shore Town Centre, on October 25-26. And speaking of fruit, the harvest season is in the focus for the Food, Farms and Fun Community Festival at Edward Milne Community School in Sooke on October 25, and the day-long event culminates with a tasty-sounding Harvest Feast celebrating local foods and the region’s culinary excellence. 

Looking to get in the spooky mood? Galey Farms begins the Halloween season on October 17 with their annual Pumpkinfest, corn maze and Festival of Fear. But Halloween shouldn’t just be fun for all the humans who get to dress up, so the annual Wagoween Halloween Costume Contest for Pets is a good chance to squeeze your squirming pet into a cute costume, making them even cuter. The event takes place on October 25 at Market Square. After a year with no pumpkins at Government House, the carved wonders will return, this time at Ogden Point where you can see Pumpkin Art from October 28-November 2 as a fundraiser for UNICEF. There’s much more pumpkiny fun at the 12th annual Great Pumpkin Yard in Fernwood from October 30-31. Halloween night, you can get all costumed up and check out the Halloween Ball . . . and Chain Fundraiser at Laurel Point, which is a fundraiser for the Downtown Victoria Business Association and Victoria Police Department’s ConAir program. After all that Halloween candy, if you’re looking for another reason to get active and helping out at the same time, sign up for the annual Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event on November 6 at Ogden Point. And if kids and trains are your thing, don’t miss your chance to hop on board when Thomas & Friends chugs into Memorial Centre on November 8.

While there was some speculation as to whether or not it would happen with the organization on hold, kinksters can breathe easy (or hard if you’re into breath play) that there will once again be a Sagacity Birthday Bash, November 7-8 at Harbour Towers. Less kinky and more technological, the annual Interactive Futures event on from November 13-15 will give you a look at the expanding artistic field of new media through performances, installations and educational events. And if travel is on your mind, Tourism Victoria’s 19th annual Gala Travel Auction, November 14 at Crystal Gardens, is a good place to start.

The Christmas season starts early with the November 18 kickoff of the annual Festival of Trees at the Empress and runs through January 5. With the world getting bigger every year, Santa has to swing into Victoria early this year for the November 22 Santa Light Parade. Fifty finely dressed teddy bears will be on display at the annual Bear Wear fundraiser for Queen Alexandra, which runs from November 25 to December 17 at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Also in the seasonal line, the annual Truck Light Parade and food drive takes to the roads on December 6, the same day as the second annual Christmas in Cook Street Village event. Finally, take a drive out to Heritage Acres and step into the magic of Christmas in the Village from December 5-14.