Parkside Victoria Travel Blog

Guest post by local A-Life Blogger Holly Rose

It's a sweet, warm Sunday in Victoria, British Columbia.

Wandering through the market in Centennial Square, I find myself enchanted. White artist's kiosks populate nearly every nook and cranny of the square, while a guitarist strums and sings on the stage.

The crowd ebbs and flows, some settling in to listen to the performance, others move from stall to stall.

The first Vancouver Island Cultural Festival (V.I.C. Fest) took place on Saturday, June 18, 2011 on the grounds of St. Ann's Academy—right across the street from Parkside!

Festival goers got to listen to local live bands (inlcuding Acres of Lions, Jon & Roy, Quioa and more), sample locally crafted brews and wine and enjoy food from Victoria's best food vendors, all while checking out local art, clothing, jewelery and more.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa was proud to be the official accommodation sponsor for the first annual V.I.C. Fest.

By Neil Judson

The Victoria International Cycling Festival started rubber side down with the roadie Tour de Victoria event and concluded with airborne flair last weekend (June 11 and 12).

Thousands of spectators flooded the Inner Harbour to watch some of the world's best freeride mountain bikers catch big air and pull off amazing tricks during the Jumpship Dirt Jump Invitational.

Hosted by the newly-formed Dockside Mountain Bike Society and taking place on a barge, the dirt jump competition was a first of its kind and encouraged spectators to get in the action with live music and Camp of Champions air bag sessions.

Canadian trials sensation John Webster also put on an impressive show, bounding and balancing through a precarious course of logs, stumps and large rubber tires.  

The dirt jump events included a Best Trick contest on Saturday and Sunday's main contest, where riders were judged on their complete run through the course.

By Bri Wilson

Sunshine, great live music, locally crafted brews, eats and art: sounds to me like the perfect way to spend a Saturday in June (and just the prescription you might need to get over our Stanley Cup Finals loss this week.)

The first Vancouver Island Cultural Festival (V.I.C. Fest) is happening this Saturday, June 18th from 11am - 10pm on the grounds of St. Ann's Academy—right across the street from Parkside!

Come join Guest Services every Thursday as we host an afternoon aboard Victoria Harbour Ferries and transportation to the Canoe Brewpub for beer tasting.

Sign up at the Front Desk by 5 pm on Wednesday to guarantee your spot. Participants must be 19 years of age or older.

Looking for a meeting space this month?

Book a full day meeting space at Parkside in our Penthouse City Club Lounge, James Bay Meeting Room, or HD Theatre for only $199 and get a second, same day meeting space for an additional $99.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa was proud to be the founding sponsor and headquarters of the inaugural Ryder Hesjedal's Tour de Victoria, which took place on May 28, 2011.

Over 1,200 cyclists of all levels and abilities took part in this event, riding either the 90km route, lead by Olympian Simon Whitfield, or the 140km route, lead by Tour de France 7th place finisher Ryder Hesjedal and "Captain Canuck" Trevor Linden.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is excited to be returning as a Gold Sponsor of Victoria’s second Social Media Camp, happening on June 3rd and 4th at the Victoria Conference Centre. 

Social Media Camp is a two-day event this year, featuring speakers knowable in all things social media, from community engagement and political communications to social media for small business and virtual assistance.

We are proud to be a part of this fantastic event again. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit the event website.

Want to ride in the inaugural Ryder Hesjedal's Tour de Victoria this Saturday?

We've got one entry up for grabs!

Simply comment on this post and tell us where you love to ride your bike on Vancouver Island to enter to WIN free registration to either the 90km route, lead by Olympian Simon Whitfield and star mountain biker Andreas Hestler, or the 140km route, lead by local cycling phenom Ryder Hesjedal and 'Captain Canuck' Trevor Linden.

A random winner will be selected and contacted via email on Thursday, May 26th at 9 am.

What better way to celebrate the Victoria Day long weekend than by spending it in the province's capital?

There are lots of fun activities to choose from this weekend, starting with Uno Fest: Canada's Singular Live Theatre Event, which kicks off on Thursday, May 19, 2011.

The festival, now in it's 14th year, puts an emphasis on fun and accessible theatre and is Canada's only festival dedicated to solo live performances.