Fernwood Square was already filling up by noon Saturday, as residents from the neighbourhood and across Greater Victoria flocked to the area for FernFest.
The annual event, hosted by the Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group, is marking its 24th year this weekend.
“We come every year,” said Olivia Sarko, who brought her children, three-year-old Lukacs and eight-month-old Joseph, to catch the celebration’s Saturday festivities. She lives in Fernwood and loves running into all her neighbours.
“It’s so fun.”
The two-day FernFest features live music and dance, theatre, artists, numerous food vendors, an artisan market, bike tune-ups, face painting, magic, a cardboard castle, and several other activities and stations.
Fernwood Square is packed already for #FernFest. The music is on. The vendors are busy. The cardboard castle is full. And, while the bike parade already wrapped up, every kid seems to be having fun. #yyj pic.twitter.com/35eGYYozy1
— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) June 22, 2019
“Their favourite part is definitely the castle,” said Claire Helm, whose son, five-year-old Weston, was busy running through the cardboard fort. Her family came in from Saanich’s Broadmead neighbourhood for the event.
“That’s the cool thing. People come from all over.”
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Saturday’s celebration kicked off with a bike parade and a bagel breakfast.
Alex DeBin, 29, showed up early with his dog, Rusty, for the breakfast and the market. He caught FernFest at night last year, but decided he also wanted to take in the daytime events this year.
“They’re both great,” he said.
Night one of FernFest started Friday. Saturday’s event runs until 10 p.m.
