More than 10 years ago, the Cadboro Bay Festival began as a sandcastle competition and a way to celebrate late summer fun. But in the past year, the event’s focus has shifted.
Still celebrating in the sun, the festival now centres on a beautiful but finite resource that Saanich event coordinator Sarah Faria says must be safeguarded: the beach.
“I really wanted to focus on what makes this space special and amazing,” she said. “There's so many activities that we can do in the water. Whether you are sailing, standup paddleboarding or swimming, it’s about making sure that we are keeping the water clean and that we're disposing of our waste in proper receptacles.”
With sustainability as the main theme, nearly 5,000 attendees enjoyed good old-fashioned fun while learning ways to preserve Cadboro Bay as a “beautiful natural resource,” said Faria – without which the famed Caddy the Cadborosaurus would have nowhere to live.
Beyond information from booths, the municipality and community groups, the Aug. 10 event offered a wide range of old-school-themed activities for adults and kids alike, including face painting, a bouncy castle, live music, a percussion tent and food trucks.
“We’ve harkened back to days gone past, with really fun low-tech ways to enjoy a beach or a lawn or a picnic,” she said. “We have the tug of war, three-legged races and potato sack races. Many kids, especially, haven't done those kinds of games in a little while, so we brought those in and they are really popular.”
For those who missed the celebration, Faria extended an invitation for next year. As the Cadboro Bay site offers limited parking, Saanich encourages visitors to arrive by bike or use the shuttle service provided for future events.
For more information about the Cadboro Bay Festival, visit saanich.ca/cadboroughbayfestiva
