Sunshine and South Dellta.
The two go hand in hand, since the communities of Ladner and Tsawwassen boast the most hours of sunlight in Metro Vancouver.
Just check out the palm trees lining the boulevard along 56th Street in Tsawwassen and you’ll get the idea.
So, what better way is there to enjoy the season than to explore what South Delta has in store for you – from farmer’s market days to outdoor movie nights.
Carefree market Sundays
Every year thousands of people from South Delta and beyond look forward to the Ladner Village Market, an open air market stretching over three blocks right in the heart of the town.
Now in its 16th year, organizer Bill McKnight said within the community he sees a pride of ownership as residents talk of “our market,” planning family gatherings such as summer barbecues to coincide with market Sundays.
McKnight said organizers are once again looking forward to an exciting year with both returning and new artisans and vendors – about 150 of them – who “make it, bake it, or grow it.”
Live entertainment is also performed on each market day. New this year is GoGo Bonkers!, a group specifically for children.
Ladner Village Market runs Aug. 14 and 28, and Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the heart of historic Ladner Village on 48 Ave. between Elliott St. and Delta St.
Music at the market is Aug. 14: TBA (a.m.), Kenny Wayne (p.m.); Aug. 28: GoGo Bonkers! (a.m.), Rumba Calzada (p.m. and Sept. 11: Mojo Zydeco.
Visit ladnervillagemarket.com.
Interact with artists
Art in the Village gives visitors the chance to interact with artists and see art in action while strolling the scenic streets of historic Ladner Village.
Started by Megan Anderson, owner of The Upstart Crow, this will be the fifth year of bringing artists and the community together on balmy summer Saturdays.
This year organizers plan to have more art demonstrations, from mixed media to encaustic (hot wax) painting. They are also reaching out to artists of all levels to create a varied atmosphere for visitors.
Art in the Village runs Saturdays, Aug. 6 and 20 in the heart of Ladner Village (on 48 Ave.)
Visit the theupstartcrow.ca for more details.]
Local eats from the farm
Tsawwassen’s own educational, sustainable non-profit farm and garden presents its first annual series of farm markets.
This summer, Earthwise Society in Boundary Bay will bring together vendors who will sell local, organic and sustainable products as well as showcase local artists and artisans.
Each Earthwise Farm Market is themed, from a kids’ day featuring sack races and a great snail and slug hunt/race, to a tomato festival celebrating the more than 30 varieties of tomatoes planted at the farm this year. A Jam Fest market day is a “colourful day” that will be a fun tribute to music, jams, jellies and salsas, said outreach coordinator Juliana Christiansen.
The market series will also feature children’s games, entertainment, farm and garden tours, and food cooked by local chefs in the society’s new outdoor cob oven. And every morning there will be yoga in the garden (register in advance).
Market days are every third Saturday from June to September from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 6400 3rd Ave.
Aug.18 is Jam Fest and Sept. 17 is the Tomato Festival
Call 604-946-9828 or visit earthwisesociety.bc.ca.
Under the stars
The Business Improvement Association of Tsawwassen (BIA) will once again delight local families and draw visitors to the community with its annual Outdoor Movie Nights.
For its fourth year, the BIA is bringing together entertainment, local businesses and organizations, and a movie under the stars.
On clear days up to 1,000 people are known to attend the screenings, where from 6:30 p.m. until dusk they can interact with local shop owners and take in displays and demonstrations.
The film making it to the three-storey inflatable screen on Aug. 6 was up to the public (sponsored by Tsawwassen Springs), who voted for their favorite through a “Pick the Flick” contest.
The Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall event Aug. 20 (at 56 St. and 12 Ave.) will feature How to Train Your Dragon. Movies start at 6:30 p.m.
Before the movie begins, residents can enjoy a block party with live entertainment, including Matt Levy’s fire juggling act and other local performance groups.
This year, all movie nights will raise funds for Reach Child and Youth Development Society through concession and popcorn sales provided by local service groups to support the construction of a state-of-the-art child development centre in Ladner. For more information, visit www.shoptsawwassen.com
Splendor in the sunlight
The annual Quilt Walk and Classic Car Show returns to Ladner, an event that attracts car buffs, quilters and their families to the historic village year after year.
The event, presented by the Ladner Business Association, will once again showcase more than 300 classic cars, polished and gleaming in the sunlight, and a wide range of handcrafted quilts displayed in the windows of local merchants.
The ambiance created on the streets of Ladner Village will be enhanced with live entertainment by Kid Cadillac.
Brad Cooper, past president of the LBA, said last year’s event drew up to 10,000 quilt and car enthusiasts for what promises to be a spectacular event for the entire family.
The Quilt Walk and Classic Car Show is Aug. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the heart of Ladner Village (Delta St. and 48 Ave.)
For more information, visit ladnerbusiness.com