Flavour Trails Festival

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Friday, August 16th, 2019
Friday Night Gala, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm

This one-of-a-kind festival was originally created by the municipalities’ local government as a way to showcase the amazing farmers and food producers tucked away in the country roads of North Saanich. The concept is simple: participating farms, wineries, cideries, chefs, artisanal food producers and community groups open their doors over a weekend, ready to greet the public, offer tours, answer questions and offer up delicious samples of their craft.

The festival has grown over the years to a whopping 22 venues and an almost dizzying array of gastronomic delights at each stop. Plan your route and be your own guide to what interests you: would you like to see ancient art of sheep-herding in action, while sitting in a Garry oak meadow? Pick up insider tips on how to grow fabulous organic flowers in this region, straight from a commercial flower grower? Try a local late-summer IPA from an artisanal brewery so charmingly tiny that they call it a nano-brewery? Sample cured meats inspired by european family recipes, crafted from local meats and cured right in North Saanich? Sample drizzling vinegars made from elderberry, nasturtium flowers or Douglas fir tips?

Friday night is the festival gala dinner, and this is one four-course meal not to be missed. The long-table dinner takes place outdoors in the beautiful Deep Cove vineyard, with each course having been personally grown, harvested, prepared and introduced by a different North Saanich farmer or chef. And of course, even the wine is 0-mile! The Edie Daponte Quartet will sing songs of late summer guaranteed to fill your cup… Check the festival website flavourtrails.ca for more info and for ticket purchase.

Entrance to all the venues is free, with plenty to sample and a diverse array of farm and food products to take home. Most stops are open from 10-4, Saturday and Sunday. Check the festival brochure or website from June onwards to get a complete list of participating venues and times.

What to bring? A picnic blanket, a basket for festival finds, a sun hat, and your appetite. Biking is a great way to take in the festival, inviting you to slow down and savour the country roads (bike & ebike rentals are available in Sidney and through the festival). And no need to pack lunch: several venues offer up festival lunch feasts and goodies over the course of the weekend.