Cold beer, the smell of sizzling burgers and the sound of live music echoing down Station Avenue can only mean one thing – summer has well and truly arrived in Langford.
Kicking off the season, ‘Fridays at The Station' returned May 30 with musical guests Capital City Syncopators, entertainment by The Bubble Guy, balloon art and face painting.
Chilling in the sunshine were Langford locals Gabe Webb and Curtis Bennett, with pooch Lyla.
Living a stone’s throw away from the action, Webb plans to take full advantage of the entertainment on offer – as he did last year.
“I love it, it’s so cool,” he said. “I love the beer garden, all the food trucks and everything you know.”
For his pal Bennett, ‘Fridays at the Station’ is all about bringing the community together
“Station Road’s kind of been a bit of a landmark for Langford forever,” he said. “So it's nice to just put it all together.”
As for what he’s looking forward to from the weeks ahead at 'Fridays at the Station', Bennett says nothing specific, just the simple things in life.
“Good vibes, good drinks, live music and cold beer,” he says.
Also among the first to arrive were West Shore family Kia and Connor Klatt with their 19-month-old son Oslo, who were regulars during last year’s summer sessions.
“We’re excited,” said Kia about the event’s return. “I was really looking forward to it actually.
“It's great, especially for little kids because you can walk around and there's always things going on."
For those that missed the launch – no worries; 'Fridays at The Station' will be held every Friday at Langford Station, located at 720 Station Ave., until Aug. 29, from 4 p.m. to dusk.
Produced by the Victoria Beer Society, the free, family-friendly and dog-friendly event series features live music, food trucks, local art, performances and entertainment for children.
New this year, visitors to the city's arts and culture district will experience a farm-to-table focus, with fresh local produce on offer, alongside the fan-favourite 12-tap truck serving top B.C. craft beer by the Victoria Beer Society.
Designed to bring the community together to celebrate music, art, food and culture in new and exciting ways, 'Fridays at the Station' will also play host to a series of special themed nights.
First up is a celebration of love, diversity and community at Pride at The Station on June 6.
The colourful, inclusive family fun event promises an evening filled with live music by Jessica Lydia Benini, drag performances, vibrant artisan vendors, plus themed food and drink.
"Let’s come together in support and celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the heart of Langford," says the city in a news release.
Other themed nights to look out for include:
- The Road to Ska Fest on June 13, featuring Phonosonics and DJ Cabin Fever (aka Caleb Hart) for a night of ska and reggae vibes;
- A Beach Bash on July 18, with details currently under wraps;
- And the Common Ground Festival on Aug. 29 – a celebration of Langford’s cultural diversity with performances by DJ Lala, Poncho and Shanise.
For full event details and updates, visit: langford.ca/events.
