Victorians love festivals, be it spring, summer, fall or winter. Throughout
the year, over 30 different festivals and annual events are put on by various local groups. From boat races in the summer to the Festival of Lights in the winter, there's no better way to enjoy yourself than to take in a festival.
Date
| Festival
| Comments
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Polar Bear Swim | Jan 1 | Join us for a wild and crazy cool dip in Elk Lake off of the Patricia Bay Highway. Polar Bear Swim starts at 2:00pm sharp (free admission) Elk Lake |
Victoria Film Festival | end jan-Early Feb | A ten day celebration of film with over 160 films to choose from Odeon, Capitol 6, Plan B Lounge, Open Space, Fairmont Empress Hotel, Platinum Lounge (250) 389-0444 |
Chinese New Year Celebration | start Feb | Chinatown (Fisgard and Government Streets) (250) 384-7352 |
Flower Count | late February | Victoria residents count flowers in their gardens and in city parks...and begin counting flowers. Call 360-BUDS with your count to "Mission Control" Victoria Centre (1150 Douglas Street). (250) 384-3211 |
Victoria French Fest | mid March | A four day event filled with music, movies and entertainent, traditional food, local artists and artisans and many family events. Highlights include a concert featuring a celebrated musician from Quebec, a sugar-shack dinner and Family Days in Market Square. Market Square, Alix Goolden Hall, Victor-Brodeur School (250) 388-7350 |
Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival | early April - early May | Festival has 5,000 of Victoria's best young performing musicians, singers, dancers and actors perform daily and has categories for accordion, bands, brass, choral, classical guitar, dance, harp, piano, speech, strings, ukulele, vocal and woodwinds. Admission. .Held since 1927. Various venues, Victoria (250) 385-9223 |
Save-On Foods Dummy Downhill | early April - early May | Contestantsbuild a dummy skier or boarder to launch off a big jump just outside of the Alpine Lodge, with prizes for best dummies, biggest wipeouts and messiest yardsales! Registration of dummies isFREE by 11am at Guest Services. The fun starts at 3:30pm. Normal ski lift rates apply. Mount Washington Alpine Resort |
Dance Arts | mid-April | 8 days of dance performances, provincial competitions, master classes and workshops. Sessions afternoons and evenings at the . Admission $3 per session. University Centre Auditorium (Finnerty Road) (250) 721-4578 |
Terrifvic Jazz Party | late April | Festival features 20 red hot jazz bands Admission $15 - $90, with free shuttle service. 7 venues througout Victoria (250) 953-2011 |
Brentwood Regatta | late April | Annual high school rowing regatta, 1500 athletes from the west coast and the province of BC will compete over a distance of 1500m. Held since 1970. 2:00pm - 8:00pm, 7:00am - 8:00pm, 7:00am - 12:00pm Brentwood College School - waterfront, Brentwood 250-743-5521 |
Harbour Festival | late April | Deep bay wharf is a link to our maritime past and our future enjoyment. Welcome to the sight sounds and adventure of a working harbour. Displays and tasty delicacies – fresh, fresh, fresh. Try out a kayak in the harbour. Local artisans will be showing and selling their finest, plus music, childrens activities. This is a family friendly event promising sunshine and fresh air. qq am to 4 pm. Various Venues - Parksville & Qualicum |
UNO Festival of Solo Performance | late April-Early May | UNO is a festival with the spotlight on single performers, providing an exciting theatrical forum for both world-class and emerging writers and performers. 14 productions atTickets $8 - $16 (or festival pass). two venues: Open Space (510 Fort Street) and Kaleidoscop Playhouse (520 Herald Street). (250) 383-2663 or Toll-Free 1-888-FRINGE2. |
The Pacific Festival of the Book | early May | Ten day event featuring integrated interdisciplinary workshops revolving around the literary arts as well as extensive book sellers and publishers fair. Events include roving performers (inside and out), author talks, book signings, book making demos, publishers and self-publishing workshops, children's storeytelling and a young writers workshop. Greater Victoria Public Library Branches, Community Arts Council of Victoria, and other downtown venues (250) 415-1764 |
Victoria Conservatory Of Music's Annual Garden Tour | early May | Tour some of the finest private gardens in Victoria open their gates to the public. Drive yourself to the various gardens, using a map provided with $25 Admission purchase. various gardens around Victoria (250) 386-5311 |
Qualicum Beach Fire and Ice Festival | early May | Every year the main street of the village is closed to traffic and 6,000 people from the Island and Vancouver's Lower Mainland visit for this fun-filled family event. Music, dancing and buskers will be performing all day on the streets of Qualicum Beach. The music varies from country and folk to jazz and rock all coming from three stages situated at various locations around town. Vancouver Island's famous chili cook-off is once again one of the centrepieces of the Qualicum Beach Fire and Ice Street Festival. Join us to see up to 25 teams in their decorated booths compete for the best tasting chili served by enthusiastic cooks. Teams must prepare a minimum of 75 litres of chili with each team having its own distinct flavour. Downtown Qualicum Beach, Fir Street and Memorial 250-752-9081 |
Salt Spring Island Folk Dance Festival | early May | Folk dancers from Romania, and French-Canadian step dancing, and Hawaiian hula. Fulford Hall, 2591 Fulford Ganges Rd, Saltspring Island 250-595-7052 |
Times Colonist Cycling Festival | early May | Whether you compete to win, race for fun, cycle leisurely, or just like to watch, there's something for everyone - weekend warriors, elite riders, families, kids of all ages and abilities! various venues around Victoria |
Tartan Parade | early May | The Tartan Parade of local and visiting pipe bands and highland dancers begins at Centennial Square and marches up Government Street to the Legislative Building for demos of more singing, piping and country dancing. The parade is lead-up to the Celtic Festival the following week. Government Street from Centennial Square to the Legislative Building (250) 598-0120 |
Celtic Festival & Highland Games | mid May | Saturday events include kilted mile athletics, tug of war competition, sheep dog herding competition, heavy events workshop and novice competition, pipe bands, Celtic rock bands, and Celtic dance, music and entertainment activities. Sunday is the traditional Scottish Games and features competitions in highland dancing, bagpiping and drumming; massed pipe band performances and a spectacular opening ceremonies at noon with massed pipebands and the Fraser Highlanders cannon and musket demonstration. An invitational Heavy Events Competition includes the caber toss. On both days, there is a free kids entertainment area (including kilted 100-yard dashes, mini-heavy events and bouncy castles). There will also be a variety of entertainment each entire day, such as a beer garden, Single Malt Whisky School, Scottish and Celtic vendors and concessions, and a Pancake Breakfast. Held since 1937 Topaz Park (Blanshard and Finlayson) (250) 598-0120 |
Annual Sooke Spring Sprint Triathlon | | 7:00- 7:30 a.m. Body marking and bike check in Swim 700m swim, 25m pool. First heat, 8 a.m. sharp with slowest swimmers first. All athletes must provide estimated swim times on entry form. Bike 20k paved asphalt surface. Hilly, challenging course with fast technical sections. Run 5k paved surface, out and back along Phillips Rd. Aid stations at 1.5k & 3.5k. . Held since 2002. SEAPARC Leisure Complex, 2168 Phillips Road, Sooke 250-665-6149 |
Annual Earthday Pancake Breakfast | late April | scarf down stacks of hemp pancakes and gulp mugs of hemp coffee to celebrate Earth Day, a day to rekindle commitments to building a cleaner world. Earth Day is meant to broaden support for environmental programs and build community activism worldwide through events like the flea market and the Tofino pancake breakfast and silent auction fundraiser hosted by two local businesses Held the Sunday prior to EarthDay Cedar Corner building,Tofino Raincoast Interpretive Centre |
OysterFest | mid May | See "Rock the Oyster" for the kids where they will create a colourful oyster garden on the beach. Also, the Brian Stevenson Happy Hour will feature many new happenings. The theme this year will be Historical Squirrel Cove. Various locations, Cortes Island |
Art & Bloom Festival | mid May | Walk through this 24 acre paradise filled with thousands of blooming rhododendrons and enjoy this unique art show set amongst the garden. Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm Monday 10am to 4pm Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens, 6183 Whittaker Road, Courtenay 250-338-6901 |
Empire Days Festival | mid May | Celebrate a Cumberland tradition over the Victoria Day weekend. Events include Market Day on Sunday and parade and May Queen festivities on Monday. Cumberland Visitor Centre 250-336-8313 |
8th Annual Manulife Literary Arts Festival | late May | Big-name Canadian and international authors from Canada get together for five days of readings, talks and question periods |
24th Annual Luxton Pro Rodeo | late May | Rodeo events, featuring World and Canadian Champion cowboys, start at 2pm daily. Admission $12 for adults $11, students and seniors $9, and children 12 and under free with adult. Free grounds admission to midway, craft sale, petting farm, blacksmith and antique farm equipment. Free parking off of Highway #14. Corner of Sooke and Luxton Road (250) 478-2759 |
Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival | mid May | Saturday events include kilted mile athletics, tug of war competition, sheep dog herding competition, heavy events workshop and novice competition, pipe bands, Celtic rock bands, and Celtic dance, music and entertainment activities. Sunday is the traditional Scottish Games and features competitions in highland dancing, bagpiping and drumming; massed pipe band performances and a spectacular opening ceremonies at noon with massed pipebands and the Fraser Highlanders cannon and musket demonstration. An invitational Heavy Events Competition (e.g. caber toss) will be held at the Games. On both days, there is a free kids entertainment area (including kilted 100-yard dashes, mini-heavy events and bouncy castles). There will also be a variety of entertainment each entire day, such as a beer garden, Single Malt Whisky School, Scottish and Celtic vendors and concessions, and a Pancake Breakfast. Held sinceHeld since 1937 Topaz Park, Corner of Blanshard & Finlayson |
Victoria Day Parade | late May | Victoria's largest parade event - marching bands, floats, clowns, etc. Over 120,000 spectators watch this popular annual event in person and on television. Fun for the whole family. Douglas Street, downtown (250) 382-3111 |
Victoria Harbour Festival | late May | A ten day celebration beginning with a Victoria Day Parade, followed by harbour activities, and the famous Swiftsure International Yacht Race, on Memorial Day. Free evening outdoor Main Stage performances each evening. Ship's Point (250) 472-1690 |
Annual Children and Apple Pie Family Fun Fair | late May | Enjoy a day filled with Games for all ages;including Mini Golf, Woodworking, Facepainting just to name a few. A Silent Auction, a day chalked full of Entertainment plus an on site Concession with our famous Chili Dogs.10AM - 3PM Drop by the Bake table and purchase a Home Baked Apple Pie (they usually sell our by 12:30) and you'll have a chance to win a Diamond in the Pie, courtesy of Anthony's Jewellers in Duncan. Cobble Hill Hill, Cobble Hill 250-743-5965 |
BC Festival Of The Arts | late May | A thousand of BC's most talented musicians, dancers, singers, writers, composers, filmmakers, actors and artists get together for workshops, classes and performances. Public performances, exhibits, and readings are held nightly at various venues. (250) 920-4118 |
Parkville Quilt Festival: Seasons by the Sea | late May | Enjoy a spectacular showing of over 300 contemporary, traditional and fibre arts quilts, and opportunities to attend workshops with international and nationally acclaimed teachers. Various Venues - Parksville & Qualicum 250-248-4889 |
Annual Victoria Day Parade | late May | The Victoria Day Parade, celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria, begins 9am on the Monday. Marching bands and floats from around BC and Washington and Oregon states participate in this parade. Since 1896. Douglas Street, from Mayfair Mall to Humboldt St, downtown. (250) 382-3111 |
Swiftsure International Yacht Race | late May | The most competitive racing sailboats on the Northwest convergefor the annual Swiftsure International Yacht Race. The Royal Victoria Yacht Club hosts 200 boats in the various distance events to sail across Juan de Fuca Strait and back. Royal Victoria Yacht Club |
Ladysmith Maritime Festival | end May | HMCS ORIOLE, Canadian Navy's sailing training vessel, open to visitors Maritime museum and heritage vessels - displays Free harbour tours & kids entertainment all day Pirates and rogues abound - prizes for best pirate costumes Tribal journey ceremony Arts exhibits and painters on the docks Maritime-related vendors Music, entertainment, food vendors on site Directions: turn towards the harbour at the Trans Canada Hwy & Transfer Beach Blvd. Ladysmith Maritime Society Community Marina 250-245-5544 |
Bastion Square Cycling Grand Prix | End May | Criterium-style race, featuring a closed-loop circuit on city streets, for professional bicycle racers. Routes go through downtown Victoria, north into Saanich and North Saanich, and west into the Highland. (250) 360-BIKE |
Mill Bay Country Music Festival | End May - Early June | Enjoy Island talent plus headliners at Kerry Park Arena (1035 Shawnigan Mill Bay Road). Events also include pancake breakfasts, auctions, dance lessons. Admission $22 for all-day pass. Kerry Park Arena, 1035 Shawnigan Mill Bay Road (250) 743-2295. |
Selkirk Waterfront Festival | end May | A free family friendly annual outdoor festival for all ages. Activities include a variety of cultural / musical performances, a family fun fair, food vendors and artisans market. Selkirk Waterfront (250) 388-5251 or |
Annual Oak Bay Tea Party | early June | The biggest party of the year in Oak Bay. This annual event includes a parade, food, bathtub race, entertainment and a midway. Held since 1963. Willows Beach, Oak Bay (250) 388-4457 |
JumpCuts: A Festival for Young Filmmakers | early June | A festival for young filmmakers - a unique opportunity for youth aged 7 - 15 to participate in workshops in order to understand and learn to create media content divided into two skill levels. Centennial Square, A Channel, Event Centre, City Hall (250) 389-0444 |
Buccaneer Days | mid June | Esquimalt's community festival includes a parade, kids' games and a weekend midway. Archie Browning Sports Centre, Esquimalt |
Van Isle 360 Yacht Race | early June-End June | Nanaimo Sailing Association hosts a 580 mile race around Vancouver Island, in ten legs. Spectators can follow the race via road to all the ports-of-call. Nanimo Harbour 250-754-9236 |
Sooke River Bluegrass Festival | mid June | This annual event is held the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the third weekend in June. Sooke Festival Site 250- 642-4425 |
Annual Jazzfest International | late June - early July | Over 80 performances of jazz, blues and world music with over 200 musicians, with both free and ticketed performances at numerous indoor and outdoor venues/stages with over 325 musicians.Free admission to performances in Centennial Square. Held since 1984. various venues in Downtown Victoria (250) 388-4423 or Toll-Free 1-888-671-2112 |
Annual Folkfest | late June - early July | Dozens of free performances. Professional and amateur multicultural entertainment, food and festivities. NOTE: Cancelled for 2009. Ship's Point, Inner Harbour (250)-388-4728 |
Heritage Day | late June | Celebrating Victoria's cultural diversity through Dance from 12 - 9 pm. Come and join the excitement as dance groups light up the stage with their vibrant costumes and energetic music! Bring a snack, or lunch, and plan to stay for the afternoon. It's an event that everyone will enjoy! Proudly presented by the Veselka Ukrainian Dancers. Stage in the Park (Cameron Bandshell), Beacon Hill Park (250) 475-1174 |
Ceilidh In the Park | late June | Music brings people together like nothing else! Celebrate Father's Day in the park and bring the whole family to an all ages Celtic music extravaganza filled with Irish dancers, fantastic fiddlers, rousing singing, and genuine good fun in the Irish and Scottish musical traditions. Enjoy with your friends and family the energy of a Ceilidh - or "Kitchen Table Party". Stage in the Park (Cameron Bandshell), Beacon Hill Park (250) 361-0358 |
Vancouver Island's Annual Afro-Carib Carnival | late June | A free cultural event featuring music, food and fashions of a variety of African and Caribbean countries. Carnival Day consists of live performances, a marketplace with clothes, jewellery, art, and crafts and various food vendors representing numerous regions. Selkirk WaterfrontAfrican Heritage Association of Vancouver Island. (250) 727-6454 |
Victoria Pride Week | end June to early July | A week worth of events celebrating the gay and lesbian community leading up to a Pride Parade and afternoon festival Fisherman's Wharf, Dallas Road Waterfront and other venues (250) 886-3076 |
Showtime At The Butchart Gardens! | early July - early September | Enjoy this wonderful outdoor evening dance variety show in the garden setting of Butchart Gardens (800 Benvenuto) followed by gorgeous night illuminations. Shows run Monday to Friday at 8:30pm. Entertainment admission $15.50 for adults, $7.75 for juniors (13-17) and $2.00 for children (5-12. Butchart Gardens, Brentwood (250) 652-4422 |
Sidney Days | end of June- early July | Sidney Days party kicks off Wednesday night Canada Day ceremonies, entertainment and fireworks. Family Festival and the Children's Festival are on July 1, with Sidewalk day on July 4, offering great shopping in the heart of Sidney Tulista Park, Sidney (250) 656-1184 |
The Great Canadian Family Picnic | Jul 1 | Victoria's annual celebration of our beloved nation, featuring our "Eh-rated" fireworks display which gets better every year. Celebration Victoria is proudly presented by the City of Victoria. Free admission. Legislative Grounds and Victoria's Inner Harbour (250) 555-1212 |
Canada Day | Jul 1 | This free admission annual celebration includes Youth Awards, logging sports and a canine agility demo as well as a raft building competition and pie eating contest! Children's entertainment, and live music, culminating with fireworks at dusk Sooke (250) 642 - 4572 |
Victoria Latin Festival | early July | Bringing together 26 country’s rhythms, Performers, dances, songs & more! Victoria’s first FREE Latin Music Festival. Contact Mister Salsa at #206-1483 Douglas St. Victoria. Market Square 250-388-3839 |
Festival Mexicano | early July | Celebrate Mexican/Latin American culture - features an open air main stage with local performers sharing traditional music and dance, kiosks showcasing Mexican/Latin American food and beverages, arts and crafts. (250) 216-3664 |
SKA Festival | early July | Enjoy a music and visual arts festival that celebrates Ska music and culture as well as educating the public about the genre and its history. Features acts that cross musical boundaries and generation gaps alike. Victoria Curling Club, Ship Point (250) 812 - 6165 |
Annual Royal Victoria Flower And Garden Festival | mid July | Three wonderful days for gardeners to look at beautiful display gardens and enjoy daily seminar. Admission is $7.50 adults, youths (12 - 16) $3.00, children free when accompanied by an adult. Special evening seminar $10. All 30 other seminars free with admission. Royal Roads University(2005 Sooke Road) (250) 881-7469 |
Annual Saanich Strawberry Festival | mid July | Old fashioned family picnic from 9 am to 4 pm. Free admission gets you a pancake breakfast, live entertainment, nature displays, children's pony rides, story telling and face painting, ending with fresh strawberries and ice cream (at 3 pm). Since 1966. Beaver Lake Park (District of Saanich) (250) 475-1775 |
Annual Victoria Shakespeare Festival | mid July - mid August | Shakespearean plays. Matinee 2:30pm; Mainstage 8:00pm and Late Night 11:00pm. Admission: $5 for matinees; $13 for mainstage performances (seniors/students pay $11) and $10 for late night show. St. Ann's Academy Auditorium,Victoria Shakespeare Society (250) 360-0234 or 250-368-6121 |
All Sooke Day | mid July | Competitive logging events and crafts, family events, children's games & activities, food and refreshments. Open from 7am - 5pm with a free shuttle bus from the free parking areas. Admission is $6 adults, $3 students and seniors and children under 12 free. Sooke Flats (2259 Phillips Road) (250) 642-5775 |
Annual Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Moss Street Paint In | mid July | Over 75 well known and emerging artists work at "stations" along Moss Street using a wide variety of media and style, viewed by over 25,000 spectators between 1 pm and 4 pm. Beer garden and food stations are open noon - 8:30pm in the art gallery parking lot. SInce 1985. Moss Street from Fort Street to Dallas Road (250) 384-4171 |
Summer Cathedral Fest | late July | Orchestral, chamber and recital concerts from the Victoria Symphony. Christ Church Cathedral, 912 Vancouver Street (250) 385-6515 |
"A Bite of Victoria" Food Festival | mid July | A showcase of Victoria restaurants and eateries offering a variety of food and beverages for sampling. Buskers, musicians and local artists liven up the atmosphere from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. No admission charge and only $1 per "Bite" ticket. Government House (250) 386-6368 |
Summer Chess Festival | late July | A new annual chess festival with activities such as human outdoor chess games, demos, twilight blitz, lectures, learn to play chess, treasure hunts, and a drawing contest Confederation Park, Royal British Columbia Museum Plaza (250) 595-0025 or |
Luminara Victoria | late July | Community lantern festival featuring beautiful lantern displays, live music and performance. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lantern and be part of the magic! St. Ann's Academy & Beacon Hill Park (250) 388-4728 |
Annual SOOKE FINE ARTS | end July - early August | The largest juried art show on Vancouver Island, Sooke Fine Arts '99 features hundreds of paintings, sculpture, photography and a variety of other media. Since 1985. Sooke |
Annual Symphony Splash | early August | As the sun sets across Victoria's Inner Harbour (at 7:30 pm), members of the Victoria Symphony seated on a barge in mid-harbour, play a blend of orchestra classics and popular favorites. Free admission event attracts yearly crowds of over 40,000. Since 1987. Victoria's Inner Harbour (250) 385-6515 |
Victoria Electronic Music Festival | early August | Dance oriented event showcasing live electronic music via main stage performances. Also educational seminars from local industry leaders. Event attendees can dance, interact with peers, and take part in hands-on demonstrations. Centennial Square; Hush Nightclub, Sugar Nightclub, Event Centre and other downtown locations (250) 480-9673 |
Symphony Splash | early August | The Victoria Symphony Orchestra performs a full two-hour concert of light classical orchestral music from a barge anchored in the Inner Harbour. Highlights include Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, accompanied by cannons fired by the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, bell ringing and fireworks. Make it a full day event and enjoy the pre-concert entertainment starting at 4:00 p.m. Victoria's Inner Harbour (250) 385-9771 |
Passion for Tango Festival | early August | A three day extravaganza of tango activities, music concerts, lectures and dance performances by international, Canadian and local artists. Concerts feature tango classics to tango blended with other cultural art forms and cutting edge contemporary work. Centennial Square, Cameron Bandshell, Victoria Arts Connection, Alix Goolden Hall, Metro Theatre (250) 418-8898 |
Annual First Peoples Festival | August | Showcase of First Nations art, history, culture and traditions around the Royal BC Museum. Since1982. Mungo Martin House in Thunderbird Park. (250) 384-3211. |
Annual Dragon Boat Festival | mid August | The Dragon Boat Festival, with its ancient Chinese cultural and spiritual roots, features races with crews of 24 paddlers race head-to-head in a 650 metre sprint, in full dragon Boat regalia with timing drums thumping away. Also see cultural entertainment and crafts for the whole family. Free Admission. Victoria's Inner Harbour (250) 704-2500 |
Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival | late August - early September | See the best in innovative theatre during this exciting summer festival. Admission: $8 or less or buy a flexible pass. Since 1986. Metro Studio, Victoria Event Centre, Market Sqare, St. Andrew's School, Wood Recital Hall and other downtown locations (250) 383-2663 or Toll-Free 1-888-FRINGE2 |
Westshore Summer Festival | late August | Arts and cultural festival with food, activities and entertainment, including an evening performance with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, Lower Park (250) 478-8384 |
Vancouver Island Blues Bash | early September | Featuring blues and R&B performances of regional and international bands, with free performances at Ships Point (in Victoria's Inner Harbour) in the afternoons. Paid admission performances in the evenings at various venues.Features more than 14 individual bands over three afternoons and three evenings. Victoria's Inner Harbour - Ship Point Outdoor Stage (250) 388-4423 or Toll-Free 1-888-671-2112 |
Annual Saanich Fall Fair | early September | Western Canada's Oldest Continuous Agricultural Fair. See everything from the farm, with judging, midway, farm games, pumpkin contest. Open 9 am - 9 pm Friday & Saturday and 9 am - 6 pm on Monday. Free Parking. Since 1867. Saanich Fairground (1528 Stelly's X Road, Saanichton) (250) 652-3314 |
Classic Boat Festival | early September | On Labour Day weekend, the Inner Harbour is a forest of spruce masts and wooden bulwarks as over 100 boats, all built before 1955, line the docks for a maritime open house. Special events include the sailpast and the Sunday schooner race. Inner Harbour |
FamilyFest | mid September | Victoria's biggest family celebration with indoor playground and children's entertainment. Over 25 cultural, educational and community exhibitors. Cedar Hill Recreation Centre (3220 Cedar Hill Road) (250) 595-7121 |
Sooke Fall Fair | mid September | Country fair with exhibits of flowers, baking, vegetables, needlecraft and photography. Sooke Community Hall (Eustace Road, Sooke). (250) 642-6351 |
Metchosin Days | mid September | Experience rural Metchosin and enjoy country fun for the whole family Metchosin Municipal Hall (4450 Happy Valley Road). (250) 478-6179 |
Luxton Fall Fair | mid September | Family fun with midway rides and games accompanied by local art, crafts and animals. Luxton Fairgrounds (1040 Marwood Road, Luxton). (250) 478-4250 |
4th Annual Emily Carr Festival Of The Arts and Ecology | early October | Activities celebrate the life and works of Victoria's best-known artist. Events include walking tours, art talks and tours of Ross Bay Cemetery, where Carr is buried. Emily Carr House (250) 383-5843 |
19th Annual Royal Victoria Marathon | mid October | The Royal Victoria Marathon (held since 1979) through the streets of Victoria and Oak Bay. The race starts on Government Street between the legislative buildings and the Royal British Columbia Museum. The route follows the outside perimeter of James Bay neighbourhood onto Dallas Road, past Beacon Hill Park, Clover Point, the Ross Bay Cemetery and around the Hollywood Crescent area. various streets around Victoria (250) 382-0042 or 382-8181 to register. |
Salmon Run | mid-October | Salmon appear about mid-October, and may be seen for about nine weeks, the dates varying from year to year. There are five kinds of North American Pacific salmon, though on this river the Chum salmon are most common, with some Coho and Chinook salmon, as well as the Steelhead and the Cutthroat trout. Naturalists and displays at the Freeman King Visitor Centre answer your questions. Free admission. Goldstream Provincial Park 92930 Trans Canada Highway) (250) 391-2300 |
ROMP! Festival of Independent Dance | end Octover-Early Nov | This annual international juried dance festival provides a microcosm of community supportive activities including live performance (emerging and established dance artists, low cost dance, classes, and art walk for dance). Metro Studio Theatre, Martin Batchelor Gallery, Ballet Victoria, Lynda Raino Dance Studio (250) 389-6059 |
The Great Canadian Beer Festival | mid November | Only all-natural beers are served, with the brewers on hand, as well as hop growers, masters, equipment suppliers, brewery manufacturers, beer importers and distributors. Admission $10 and beer samples $1 each. Victoria Conference Centre. (250) 595-7729. |
Santa Claus Parade | late November | Floats, bands, clowns, Santa Claus and much more! Parade starts at 5 pm at Government and Belleville Streets, up Government to Fisgard, over on Fisgard to Douglas Street and down Douglas Street to Humboldt. Parade is followed by the Christmas Festival in Market Square, with bands. Free admission. Government and Douglas Streets (250) 382-3111 |
Christmas At Butchart Gardens | December 1 - early January | Tens of thousand of lights hail the arrival of the holiday season at Victoria's famous Butchart Gardens Strolling carollers, children's entertainers, the Festive Brass Band and fabulous food enhance the experience. Butchart Gardens (800 Benvenuto). (250) 652-4422 |
Annual Eagle Extravaganza | Mid-December | As the spawning salmon die off, after their annual return to the Goldstream River, over 200 bald eagles move into Goldstream Provincial Park. The eagles arrive late November and hang around until January. There is a special eagle viewing platform (bring binoculars). Admission is by donation. Goldstream Provincial Park. (250) 478-9414 |
