Destination Guides: Victoria, Canada - Events & Entertainment

Events

January

January 1:  Annual Polar Bear Swim

Early January:  Pacific Cup Hockey:  Get away from the snow and enjoy a round of golf, some deep-sea fishing, whale watching or simply enjoy the scenic view of the Harbour area.

Chinese New Year Dance
Lion dance performance in front of the Gates of Harmonious Interest on Fisgard Street in Chinatown.

Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival Starts at the end of January
Tenth annual ten day celebration of film, featuring more than 160 films, a family day, art exhibition, new media event, and a film forum. For more information contact: 250:  389:  0444

February

Flower Count
Victoria residents count flowers in their gardens and in City Parks. Results are published throughout Canada.

Mid- February

Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival

March

Annual Elk Lake Spring Regatta: a monster two day rowing event.

Mid-March or April :

TerrifVic Jazz Party.   5 day Jazz Festival, 5 venues throughout Victoria; 15 red hot bands from around the world. dance floors at all venues.

May  

Late May :  Victoria Literary Arts Festival
A springtime celebration of nationally and internationally acclaimed writers.

Throughout May:   Victoria Harbour Festival
Location: Inner Harbour
Celebrate the beauty of Victoria with parades, cultural events, and more.

Late May :   Victoria Highland Games
Location: Bullen Park, Esquimalt
Annual gathering of the clans. Featuring traditional Scottish games like the caber toss as well as pipes, dancing, vendors and Celtic food. Fun for the whole family. Call (250) 598-1531.

Late May :   Victoria Festival of Wine, Music, & Food 
Experience the extravagance of Victoria's finest festival for the senses.

Late May:Swiftsure International Yacht Race
World renowned sailing race from Victoria to Swiftsure Bank off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Call (250) 592-2441 for more information.

June

Early June :  Uno Festival at Belfry Arts Centre
International annual festival of solo theatrical performance.

Mid-June :   22nd Annual Victoria Conservatory of Music Garden Tour
Wander the magnificent gardens at the most beautiful time of the year.
For more information call toll free 1:  866:  386:  5311

Late June - July 4 :  Jazzfest International
Location: Venues throughout Victoria
This growing annual festival, (over 20 years) , attracts over 30,000 spectators and 300 musicians from all over the world.  Free concerts, workshops and spectacular performances at some of Victoria's best venues are featured.  Call for info and tickets (250) 388- 4423.

June- September :   Summer in the Square
At Centennial Square
Free entertainment throughout the summer every day of the week

July  

July 1:   Celebrate Canada!
Legislature Grounds, Victoria
Celebrate Canada's birthday at this family picnic. Face painting, food kiosks and more. Entertainment during the day is followed by spectacular fireworks over the Inner Harbour.

Late July- Early  August :   First Peoples Festival
At Royal British Columbia Museum
This festival presents over 350 Aboriginal artists, musicians, storytellers and entertainers making it one of the largest Aboriginal cultural events in the country.

End of July :   Luminara
At Beacon Hill Park
Experience the magic of this festival of lights with a walk through Beacon Hill Park at night.

August  

 Early August  – Symphony Splash
Location: Inner Harbour
The Victoria Symphony Orchestra performs a full two:  hour concert of light classical orchestral music from a barge anchored in the Inner Harbor, also bell ringing and fireworks.

Beginning of August  :   Victoria Latin:  Caribbean Festival
Throughout Victoria
 Featuring music, dance and parades in the true Carnival spirit. 

Walking With Our Ancestors :   A Cultural Celebration

Royal British Columbia Museum & surrounding grounds at 675 Belleville Street

A celebration of friendship and understanding, this event provides visitors, a first:  hand experience with First Nations' time honored traditions. (250) 384:  3211 ext.311

Mid-August :   Victoria Dragon Boat Festival
Location: Inner Harbour
A fun filled 2:  day festival focusing around the exciting sport of Dragon Boat racing, in which teams of paddlers compete against other teams. The 500:  m course will host a record 80 boats, making for a thrilling weekend of racing. (250) 472:  2628.

End of August:     Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival
Various locations
Don't miss out on Victoria's zaniest theatrical performances at the annual Fringe Festival. Performances take place at various locations throughout the city.

September

September (Labour Day Weekend) :   Saanich Fall Fair
Location: Saanich Peninsula
The oldest agricultural fair in Canada is much like a country fair including entertainment, arts & crafts, fairgrounds and prize- winning livestock.

October  

October 10: Royal Victoria Marathon
Voted one of the top ten marathon destinations by "Runner's World Magazine". The half marathon proved to be immensely popular and will return. For info or registration (250) 658- 0951.

November  

End of November :  Out of Hand Crafts Fair
Vancouver Island's premier juried craft fair brings in exhibitors from across the country. Don't miss out on this Victoria tradition!

End of November:
Santa Claus Light Parade: Children of all ages fill the streets to greet Santa and celebrate in the holiday atmosphere.  A collection for the Food Bank enhances the generous spirit of the season.  Call (250) 382- 3111.

December  

December:   Christmas at Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens comes to life with a dazzling display of Christmas Lights that will fill you with joy throughout the month.

December 1- 31 :   Christmas at Craigdarroch
Experience Christmas circa 1910 as antique toys and period costumes come together to portray Christmas in a simpler time. 

Arts and Entertainment

The Belfry Theatre

1291 Gladstone Avenue,

Victoria

385-6815

 Housed in an old church, The Belfry Theatre building was restored in recent years, inside and out. The Belfry is known for its outstanding productions of new comedies, dramas, and musicals. It produces nine shows each year in its intimate setting and also hosts a number of jazz and pop concerts.

McPherson Playhouse

3 Centennial Square,

Victoria

386-6121

Opened in 1914, the 825-seat former Pantages Theatre is at the heart of Victoria’s community arts scene and also hosts many professional theatre and concert performances. The McPherson lobby is home to The Gallery at the MAC, a showcase for local and regional visual art.

The Chemainus Theatre

9737 Chemainus Road,

246-9800

 The Chemainus Theatre offers professional live theatre.  Producing year-round, this regional theatre company stages a wide range of world classics, musicals and new plays featuring professional guest artists from across North America. Browse in The Gallery, a showcase of over 100 British Columbia artisans.

Langham Court Theatre

805 Langham Court,

Victoria

384-2142

 This Victoria landmark is described as a quaint and intimate neighborhood theatre.

Royal Theatre

Known as Victoria’s "home of the stars", the 1,445-seat Royal Theatre opened in 1913 and is a heritage jewel. The Royal is host to the Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera Victoria, as well as being a showcase for a diverse selection of cultural events.

The Port Theatre 

Located on Nanaimo's waterfront at 125 Front Street, next to the Coast Bastion Inn, The Port Theatre is designed as a multipurpose facility that brings in a variety of local and touring performing arts groups, including acoustic and amplified music, drama, comedy, symphony, musical theatre, children's entertainers as well as conferences and symposia.

Victoria Conservatory of Music

(Alix Goolden Performance Hall)

The Conservatory now has a student body of 2,000 and a faculty of over 100. It offers classes and programs in many musical instruments as well as voice, theory, music therapy, orchestras and ensembles. The Conservatory is located in a magnificent heritage building which includes the 800-seat Alix Goolden Performance Hall.

Christ Church Cathedral

In 1856, the Hudson's Bay Company built a small wooden church, not far from the present site. The ground was broken for the present Cathedral in 1926 and today the impressive Christ Church Cathedral is a popular venue for choral music performances.

Phillip T. Young Recital Hall

(University of Victoria)

The University of Victoria School of Music hosts the Victoria Summer Music Festival, a chamber music concert series, through July and August, featuring international performers.

Victoria Symphony

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island's largest and most active performing arts organization. Each season the orchestra gives more than 50 main series performances, as well as a 2 week long summer festival, children’s concerts and educational.  

Pacific Opera Victoria

Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) has earned a reputation for fostering young Canadian artists, presenting a blend of repertoire and building original new sets for most productions. The company has developed working partnerships with other arts institutions and enjoys the country's highest subscriber renewal rate.

Royal Theatre

The 1,445-seat Royal Theatre opened in 1913. The Royal is host to the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is one of Canada's most respected art museums, with a permanent collection of 15,000 objets d'art. The collection features art from Asia, Europe and North America, with primary emphasis placed on Canada and Japan

Pacific Opera Victoria

1316B Government Street,

Victoria  385-0222