Victoria Festivals and Events

The following calendar features festivals and events in Victoria including cultural festivities, sporting events, markets and other activities.

Given that it’s a world-class tourist destination, Victoria features numerous festivals and events including outdoor concerts, sailing races and parades. Check it out!

To jump to a specific month, click on any of the following:

Festivals and Events

The best and most important festivals and events in Victoria and the surrounding region are listed below.

(Note: Exact details about events are subject to change. See official websites for the most up-to-date information.)

January Festivals & Events

New Year’s Day (statutory holiday) – January 1st, 2025.
Chinese New Year – January 29th, 2025, is the beginning of the year of the Snake.
Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens – holiday lights and illuminations (from December 1st, 2024, until January 6th, 2025).
Dine Around & Stay in Town – special promotional deals at hotels and restaurants (from January 24th to February 9th in 2025).
Be a Local Tourist in Your Town – access to various local attractions for a very low price (didn’t happen in 2024).
Moss Street Market – a weekly market on Saturdays at Sir James Douglas School.

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ January Calendar of Events.

February Festivals & Events

Valentine’s Day – February 14th, 2025.
Family Day – a statutory holiday in British Columbia (February 17th, 2025).
Victoria Film Festival – a film festival with shows at various venues. (In early February.)
Moss Street Market – a weekly market on Saturdays at Sir James Douglas School.
Be a Local Tourist in Your Town – access to various local attractions for a very low price (didn’t happen in 2024).

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ February Calendar of Events.

March Festivals & Events

Victoria Beer Week – many breweries in Victoria have special deals and exclusive tastings. (March 1st to 9th in 2024)
Jazz Vespers – at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria.
St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th, 2025.
- St. Patrick’s Day Festival – activities on Government Street between Yates and Fort.
- 5th Irish Whiskey Hooley – a festive event at the Irish Times Pub. Limited tickets are available with proceeds supporting the free St. Patrick’s Day Festival.
Franco Fest – a francophone festival presented by the Victoria Francophone Société. (March 11th to 16th in 2024)
Ballet Victoria – the local ballet company puts on a production at the Royal Theatre on March 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2025.
Moss Street Market – a weekly market on Saturdays at Sir James Douglas School.

April Festivals & Events

April Fool’s Day – April 1st, 2024.
Easter Long Weekend – April 18th to 21st, 2025.
Earth Day – April 22nd, 2025.
Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival – from April 2nd until May 11th in 2024.
Moss Street Market – a weekly outdoor farmers and artisan market every Saturday at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road.
TC 10K – Victoria’s largest running race (on April 27th, 2025).

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ April Calendar of Events.

May Festivals & Events

Ballet Victoria – the local ballet company puts on a production at the Royal Theatre on May 16th and 17th, 2025.
Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival – from April 2nd until May 11th in 2024.
Cinco de Mayo – May 5th, 2025.
Mother’s Day – the second Sunday in May when mothers are treated extra special. (May 11th, 2025)
Hills to Shore Artists Tour – a self-guided tour of open houses at artist studios in the Gordon Head area of Victoria. (May 11th and 12th in 2024)
VHS Annual Plant Sale – a fundraiser hosted by the Victoria Horticultural Society at the Garth Homer Centre. (May 11th in 2024)
Oak Bay Half Marathon – a half marathon, half marathon relay, 10K & kids 1K races – May 25th, 2025.
Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival – a Scottish festival on the Victoria Day long weekend (May 17th and 18th, 2025).
Victoria Day – a statuary holiday that features a parade and many activities around Victoria on May 19th, 2025.
- Festival of Performances – multiple performances at the Parliament Buildings (to be confirmed).
- 123rd Victoria Day Parade – presented by CHEK TV, the procession starts at Mayfair Mall and ends at Douglas and Humboldt Street. (May 19th, 2025)
Luxton Spring Fair – a carnival with mid-way rides and games at 1040 Marwood Avenue. (May 16th to 19th in 2024)
Canvas Family Fest – a free family-friendly event hosted by Canvas Church at Veterans Memorial Park. (May 20th in 2024)
Spot Prawn and Fiddle Fest – market vendors, a fiddle contest and family-friendly activities at MacDonald Park in James Bay (in late May).
Swiftsure International Yacht Race – a large sailing race between Victoria and Washington state (May 24th to 26th, 2025).
Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from May 26th to September 3rd, 2024, at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood.
Moss Street Market – a weekly outdoor farmers and artisan market on Saturdays at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road between May and October.
Bastion Square Public Market – downtown on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from the end of April until the beginning of October. Also a larger version on Sundays.
James Bay Market – at the corner of Superior and Menzies Street from early May until the fall.

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ May Calendar of Events.

Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival

June Festivals & Events

Father’s Day – June 15th, 2025.
- Raymond James Father’s Day Walk/Run – three-kilometre and five-kilometre walking and runner events raising money to support people with prostate cancer (June 15th 2025).
National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21st, 2025.
Go By Bike Week – formerly called “Bike to Work Week,” this is a free event encouraging people to ride their bikes during the week. (June 3rd to 9th in 2024)
Oak Bay Tea Party – a community fair in Oak Bay that includes amusement rides at Willows Park. (May 31st to June 2nd in 2024)
Victoria Pride Festival – a festival celebrating Pride and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. (From June 27th to July 7th in 2024.)
TD Victoria International Jazz Fest – a music festival that features Jazz music performed by renowned artists from around the world takes place. (June 21st to 30th in 2024)
Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from May 26th to September 3rd, 2024, at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood.
Public Markets
- Moss Street Market – a weekly outdoor farmers and artisan market on Saturdays at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road between May and October.
- Bastion Square Public Market – downtown on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from the end of April until the beginning of October. Also a larger version on Sundays. (From mid-May until around the end of September.)
- James Bay Market – at the corner of Superior and Menzies Street on Saturdays from early May until the fall. (From early May to early October.)
- Oak Bay Night Market – a large night market in Oak Bay Village on the second Wednesday of the month from June through September
- Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From early June until early September.)

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ June Calendar of Events.

July Festivals & Events

Canada Day (statutory holiday) – celebrations happen in Victoria’s Inner Harbour as well as along the Gorge Waterway (July 1st, 2025).
Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from May 26th to September 3rd, 2024, at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood.
Langford Beer Festival – an event with beer vendors from British Columbia as well as live music, food trucks and more at Starlight Stadium. (July 13th in 2024)
Victoria Pride Festival – a festival celebrating Pride and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. (From June 27th to July 7th in 2024.)
ArtisTREE Festival – a special artisan market with live music and activities for children at Government House. (From July 27th to 28th in 2024.)
Victoria Symphony in the Summer – a series of free and ticketed performances at various venues. (From July 24th to August 3rd in 2024.)
Music by the Sea – live music at the Victoria International Marina in early August (July 25th to 27th in 2024).
Public Markets
- Moss Street Market – a weekly outdoor farmers and artisan market every Saturday at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road between May and October.
- Bastion Square Public Market – downtown on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from the end of April until the beginning of October. Also a larger version on Sundays (to be confirmed).
- James Bay Market – at the corner of Superior and Menzies Street from early May until the fall.
- Oak Bay Night Market – a large night market in Oak Bay Village on the second Wednesday of the month from June through September
- Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From early June until early September.)
Moss Street Paint In – a special one-day event that’s part of the Moss Street Market and features dozens of local artists and their work (July 20th in 2024).

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ July Calendar of Events.

Food Festival at Esquimalt Lagoon — Beach Food Fridays & Saturdays in Colwood

August Festivals & Events

Victoria Symphony in the Summer – a series of free and ticketed performances at various venues. (From July 24th to August 3rd in 2024.)
Ronald McDonald House Vancouver Island Golf Tournament – the annual tournament happens at the Olympic View Golf Course this year. Twenty-four percent of children who attend Ronald McDonald House are from Vancouver Island (August 15th, 2024).
BC Day (statutory holiday) – August 5th, 2024.
Dragon Boat Festival – dragon boat races in the Inner Harbour (from August 9th to 10th in 2024).
Victoria Fringe Festival – a showcasing of theatrical art at various venues in Victoria (from August 21st to September 1st in 2024).
Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from May 26th to September 3rd, 2024, at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood.
Bowker Creek Brush Up – an art show along the Bowker Creek walkway featuring many local artists (August 11th in 2024).
Vancouver Island Blues Bash – a collection of free and ticketed Jazz concerts at various venues around the city. (From August 23rd to 25th in 2024.)
North Saanich Flavour Trails – an Ol’ Fashioned Farm Celebration takes place at the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture in North Saanich (from August 17th to 18th in 2024).
Public Markets
- Moss Street Market – a weekly outdoor farmers and artisan market from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm every Saturday at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road between May and October.
- Bastion Square Public Market – downtown on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May until the end of September.
- James Bay Market – at the corner of Superior and Menzies Street from early May until the fall.
- Oak Bay Night Market – a large night market in Oak Bay Village on the second Wednesday of the month from June through September
- Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From early June until early September.)

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ August Calendar of Events.

Legislative Buildings' Lawn at Symphony Splash — Symphony Splash Crowds in August

September Festivals & Events

Capital City Comic Con – a gathering of all things pop culture including toys, comics, and games at the Victoria Conference Centre and Crystal Garden (unclear whether it’ll happen in 2024).
Saanich Fair – a fair in Saanich that features many events and rides in early September (August 31st to September 4th in 2024).
Labour Day (statutory holiday) – September 2nd, 2024.
Great Canadian Beer Festival – an old beer festival at Royal Athletic Park showcasing more than 90 breweries from all over the country (September 6th and 7th in 2024).
Island Prostate Ride to Live – a fundraising event at Enrico Winery with over 250 motorcycles (September 8th in 2024).
Luxton Fall Fair – a carnival with mid-way rides and games at 1040 Marwood Avenue (September 27th to 29th in 2024).
Rifflandia Music Festival – a music festival featuring local and international artists from September 13th to 15th in 2024.
Circo Osorio Circus – entertaining circus shows take place in a massive tent outside Nanaimo’s Woodgrove Centre (September 26th to 30th in 2024).
Victoria Festival of Authors – a writers’ festival that runs from late September to early October. The launch weekend is September 21st and 22nd in 2024, and the main festival is October 16th to 20th.
Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from May 26th to September 3rd, 2024, at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood.
Public Markets
- Moss Street Market – a weekly outdoor farmers and artisan market from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm every Saturday at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road between May and October.
- Bastion Square Public Market – downtown on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May until the end of September.
- James Bay Market – at the corner of Superior and Menzies Street from early May until the fall.
- Oak Bay Night Market – a large night market in Oak Bay Village on the second Wednesday of the month from June through September
- Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From early June until early September.)

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ September Calendar of Events.

October Festivals & Events

Victoria Marathon – a marathon, half marathon and 8K running race on the Thanksgiving long weekend (October 13th, 2024).
Go By Bike Week – formerly called “Bike to Work Week,” this is a free event encouraging people to ride their bikes during the week (September 23rd to October 6th, 2024).
Circo Osorio Circus – entertaining circus shows take place in a massive tent outside Victoria’s Mayfair Shopping Centre (October 3rd to 7th in 2024).
Thanksgiving Monday (statutory holiday) – October 14th, 2024.
Victoria Festival of Authors – a writers’ festival that runs from late September to early October. The launch weekend is September 21st and 22nd in 2024, and the main festival is October 16th to 20th.
Public Markets
- Moss Street Market – a weekly outdoor farmers and artisan market from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm every Saturday at the corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road between May and October.
Wicked Victoria – family-friendly fun on Government Street (on the weekend before Halloween).
Halloween – October 31st, 2024.

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ October Calendar of Events.

November Festivals & Events

Remembrance Day (statutory holiday) – November 11, 2024.
Festival of Trees – a display of trees at the Bay Centre (from November 15th, 2024, until January 5th, 2025).
American Thanksgiving (US) – November 28th, 2024.
Christmas in Oak Bay – a week of holiday season activities in Oak Bay Village between the last Sunday in November and first Saturday in December.
Moss Street Market – a weekly market on Saturdays at Sir James Douglas School.
Light Up the City – the annual event featuring Island-wide Christmas Lighting Contests (from November 15th to December 31st in 2024).
42nd Santa Light Parade – a Christmas parade with different floats from Government Street and Belleville to Wharf (November 30th in 2024).

To see what’s happening this month in the Lower Mainland, see Vancouver’s Best Places’ November Calendar of Events.

December Festivals & Events

Festival of Trees – a display of trees at the Bay Centre (from November 15th, 2024, until January 5th, 2025).
Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens – holiday lights and illuminations (from December 1st, 2024, until January 6th, 2025).
Light Up the City – the annual event featuring Island-wide Christmas Lighting Contests (from November 15th to December 31st in 2024).
Christmas Day (statutory holiday) – December 25th, 2024.
Boxing Day – December 26th, 2024.
New Year’s Eve – December 31st, 2024.
Christmas in Oak Bay – a week of holiday season activities in Oak Bay Village between late November and early December.
Lights of Wonder – Christmas lights and illuminations at Centennial Square (from mid-December until the end of the month).
The Spirit of Christmas – a winter holiday concert at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney (December 6th to 8th in 2024).
St. Luke’s Pantomime – St. Luke’s Players’ annual pantomime in 2024 is Camelot. It runs from December 12th to 30th.
Moss Street Market – a weekly market on Saturdays at Sir James Douglas School.