Home Victoria Festivals and Events Calendar

Victoria Festivals and Events Calendar

Victoria Festivals and Events

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

Being 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:

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December


 

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.)

 

Space Explorers

 

 


January Festivals & Events


 

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

 

Shen Yun in Vancouver

 

 


February Festivals & Events


 

  • Valentine’s Day – February 14th, 2024.
  • Family Day – a statutory holiday in British Columbia (February 19th, 2024).
  • 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.

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

 

 


March Festivals & Events


 

  • Easter Long Weekend – March 28th to April 1st, 2024.
  • Be a Local Tourist in Your Town – access to various local attractions for a very low price. (In early to mid-March).\
  • Victoria Beer Week – many breweries in Victoria have special deals and exclusive tastings. (March 1st to 9th, 2024)
  • Jazz Vespers – at the First Unitarian Church of Victoria.
  • St. Patrick’s Day – March 17th, 2024.
  • Franco Fest – a francophone festival presented by the Victoria Francophone Société. (March 11th to 16th, 2024)
  • Moss Street Market – a weekly market on Saturdays at Sir James Douglas School.

 

Shen Yun in Vancouver

St. Patrick's Day Festival

 

 


April Festivals & Events


 

  • April Fool’s Day – April 1st, 2024.
  • Easter Long Weekend – March 28th to April 1st, 2024.
  • Earth Day – April 22nd, 2024.
  • Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival – from April until May (with 2024 details to be confirmed).
  • 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 28th, 2024).

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 (to be confirmed).
  • Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival – from early April until mid-May (with 2024 details to be confirmed).
  • Cinco de Mayo – May 5th, 2024.
  • Mother’s Day – the second Sunday in May when mothers are treated extra special. (May 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. (From late May to early June.)
  • Hills to Shore Artists Tour – a self-guided tour of open houses at artist studios in the Gordon Head area of Victoria (to be confirmed).
  • Oak Bay Half Marathon – a half marathon, half marathon relay, 10K & kids 1K races – May 26th, 2024.
  • Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival – a Scottish festival on the Victoria Day long weekend (May 18th and 19th, 2024).
  • Victoria Day – a statuary holiday that features a parade and many activities around Victoria on May 20th, 2024.
    • 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 20th, 2024).
  • Luxton Spring Fair – a carnival with mid-way rides and games at 1040 Marwood Avenue. (Likely on May 16th to 19th in 2024, but with exact details to be confirmed.)
  • Canvas Family Fest – a free family-friendly event hosted by Canvas Church at Veterans Memorial Park. (Likely on May 20th in 2024, but to be confirmed.)
  • 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 25th to 27th, 2024).
  • Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from early May until late August at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood (to be confirmed).
  • 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 (to be confirmed).
  • 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
Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival

 

 


June Festivals & Events


 

  • Father’s Day – June 16th, 2024.
  • National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21st, 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. (From late May until early June.)
  • Victoria Pride Festival – a festival celebrating Pride and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. (From June 27th to July 7th, 2024.)
  • TD Victoria International Jazz Fest – a music festival that features Jazz music performed by renowned artists from around the world takes place. (From late June to early July.)
  • Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from early May until late August at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood (to be confirmed).
  • Oak Bay Tea Party – a community fair in Oak Bay that includes amusement rides at Willows Park. (May 31st to June 2nd, 2024)
  • 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 (to be confirmed).
    • Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From mid-June until mid-September.)

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

 

Oak Bay Tea Party
The Oak Bay Tea Party

 

 


July Festivals & Events


 

  • Canada Day (statutory holiday) – celebrations happen in Victoria’s Inner Harbour as well as along the Gorge Waterway (July 1st, 2024).
  • Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from early May until late August at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood (to be confirmed).
  • 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 (to be confirmed).
  • Langford Beer Festival – an event with beer vendors from British Columbia as well as live music, food trucks and more at Starlight Stadium. (To be confirmed.)
  • Victoria Pride Festival – a festival celebrating Pride and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. (From June 27th to July 7th, 2024.)
  • TD Victoria International Jazz Fest – a music festival that features Jazz music performed by renowned artists from around the world takes place. (From late June to early July.)
  • 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 (to be confirmed).
    • Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From mid-June until mid-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 (to be confirmed).

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 Splash – a musical performance on a boat off the shores of Victoria featuring fireworks on the August long weekend (to be confirmed).
  • Music by the Sea – live music at the Victoria International Marina in early August (to be confirmed).
  • Victoria International Cycling Festival – a large cycling race on the August long weekend (to be confirmed).
  • BC Day (statutory holiday) – August 5th, 2024.
  • Dragon Boat Festival – dragon boat races in the Inner Harbour (in mid-August) (to be confirmed).
  • Victoria Fringe Festival – a showcasing of theatrical art at various venues in Victoria from late August until early September (to be confirmed).
  • Beach Food Days – food trucks on weekends from early May until late August at Ocean Boulevard in Colwood (to be confirmed).
  • Bowker Creek Brush Up – an art show along the Bowker Creek walkway featuring many local artists in August (to be confirmed).
  • Vancouver Island Blues Bash – a collection of free and ticketed Jazz concerts at various venues around the city on the September long weekend (to be confirmed).
  • North Saanich Flavour Trails – an Ol’ Fashioned Farm Celebration takes place at the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture in North Saanich (to be confirmed).
  • 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.
    • Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From mid-June until mid-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 (to be confirmed).
  • Saanich Fair – a fair in Saanich that features many events and rides in early September (August 31st to September 4th, 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 (to be confirmed).
  • Island Prostate Ride to Live – a fundraising event at Enrico Winery with over 250 motorcycles (in mid-September).
  • Luxton Fall Fair – a carnival with mid-way rides and games at 1040 Marwood Avenue (to be confirmed).
  • Rifflandia Music Festival – a music festival featuring local and international artists in mid-September (to be confirmed).
  • 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 (to be confirmed).
    • Sidney Street Market – a night market on Thursday evenings. (From mid-June until mid-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.
  • Go By Bike Week – formerly called “Bike to Work Week,” this is a free event encouraging people to ride their bikes during the week.
  • Thanksgiving Monday (statutory holiday) – October 14th, 2024.
  • Victoria Festival of Authors – a writers’ festival that runs from late September to early October.
  • 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 – from mid-November until early January (to be confirmed).
  • 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 fourth annual event featuring Island-wide Christmas Lighting Contests.
  • 41st Santa Light Parade – a Christmas parade with different floats from Government Street and Belleville to Wharf.

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 – at the Bay Centre.
  • Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens – holiday lights and illuminations (from early December until early January).
  • Light Up the City – the third annual event featuring Island-wide Christmas Lighting Contests. (From mid-November until the end of December.)
  • 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.
  • 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’ December Calendar of Events.