Formerly called Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown, Be a Local Tourist in Your Town is an event where you can visit Victoria attractions for a low cost.
The weather isn’t the greatest in the late winter or early spring, but that’s usually when they have the “Be a Local Tourist in Your Town” program going on where you can get discounted admission to top attractions, restaurants and more!
In 2022, the series of special deals ran from March 7th to 13th. Unfortunately, “Be a Local Tourist in Your Town” didn’t happen in 2023. Hopefully it returns in 2024 or a future year. The city’s Dine Around & Stay in Town event, meanwhile, runs from January 26th to February 11th in 2024.
Click on the following links to skip to specific information:
Free Attractions | Discounted Attractions | Cridge Centre | Other Information
Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown
In 2022, Victoria’s annual “Be a Local Tourist in Your Town” program took place from March 7th to 13th. It used to always happen in February but the last couple years it has shifted to March. “Be a Local Tourist in Your Town” didn’t happen in 2023. 2024 event details are to be confirmed.
When it happens, the program is always a great deal! In 2022, for only about $17 you could have bought a wristband and seen a dozen great Victoria tourist attractions for free, plus dozens more at great discounts. For youth and seniors, the cost was only $11.
The 2022 event was a great way to learn about some local businesses in Victoria and help to support them! Keep in mind that you had to be able to pick up your wristband in person from the Visitor Centre downtown on Wharf Street. They did not deliver them or ship them to you. You could have also bought them in-person at the Visitor Centre or at any Save on Foods in Victoria.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL!
Looking for a fun thing to do in mid-March? Then check out the St. Patrick’s Day Festival on Government Street!
Free Attractions
The attractions that you could get into for free during 2022’s “Be a Local Tourist in Your Town” program included the following:
- Bateman Gallery of Nature – free admission and 25% discount on memberships.
- BC Legislative Buildings Tour – free guided tour.
- Point Ellice House Museum & Gardens – free admission.
- Rathjen Cellars – free wine sampling flight which includes 5 samples.
- Sidney Museum – free admission to the Lego Exhibition.
Discounted Attractions
The following attractions, activities and restaurants had great discounted rates during the event in 2022. 2024 discounts have yet to be announced.
Note: Many of these attractions required booking in advance in 2022.
Activities and Attractions
- Adrena Line Zipline – 20% off zipline tours.
- Craigdarroch Castle – 25% off guided tours
- Eagle Wing Whale Watching Tours – 50% off their Salish Sea Marine Wildlife and Whale Tour.
- Fired Up! – 15% off painting on pottery or canvas for drop ins.
- Five Star Whale Watching – 50% off for all locals.
- Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific – admission is only $2.
- Iron & Wood Golf Simulators – free rental clubs.
- Orca Spirit Adventures – the Marine Wildlife and Whale Watching Tours are $75 (normally over 100).
- Pacifica Paddle Sports – 50% off all 2-hour rentals.
- Prince of Whales – take part in a tour AND go to the Royal BC Museum for a combined total of $79.
- Quazar’s Arcade – 2 bonus tokens when you buy at least 10.
- SALT Pilates + Barre – 50% off drop ins and 20% off class passes.
- Victoria Bug Zoo – 25% off admission.
Food and Drink
- Chocolats Favoris – buy one get one free any menu item.
- LURE Restaurant & Bar – 10& off all items.
- Macaloney Caledonian Distillery and Twa Dogs Brewery – 50% off the Brewery and Distillery Tours.
- Off The Eaten Track – 20% off the “Downtown Food & City” tour.
- Silk Road Tea – a free gift with each purchase.
- Vancouver Island Brewing – a beer flight of four for just $5 and 20% off merchandise.
The Cridge Centre for the Family
In years past for every wristband sold $1 was donated to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. In 2022, there was a new partner for the Be a Tourist event and that was the Cridge Centre for the Family. The Cridge Centre is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of services for those less fortunate in and around Victoria.
When purchasing wristbands for the 2022 event, you could also choose to buy one for donation. These donated wristbands were all given to the Cridge Centre, and for each one purchased for donation, Be a Tourist gave a second wristband to the centre.
Other Information
Click Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown for more information.
If you enjoy being a tourist in your own hometown check out Victoria’s Dine Around and Stay in Town Program for dozens of restaurants offering 3-course dinners for special prices and Victoria hotel rooms being offered at a discount.
For information about a similar program in the Lower Mainland (which features restaurants and hotels, but not tourist attractions), click Dine Out Vancouver Festival.
To learn about all of Victoria’s main places of interest, see our article about Museums, Historical Sites & Other Tourist Attractions.
Love this! Is this happening again this year, or cancelled due to Covid? Where can I get tickets?
Hi! Thanks for your question. The “Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria” program ran from January 14th until February 7th in 2021. During that period participating restaurants offered $20, $30, $40, $50 and $60 3-course dinner menus. Participating hotels, meanwhile, offered overnight rates ranging from $109 up to $229. The event will likely take place around the same time next year. In 2021 the “Be a Local Tourist” program was going to run from March 8th until March 14th. During that time people would have been able to visit numerous local tourist attractions for a really low price. Because of COVID-19, however, we believe that the 2021 edition of the event was cancelled. For tickets and more information see the links at the bottom of this article.