• Categories in the Festival include: dance, piano, vocal, brass, woodwinds, speech, strings, accordion, ukulele, harp, classical guitar, choral and bands.
• Festival highlights, studio dance highlights and honour performances.
• Single Admission approximately: Adult $3, Students and Seniors $2.

 
DANCE ARTS
mid-April
University Centre Auditorium
Finnerty Road
Contact: (250) 721-4578

• 8 days of exciting dance performances, provincial competitions, master classes and workshops.
• Sessions at 1pm and 7pm at the University Centre Auditorium
• Approximately $3 per session at the door.

 
TERRIFVIC JAZZ PARTY
April
Various Venues
Contact: (250) 953-2011

• 20 red hot jazz bands.
• Cruise the venues! Boogie on the dance floors! Great fun!
• Free shuttle service
• 7 venues throughout Victoria.
• Admission approximately $15 - $90.

 
MANULIFE LITERARY ARTS FESTIVAL
May

• Big-name authors from Canada and around the world converge on Victoria for five days of readings, talks and question periods

 
LUXTON PRO RODEO
May
Corner of Sooke and Luxton Road
Contact: (250) 478-2759

• Featuring World and Canadian Champion Cowboys.
• Rodeo events start at 2pm daily.
• Free grounds admission to midway, craft sale, petting farm, blacksmith and antique farm equipment.
• Parade starts 10am Saturday.
• Opens 12 noon daily.
• Dances on Saturday and Sunday.
• Free parking off of Highway #14.
• Admissions at gate, adults $11 (12 and under free with adult). Students and seniors $9.

 
VICTORIA HARBOUR FESTIVAL
May
Inner Harbour
Contact: (250) 472-1690

• A ten day celebration bridging two holiday long weekends, Canada's Victoria Day and the U.S. Memorial Day.
• Featured under the festival umbrella are many fun filled activities, from the city's namesake Victoria Day Parade to Harbour activities and the internationally renowned Swiftsure International Yacht Race.
• Free outdoor Main Stage performances by headline entertainers will take place at Ship's Point from 7 to 10pm each evening.
• Set against Victoria's spectacular Harbour where the stage meets the sea.
• Admission free

 
BC FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
May
Various venues
Contact: (250) 920-4118

• Nearly 1,000 of BC's most talented musicians, dancers, singers, writers, composers, filmmakers, actors and artists come to Victoria this year to participate in workshops, classes and performances.
• Public performances, exhibits, readings and dramatic presentations run nightly.

 
VICTORIA DAY PARADE
May
Douglas Street
Contact: (250) 382-3111

• The ever popular Victoria Day Parade begins 9am, Monday, May 24th. Departs from the Mayfair Mall on Douglas Street.
• Grab your spot early to enjoy the marching bands and floats from Victoria, the Island, BC and Washington and Oregon states as they perform down Douglas Street to Humboldt St. in downtown Victoria.

 
SWIFTSURE INTERNATIONAL YACHT RACE
May
Juan de Fuca Strait

• A fleet of the most competitive racing sailboats on the Northwest Coast converges for the annual Swiftsure International Yacht Race.
• The challenge, hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, attracts about 200 boats in the short, middle and long distance events that take competitors across Juan de Fuca Strait and back.

 
BASTION SQUARE CYCLING GRAND PRIX
End of May
Contact: (250) 360-BIKE

• Victoria is the unofficial cycling capital of Canada.
• Features professional riders, as well as those in categories 1 and 2, the next notches down from the pro.
• Criterium-style race, featuring a closed-loop circuit on city streets.
• Routes snake their way not only through downtown Victoria, but north into Saanich, west into the Highlands, even as far as North Saanich, which is 65km from the provincial legislature.

 
MILL BAY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
End of May - Early June
Kerry Park Arena
1035 Shawnigan Mill Bay Road
Contact: (250) 743-2295

• Enjoy a variety of Island talent.
• Headliners vary year to year.
• Pancake breakfasts, auction, dance lessons and much, much more.
• Admission prices approximately $22 for all day and evening pass.

 
OAK BAY TEA PARTY
early June
Willows Beach, Oak Bay

• The biggest party of the year in Oak Bay, this annual event includes food, entertainment and a midway.

 
BUCCANEER DAYS
June
Archie Browning Sports Centre, Esquimalt

• Esquimalt's community festival includes a parade, kids' games and a midway all weekend.

 
VAN ISLE 360 Yacht Race
June
Contact: 250-754-9236

• Nanaimo Sailing Association is pleased to announce the most exciting new race on the Pacific Northwest yachting scene
• 580 mile race circumnavigates Vancouver Island in a series of ten legs
• spectators, families, friends and fresh crew will be following the race via road.
• The communities at all the ports-of-call, are organizing special events to welcome the arrival of the fleet.

 
SUMMER IN THE SQUARE
Mid June until September
Centennial Square

• Centennial Square comes alive with music, dance, theatre and other free entertainment all summer long.

 
VICTORIA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC'S ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR
June
Various Venues
Contact: (250) 386-5311

• Take advantage of The Victoria Conservatory of Music's Annual Garden Tour.
• Some of the finest private gardens in Victoria open their gates to the public.
• This is a self-drive event.
• Map is provided with Admission purchase.
• Admission is approximately $25. Contact the Victoria Conservatory for Admission purchasing outlets 386-5311.

 
JAZZFEST INTERNATIONAL
late June - early July
Various Venues in Downtown Victoria
Contact: (250) 388-4423 or Toll-Free 1-888-671-2112

• Features over 50 performances of jazz, blues and world music with over 200 musicians.
• Free and ticketed performances.
• Admission range from $8 - $39.

 
 FOLKFEST
late June - early July
Ship's Point, Inner Harbour

• Dozens of free performances.
• Focus is on professional and amateur multicultural entertainment, food and festivities.

 
Annual SIDNEY DAYS
June 30 - July 1 and July 4
Tulista Park, Sidney and Downtown Sidney

• The annual Sidney Days party kicks off Wednesday night with a community dinner, Canada Day ceremonies (with a cake), entertainment and fireworks.
• The main events on July 1 at Tulista Park are the Family Festival and the Children's Festival, which run noon to 5 pm.
• On July 4, grab your wallets and head to the heart of Sidney for Sidewalk Day.

 
 
ROYAL VICTORIA FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL
July
Royal Roads University
2005 Sooke Road
Contact: (250) 881-7469

• Three wonderful days for new and experienced gardeners featuring beautiful display gardens, daily seminars and more.
• 5th annual event.
• Special evening seminar $10. All 30 other seminars free with admission.
• Admission is $7.50 adults, youths (12 - 16) $3.00, children free when accompanied by an adult.

 
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
July
Elk/ Beaver Lake Park, District of Saanich
Contact: (250) 475-1775

• A good old fashioned family picnic at Beaver Lake Park from 9am to 4pm.
• Join in on the pancake breakfast and enjoy live entertainment nature displays and activities.
• Children can participate in pony rides, story telling and face painting.
• End the day at 3 p.m. with fresh strawberries and ice cream.
• Admission is free.

 
VICTORIA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
July - August
St. Ann's Academy Auditorium
Contact: (250) 360-0234

• This year's productions include a version of Shakespearean spoofs.
• Matinee 2:30pm; Main stage 8:00pm and Late Night 11:00pm.
• All Shows take place St. Ann's Academy Auditorium.
• Tickets approximately: $5 for matinees; $13 for main stage performances (seniors/students pay $11) and $10 for late night show.

 
MOSS STREET PAINT-IN
July
Moss Street
Contact: (250) 384-4101

• 1:00pm - 4:00pm
• More than 75 well known and emerging artists work at "stations" along Moss Street using a wide variety of media and style.
• Beer garden and food stations are open noon - 8:30pm and the popular dance, featuring the bank "Kumbia", begins at 5pm in the art gallery parking lot.
• In 1997 a record 25,000 people attended this free, annual festival of the visual arts.

 
"A Bite of Victoria" Food Festival
July
Government House
Contact: (250) 386-6368

• 11:00am - 3:00pm
• A showcase of Victoria restaurants and eateries.
• Tasty variety of food and beverages for sampling.
• Buskers, musicians and local artists at work.
• No admission charge and only $1 per "Bite" ticket.

 
Annual SOOKE FINE ARTS
late July - early August
Sooke

• The largest juried art show on Vancouver Island, Sooke Fine Arts features painting, sculpture, photography and a variety of other media.
• Hundreds of works will be displayed at this annual arts festival.

 
SYMPHONY SPLASH
August 1
Inner Harbour
Contact: (250) 385-6515

• As the sun sets across Victoria's Inner Harbour the crowd awaits the tuning of the strings and the flare of the brass that sounds the beginning of Victoria's most anticipated and popular summer event.
• Seated on board a barge moored in mid-harbour, members of the Victoria Symphony delight the large crowd with their perfect blend of orchestra classics and popular favourites.
• It's a magical evening that continues right through to the finale.
• This spectacular event attracts yearly crowds of over 40,000.
• Admission is free.

 
FIRST PEOPLES FESTIVAL
August
Royal BC Museum and Surrounding Sites
Contact: (250) 384-3211

• A spectacular and colourful showcase of First Nations art, history, culture and traditions.
• Sites also include Mungo Martin House in Thunderbird Park.

 
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
mid August
Inner Harbour
Contact: (250) 472-BOAT

• The Dragon Boat Festival has ancient Chinese cultural and spiritual roots and has been celebrated in North America only in recent years.
• The centre piece of the Festival is the famed Dragon Boat races where crews of 24 paddlers race head-to-head in a 650 metre sprint, in full dragon Boat regalia with timing drums thumping away.

 
VICTORIA FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL
late August - early September
Various Venues in downtown
Contact: (250) 383-2663 or Toll-Free 1-888-FRINGE2

• See the best in innovative theatre during this exciting summer festival.
• 8 locations throughout downtown all within walking distance.
• All admission prices are approximately $8 or less or buy a flexible pass.

 
VANCOUVER ISLAND BLUES BASH
September
Various Locations in Downtown Victoria
Contact: (250) 388-4423 or Toll-Free 1-888-671-2112

• Featuring "the blues" in all shades for your soul.
• Presents performances of regional and international bands, performing blues and R&B.
• Free performances will take place in the afternoons at Ships Point, in Victoria's Inner Harbour, as well as paid admission performances in the evenings at various clubs in downtown Victoria.

 
CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL
September Labour Day Long Weekend
Inner Harbour

• On Labour Day weekend, the Inner Harbour is a forest of spruce masts and wooden bulwarks as the Times Colonist and the Victoria Real Estate Board present the Classic Boast Festival.
• Over 100 boats, all built before 1955, line the docks for a maritime open house.
• Special events include the sail past and the Sunday schooner race.

 
EMILY CARR FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
early October
Emily Carr House
Contact: (250) 383-5843

• With activities centering on Emily Carr House, this second annual festival celebrates 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.

 
ROYAL VICTORIA MARATHON
October
Victoria
Contact: (250) 382-0042

• The 19th running of the Royal Victoria Marathon returns to familiar streets and famous scenery of Victoria and Oak Bay.
• Marathon starts at 8:00am, Sunday.
• Race length is 42.195 kilometres.
• Race starts on Government Street between the legislative buildings and the Royal British Columbia Museum.
• The out and back trek follows the outside perimeter of James Bay neighbourhood (past Fisherman's Wharf, the Canadian Coast Guard base, the Ogden Point "Love Boat" docks, and the breakwater) onto Dallas Road, past Beacon Hill Park, Clover Point, the Ross Bay Cemetery and around the desirable Hollywood Crescent area.
• Call 382-8181 to register or be a spectator and come on by and cheer on the marathoners.

 
SALMON RUN
Mid-October
Goldstream Provincial Park
2930 Trans Canada Highway
Contact: (250) 478-9414

• In Goldstream, salmon appear about mid-October, and may be seen for about nine weeks, the dates varying from year to year.
• Every autumn millions of Pacific salmon forge their way up the myriad streams of the Pacific Northwest to spawn and die.
• Of the five kinds of North American Pacific salmon it is the Chum salmon that is most abundant in this river, though you may also see some Coho and Chinook salmon, as well as the Steelhead and the Cutthroat trout.
• You will miss much, though, if you visit Goldstream and notice only the salmon. Their spawning is only the most obvious and dramatic episode in a complicated interplay between many creatures of forest, stream, air and sea, and the forces of nature.
• The Freeman King Visitor Centre is open daily during the peak of the salmon run. Naturalists are there to answer your questions and there are displays to tell more about the salmon. Access to the Centre is by a 10 minute walk downstream from the picnic ground.
• Admission is free.
• CLICK HERE FOR GOLDSTREAM PARK HOME PAGE

 
GHOST BUS TOURS
late October
Haunted spots throughout Victoria
Contact: (250) 598-8870

• The Old Cemeteries Society will take participants on a spooky tour of Victoria's favourite haunts.
• Tickets go on sale Oct 14 at Bolen Books for this dreadfully popular visit to local haunted houses, creepy alleyways and graveyards.

 
THE GREAT CANADIAN BEER FESTIVAL
mid November
Victoria Conference Centre
Contact: (250) 595-7729

• A celebration of the brewer's craft.
• Only all-natural beers are served - with most of brewers on hand to answer questions, and accept compliments.
• Also on hand will be hop growers, masters, equipment suppliers, brewery manufacturers, beer importers and distributors.
• Beer samples are still only $1 each.
• Admission by advanced ticket for $10 by mail or from local outlets.
• Admission includes Festival Guide (who's who and pouring what) and a souvenir 4-ounce tasting glass.

 
SANTA CLAUS PARADE
late November - usually last Saturday in November
on the Streets of Victoria

• 5:00 pm.
• Parade starts at Government and Belleville Streets, up Government to Fisgard, over on Fisgard to Douglas Street and down Douglas Street to Humboldt.
• Floats, bands, clowns, Santa Claus and much more!
• Immediately after the Parade, the Downtown Victoria Association holds its annual Christmas Festival in Market Square with Bands.
• Admission is free.

 
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
late November
Market Square
560 Johnson Street
Contact: (250) 383-4334

• Immediately after the Annual Santa Claus Parade, the Downtown Victoria Association holds it's annual Christmas Festival at Victoria Eaton Centre.
• Bands, entertainers, magicians, free candy canes and Santa of course!
• Fun for the whole family!
• Admission is free.

 
"A VICTORIA CHRISTMAS"
November 15 - January 6
Various Venues
Contact: (250) 953-9000

• The Christmas spirit shines brighter this year with more lights, more decorations and more to see and do than ever before.
• Christmas festivities galore. Horse-drawn carriage rides; wreath making; carolling; theatre; craft fairs; Festival of the Trees; gingerbread making and shopping are just some of the festivities.
• Fun for the whole family!
• Admission prices vary and many events are free!

 
Annual EAGLE EXTRAVAGANZA
Mid-December
Goldstream Provincial Park
Contact: (250) 478-9414

• As the spawning salmon die off, after their annual return to the Goldstream River, over 200 bald eagles move into Goldstream Provincial Park. The great birds of prey start arriving late November and hang around until the fish are thoroughly picked over in January.
• Visitors to the Nature House can learn more about eagles and other birds of prey or catch one of the free interpretative programs.
• Visitors are advised to come with binoculars to view these magnificent birds.
• There is a special eagle viewing platform.
• January is the month for viewing the eagles. Each Saturday and Sunday speakers will discuss the daily life of eagles.
• Visitors can view the eagles December 12-February 28 from 9 am to 4 pm daily.
• Admission is by donation.