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
