Family day is a day off for Canadians, which is enough to celebrate! Enjoy your day by exploring the beautiful capital city of British Columbia: Victoria! This happening city is full of gorgeous outdoor space, activities, and things to do and see here are 25+ of the best!
Victoria at Dusk
Victoria at Dusk is a free winter arts experience that will light up Downtown Victoria with art, performances and community connection from February 13 to 15, 2026. Explore the self-guided walking route to discover art, performances and interactive experiences for all ages. Expect a vibrant community hub with DJs, food trucks, beer truck, and fun, plus four other zones to explore each with their own curatorial theme. Plus, enjoy activations in local businesses along the route!
Details
Cost: Free
When: February 13 – 15, 2026
Where: Downtown Victoria
Art Battle Victoria
Art Battle is live, competitive painting like you’ve never seen before. In three fast-paced rounds, artists battle the clock and each other to create their best work in just 20 minutes. As they paint, you’ll move around the easels, witnessing the creative process up close. Grab a beverage, cast your vote to help decide the winner, and bid in a silent auction to take your favourite piece home.
Details
Cost: $32.50
When: February 15, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates Street, Victoria
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is back for its 61st year with a fresh look at the planet’s stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. From the adult Grand Title Winner, “Ghost Town Visitor” to intimate portraits of animal behaviour, this exhibition brings you bold new perspectives on Earth’s beauty, power and vulnerability. Details
Cost: Regular Admission
When: February 6 – April 12, 2026
Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria
Fisherman’s Wharf
Located right downtown is the colourful and exciting Fisherman’s wharf, a comprehensive and beautiful lively little community of floating homes, fish and chip shops and eco-tourism companies and delicious fresh food restaurants. Details
Where: 100-1019 Wharf Street, Victoria
Victoria Bug Zoo
Hope you’re not afraid of the creepy crawlies! Home to amazing insects, arachnids, and their many-legged relatives, this one-of-a-kind bug zoo allows you to meet the bugs, learn all about them and play around in the cool zoo! Details
Cost: $8 – $18
Where: 631 Courtney Street, Victoria
Family Day Weekend at Sidney Museum
Come take a walk through time celebrating 20 years of the Annual LEGO® Exhibition. There will also be fun activities including Guess the Number of Bricks contest and Find a special hidden Minifigure. While you’re at the museum, watch LEGO® Certified Professional Robin Sather build a giant birthday cake out of LEGO® DUPLO® blocks. Drop in to say hello and watch him work all weekend long. Also returning to the Sidney Museum is the fan-favorite Peninsula Co-op’s Community Mosaic build. Contribute a unique piece to this work of art which will eventually be showcased to the public.
Cost: By Donation
When: February 14-16, 2026
Where: 2423 Beacon Ave, Sidney
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Emily Carr Inspired Art Class: Found Poetry
Learn, play, and explore creating poetry in playful ways inspired by Emily Carr’s beautiful words. Emily Carr’s powerful words can inspire us in many ways. Explore your own connection to Carr’s writing by creating art and found poems from her collection with the help of local Therapeutic Arts Practitioner Helga Strauss. Details
Cost: $40/person, all materials included
When: February 13, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Carr House, 207 Government Street, Victoria
Burger It Forward
Participating restaurants are grillin’ up delicious beef burgers in support of food banks from February 1st to 28th. As part of the national campaign, for every campaign-featured burger purchased, Canada Beef will donate the equivalent of 1 meal to Food Banks Canada. Details
Cost: Varies
When: February 1 – 28, 2026
Where: Multiple locations, Victoria
Tea at the Empress
The Empress Hotel in downtown Victoria is an elegant building that overlooks the harbour. They offer a chance to live as the British do with a posh high tea experience, complete with flaky scones and fresh pastries, jam, honey and of course, sandwiches. It’s possible to add on champagne experiences and add experiences for the prince and princess (aka the children, too). Details
Cost: Varies from $109/pp
Where: 721 Government St, Victoria
Victoria Film Festival
The festival will showcase various feature films and shorts so that spectators can witness the work of creators from around the world and from here on Vancouver Island. Details
Cost: $14.29 for individual tickets; voucher packs available
When: February 6 – 15, 2026
Where: Various locations, Victoria
Miniature world
Want you and your kids to feel like giants?! Well, look no further than Miniature World. This quirky museum is home to more than 85 exhibits, including 1880 large dollhouses, rooms designed in detail, space exhibits, and more. Children in particular love this top spot to visit in downtown Victoria. Details
Cost: 0-4 free, Children 5-12 $9, Youth 13-17 $11, Adults 18+ $19
Where: 649 Humboldt St., Victoria
Board Game Café
With hundreds of games, board games, puzzles and more, an afternoon at the Interactivity Board Game Café is a fun way to reconnect with your family or friends over a new game that you can let your competitive edge show! The café also serves fresh food, drinks, and desserts to pair perfectly with your game. Who will win!? Details
Cost: Varies
Where: 723 Yates Street
Craigdarroch Castle
Want to feel like a prince or a princess? Then head to the beautiful Craigdarroch Castle, a jaw-dropping, restored mansion high on a hill that offers the perfect and authentic Victoria experience. It’s a must-see National Historic Site, that welcomes visitors of all ages. Details
Cost: Seniors (65+) $19.60, Adults $22.50, Post-secondary students (18 + with Valid ID) – $18.50, Youth (13-17) – $14.80, Children (6-12) $10.00, Children under 6 are free when accompanied by a paying adult
When: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria
Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Fly away with the butterflies! The Victoria butterfly gardens are home to more than 3,000 butterflies, tropical ducks, flamingos, other rare tropical birds, and Koi. For children that visit, they offer a microscope experience where they can learn on a deeper level about certain animals. Details
Cost: $9.50 – $20
Where: 1461 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay
The Butchart Gardens
One of Victoria’s oldest and most beloved locations, the Butchart Gardens has over 55 acres of blossoming goodness to explore and enjoy. Kids enjoy this lovely spot because of the fountains, sculptures, a Japanese garden, totem poles, and the front desk offers fun scavenger hunts from kids to keep them entertained.
Visit the Historical Display in the former Butchart family residence from February 2nd to March 22nd. Inside, you’ll find curated displays of memorabilia that chronicle The Garden’s history, from its days as a limestone quarry to today. From room to room, you’ll see original furnishings, letters, and photographs from the early 1900s.
Visit the Historical Display in the former Butchart family residence. Inside, you’ll find curated displays of memorabilia that chronicle The Garden’s history, from its days as a limestone quarry to today. From room to room, you’ll see original furnishings, letters, and photographs from the early 1900s. Details
Cost: $3 – $32.75
Where: 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay
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Family Sunday: Fairy Tales, Love, and Dangerous Beauty
Join Art Gallery of Greater Victoria for February’s Family Sunday on Family Day weekend! Learn how to make your own monogram, inspired by the artist’s distinctive monogram. Sketch a scene from a fairy tale, employing cross-hatching and stippling as Dürer did to create shadow and depth. In honour of Valentine’s Day, decorate cookies to share with those you love, using icing as a drawing medium to make images inspired by Dürer’s prints. Join us for an afternoon of fun and imagination!! Details
Cost: Family Sundays are included with admission
When: February 16, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: Art Gallery Of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss St, Victoria
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is a quaint aquarium located near the marina. It’s an amazing place for people of all ages but especially kids as the centre has exhibits showcasing the native marine life that live in the surrounding area. There are many interactive activities to enjoy, and the centre focuses on conservation which is a great sustainable feature. Details
Cost: $9.50 to $19.50 and free for Kids 3 and under.
Where: 9811 Seaport Place, Sidney
Thetis Lake
Imagine this: turquoise water, extensive lush greenery and peaceful serenity all meet at gorgeous Thetis Lake. Thetis Lake is a short 5-8km walk that is suitable for people of all ages – and dogs! It’s a great spot for a nice jaunt in nature or for taking pictures and bird watching. Details
Cost: Free
Where: Thetis Lake, View Royal
Billy & Elton – The Legacy
“Billy & Elton – The Legacy” is more than just a concert; it’s a complete musical journey that showcases the greatest hits of two extraordinary artists. With dazzling performances, beautiful visuals, and the magic of their timeless songs, this is a must-see event for any fan of classic rock and pop music. Don’t miss your chance to experience “Billy & Elton – The Legacy”—a thrilling tribute to two of the most influential artists of our time. Details
Cost: $49.95
When: February 15, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Where: Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney
Lochside Trail
The Lochside Trail is a lovely 21.1 km trail that weaves throughout Victoria. As the trail has plenty of starting and stopping points, you can opt to make it as long or as short of a trail as you wish. It’s best enjoyed by bike and as its relatively flat, makes for a good option for family fun. Details
Cost: Free
A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain
In a land where myth and reality intertwine, we follow Elif, a young immigrant whose days are spent shearing sheep—each tuft of wool rising into the sky, forming clouds that bring rain to a distant, wealthy city. But when she becomes a mother her priorities become clear. Determined to secure citizenship for her child, she travels to the capital, only to encounter an unforgiving bureaucracy and an immigration system designed to keep her out. A hauntingly beautiful fable of perseverance and sacrifice. Details
When: February 12-21, 2026
Where: University of Victoria Phoenix Theatre, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria
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April Wine
Canadian rock band, April Winee’s extensive discography includes numerous gold and platinum selling albums featuring mega-hits like ‘Roller’, ‘I Like to Rock’, ‘You Could Have Been a Lady’ and others. Best known for their international top 40 hit ‘Just Between You And Me’, an iconic power ballad that made them the very first Canadian band on MTV, April Wine went on to release over twenty albums and have received a combined total of 11 Juno Award nominations in the Group Of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Selling Single categories. Details
Cost: $68 and up
When: February 13, 2026 | 8:00 PM
Where: McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square, Victoria
Diane Pancel and Sunny Shams | Love and Heartache
Victoria vocalists Diane Pancel and Sunny Shams bring you a show about the many facets of love featuring Ashley Wey on piano, Louis Rudner on bass, and Matt Pease on drums. Showcasing a mix of romantic American songbook duets, soulful ballads, enchanting harmonies, and powerful solo performances, Love and Heartache will have you strolling down memory lane. Songs made famous by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Connie Francis, George Michael, Shoshana Bean and more. Details
Cost: $30 plus fees/tax
When: Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street, Victoria
Hot Chocolate Festival
Participating local businesses showcase their creativity and community spirit by creating hot chocolate experiences that support the BC SPCA Victoria Community Animal Centre. Non-dairy, vegan, and spirited options will also be available at select merchants. Details
Cost: Varies; Hot Chocolate Fest will collect $1 from each sale, 100% of which is then donated to the BC SPCA Victoria Community Animal Centre.
When: February 1 – 28, 2026
Where: Participating businesses in Victoria
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Family Fun Day
The Esquimalt Recreation Centre is ready to welcome friends and families of all ages and sizes for their family fun day on February 16th! Join our local community groups for a variety of activities that you can do as a family, and do it all for FREE. Details
Cost: Free
When: Monday, February 16, 2026
Where: Esquimalt Recreation Centre, 527 Fraser Street
Maanomaa, My Brother
Childhood friends Kwame and Will reunite in Ghana for the funeral of a loved one, and discover how much has changed since they separated 25 years earlier. Telling their story in a beautiful combination of dialogue and movement, the play is both fiercely personal and curiously abstract. It’s a meditation on grief and diaspora starring playwrights M’Carthy and Cook. Details
Cost: Pay-What-You-Can price options available
When: February 3 – March 1, 2026
Where: Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue, Victoria
Family Day Weekend at Malahat SkyWalk
Celebrate family, love, and music at Malahat SkyWalk this BC Family Day weekend! Wander the elevated TreeWalk, Stroll to the top of the Spiral Tower, and taking a few laps down the Sizzler Slide. Along the way, you’ll find a playful lineup of family-friendly moments— kid-approved activities, face painting, sweet treats, and plenty of reasons to linger a little longer. Details
Cost: 50% OFF single admission tickets
When: February 13–16, 2026 | 9 AM – 5 PM
Where: Malahat SkyWalk, 901 Trans Canada Highway, Malahat
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Tosca
Pacific Opera Victoria is thrilled to offer students, educators, and community groups the unique opportunity to experience the artistry of opera up close at our final dress rehearsal for each production at the Royal Theatre. Details
Cost: $15
When: February 16, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street, Victoria
Beacon Hill Park
Cost: Free
Where: 100 Cook St, Victoria
Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park
Who doesn’t want to soar around the room like a bird?! Well, you can experience the adrenaline and fun with a family-friendly visit to The Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park. The park features exciting trampolines, climbing walls and a café to relax afterwards. Details
Cost: Varies
Where: 808 Viewfield Road, Victoria
Fired Up! Pottery
Pottery, ceramic painting, or canvas painting, Fired Up! Pottery is a serene way to connect with your artistic side this Family Day. There are over 150 options to paint from, in this “therapeutic atmosphere,” featuring comforting music and friendly people. Great for all ages. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new hobby! Details
Cost: Varies
Where: 1801 Fort Street
The Boulders Climbing Gym
Soar to new heights and experience the freedom of climbing with a visit to Boulder Climbing Gym, which offers premium climbing walls to enjoy and experience. With talented teachers, an array of equipment and sessions dedicated to children and adults, it’s the perfect choice for spending Family Day. Details
Cost: Boulder only Day Pass $16
Where: 1627 Stelly’s Cross Road, Central Saanich
Thanks for the mention. Unfortunately, the information regarding the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is a little outdated and not quite accurate. Since the start of the pandemic, the touch pool has been a hands-free, “look only” pool – almost 2 years. Also, prices range from $8.50 to $17.95 and free for kids under 4. Vaccine passports are required for visitors 12+.