Things to do this Thanksgiving Weekend in Victoria
Thanksgiving weekend events & activities in Victoria, including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, exhibitions, and more: Friday, October 9 – Monday, October 12, 2026.
I. Family & Kids Activities this weekend
Pumpkinfest at Galey Farms
October 3 – 4, 10 – 12, 17 – 18, 23 – 25, 31, November 1, 2026 | 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Galey Farms, 4150 Blenkinsop Road, Victoria
$21 – $75 + taxes and fees
Fun Things to Do with Kids in Victoria
Victoria offers a wide variety of sites, restaurants, and incredible activities to enjoy. Indulge in outdoor activities or indoor fun, with the guarantee that no matter what you choose – there is something for every child to delight in. Details
25 Fun Things to Do on Vancouver Island during Fall
Family Getaways in BC
The dynamic landscape of beautiful British Columbia makes it the perfect spot for the perfect family trip. Whether your family enjoys exploring the mountain ranges, big cities or beach front destinations, BC has something for every family, young and old. Build memories exploring the numerous west coast destinations that BC has to offer. Details
II. Live Music
Barney Bentall
Canadian music legend Barney Bentall, best known as the frontman of Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, brings his storied career to the stage in a powerful new solo performance. Blending songs, heartfelt stories from the ranch and road, and captivating visuals, this intimate show offers a rare glimpse into the life of one of Canada’s most celebrated singer-songwriters. Details
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney
$75.60
Cassie and Maggie
With over 17 combined Canadian Folk Music, East Coast Music, and Music Nova Scotia awards and nominations, the JUNO-Nominated powerhouse sibling duo, Cassie and Maggie, emerge as an unstoppable force on the global folk stage. Details
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Christian Science Church, 1205 Pandora Ave, Victoria
Tickets are $40.25
III. Theatre/Performing Arts
God is a Scottish Drag Queen
The beloved deity in a floral power suit returns with a spook-tacular twist! God descends from the heavens (or perhaps a haunted attic?) to hilariously roast everything from pumpkin spice lattes to demonic possession in a laugh-out-loud night of comedy. Expect divine commentary on the bizarre traditions of Halloween, terrifying costume choices, and the true horror of candy corn. A seasonal special packed with sass, satire, and supernatural wit—because nothing is scarier than eternal damnation…except maybe Spirit Halloween. 16+. Details
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 7:30 PM
McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square, Victoria
Tickets starting at $54.00
Live with Richard Rudd
Come experience bardic storytelling and sacred mischief. A journey of myth and mystery, featuring lyrical poetics, music, and moments of spontaneous sacred theatre that belong only to this afternoon and will never be repeated. Details
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 12:00 PM
McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square, Victoria
Tickets are $144.00
Fright Fest – The Fly 1986
Jeff Goldblum meets a fly. Things go downhill from there. Canadian David Cronenberg’s wonderfully squirm-inducing sci-fi horror classic follows a brilliant scientist whose teleportation experiment produces one very nasty complication. Geena Davis co-stars in this unforgettable tale of love, science and becoming increasingly bug-like. Note: This film is rated 18A due to frequent gory scenes. 19+. Details
Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 7:30 PM
The Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas St, Victoria
$14.29
IV. Sports
Victoria Marathon
Come take part in our Royal Victoria Marathon, Outway Half Marathon, Westland Insurance 8K, Island Savings 5K, or Thrifty Foods Kids Run. Our beautiful course winds through the quiet streets of Victoria and Oak Bay with stunning ocean views along the way. Our 5K and Thrifty Foods Kids Run take place on Saturday, October 10, starting and finishing at Willows Beach Park in Oak Bay. The Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K are on Sunday, October 11, starting and finishing in the heart of the Inner Harbour in downtown Victoria. Plus, we are a Boston qualifier as well as a World Athletics sanctioned event. Details
October 9-11, 2026
Victoria
V. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
Pay-What-You-Can Fridays
Visit the museum and choose an admission price that works for you. This initiative is designed to ensure that everyone in our community can engage with our nautical stories, regardless of financial barriers. Details
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia, 744 Douglas Street, Victoria
Pay-What-You-Can
Festival Of Fear at Galey Farms
Join us for an evening of spooky fun at Galey Farms’ Festival of Fear, where Halloween comes to life after dark. This family-friendly event offers a mix of thrills and chills for all ages, blending classic farm attractions with Halloween-themed displays. Details
October 8 – 11, 13 – 18, 20 – 25, 27 – 31, 2026 | 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Galey Farms, 4150 Blenkinsop Road, Victoria
$21 – $26 + taxes and fees
Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
Visit our picturesque Pumpkin Patch and themed Pumpkin House and explore the pumpkin varieties. Details
Fridays – Sundays, October 2 – 31, 2026 | 10 AM – 6 PM
Ocean View Estates, 7979 Central Saanich Rd, Saanichton
$9.50 – $12 + tax
BC Culture Days
Culture Days features free participatory and interactive arts and cultural activities presented by individual artists, groups, organizations, municipalities and festivals. The event will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community. Details
September 18 through October 4, 2026
Various Locations, BC
Free
Legends of Halloween II
Haunted Manor is an immersive and interactive twist on the game of mini-golf. Pou’ll putt your way through an 18-hole course set in a haunted manor with a ghoulish story to tell! Details
September 21 to November 3, 2026
Haunted Manor Victoria
$24.95 Adult, $17.95 Youth (15 & Under)
Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life
Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life is an immersive exhibition exploring ancient Egyptian rituals, beliefs and artistry. Visitors are invited to move through intimate, atmospheric spaces that recreate a journey through death, rebirth and the afterlife. See striking embellished coffins, powerful grave goods, jewelry, and everyday objects intended to accompany souls into eternity. Through evocative light, sound and scent displays, the exhibition evokes Egypt’s reverence for life and the hereafter. Whether you’re drawn by archaeology, spirituality or sheer wonder, Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life reveals the enduring humanity behind the mysteries of an ancient civilization. Details
June 5, 2026 – January 3, 2027
Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria
Regular admission
Guided Tours at Carr House
Visit the birthplace of famed artist and writer Emily Carr. Register for a 45-minute guided tour or drop in to wander at your own pace. Details
October 9 – 10, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM
Carr House National Historic Site, 207 Government Street, Victoria
Free; Register
Ghostly Walks – Halloween Tour
Ghostly Walks tours weave together Victoria’s ghosts and the stories behind them, bringing the dark history of our city to life. Experience one of the most thrilling Victoria ghost walking tours, guaranteed to be spell-binding, entertaining, memorable, and most of all spine-tingling!! Details
October 1 – November 1, 2026
The archway entrance to Market Square, 560 Johnson Street
From $25.44
Journeys through Japanese Woodblock Prints
On the Road: Journeys through Japanese Woodblock Prints invites viewers to journey through the landscapes and scenes captured in Japanese woodblock prints. These works celebrate the spirit of travel, both physical and imaginative, along famed routes and hidden paths. Details
Wednesday – Sunday, October 3, 2026 – April 4, 2027 | 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street, Victoria
$7.50
Journeys through Japanese Woodblock Prints
Join us at the Gallery for tributaries, a day-long performance by Peter Morin and Leah Decter marking a new tributary of crossing in their ongoing collaboration and presented as part of their exhibition the x is where our paths cross. Visitors are welcome to come and go throughout the duration of the performance. Details
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street, Victoria
Included with admission; Admission is always free for visitors aged 25 & under
Pumpkin fest
Join us for our annual pumpkin patch! Pick your favourite pumpkins, grab some fresh vegetables from the farm stand, and round off the day with some U-Pick dahlias. Details
Saturday – Sunday, October 3 – 25, 2026 | 10 AM – 3 PM
Lohbrunner Community Farm Co-op, 1152 Lippincott Rd, Victoria
Free
Sunday Afternoon Tea by the Sea
Overlooking the Salish Sea, Sunday Afternoon Tea at Oak Bay Beach Hotel is redefined within the setting of our iconic Lobby Lounge. With panoramic ocean views and a calm, intimate atmosphere, it offers a refined take on a classic tradition, shaped by place, pace, and the quiet beauty of the coast. Guided by our ‘West Coast First’ philosophy, this menu celebrates the Pacific Northwest by treating local ingredients as the hero of every plate. Details
October 11, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 3:00PM
The Snug – Oak Bay Beach Hotel, 1175 Beach Dr., Victoria
$65 – $89
Haunted Halloween
As Halloween nears and the veil between worlds grows thin, ghostly energies stir in Victoria’s shadows. Join us — if you dare — for a chilling ride through the city’s dark and twisted past. Hear spine-tingling tales of haunted buildings, restless spirits, and eerie legends that still linger in the fog… Details
October 1 to November 1, 2026
Tally-Ho Carriage Tours, Victoria
$310 per Carriage (includes 5% GST)
rose cowles
Through whimsical illustration, Rose Cowles offers you a glimpse into her personal subconscious and her various lived dream states. Details
October 6 – 25, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 8, 5-8pm
Gage Gallery, 19 Bastion Square, Victoria
Free
Orchard Market
Browse market booths from some of your favourite vendors, farmers + makers while enjoying cider and bites from Bicycle Pizza and local food vendors. And shop with Junction’s resident small businesses on Orchard Lane. Each market brings something new. Details
Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Junction Orchard & Cidery, 273 Prospect Lake Rd
Free entry
Visit the Butchart Gardens
Come, wander, breathe deeply at the Butchart Gardens. From October 1 to 31, our Autumn display highlights the festive spirit of the season. As the leaves begin to change and the days become shorter, The Gardens are warmed by the rustic colours of autumn foliage. Details
Daily | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with viewing until 5:00 PM
Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay
Adult $44.25, Youth $22.13, Child $5.00, including tax
High Tea at the Gardens
Enjoy a high tea in the Dining Room Restaurant. Details
Daily | 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Dining Room Restaurant at Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay
$55 + tax; Reservations are strongly recommended; Admission to The Butchart Gardens is required in order to access The Dining Room.
Go on Scenic Drives
British Columbia has some of the most scenic vistas in the entire country. With a mixture of ocean, mountains, valleys, lakes, vineyards, waterfalls, orchards and farmland, the highways and byways of the province will take you past some amazing views. A road trip through the province will allow you to experience a little bit of everything. Details
Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas
Parks and pathways, Provincial parks and conservation reserves are open for people to enjoy some time with nature.
Enjoy a leisurely walk with the family at any of these locations:
- Must Visit Nature Attractions & Parks in Victoria
- Outdoor Activities & Adventures in Victoria
- Outdoor Adventures in Vancouver Island
- Outdoor Adventures in Southern Gulf Islands
Public & Farmers’ Markets
- Sooke Country Market: Saturdays, through October 10 | 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM @ in the grass field at the District Office/Fire Hall, near the Sooke district hall.
- Moss Street Community Market: Saturdays, Through October | 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM @ Moss Street Market, 1330 Fairfield Rd, Victoria
- Peninsula Country Market: Saturdays, through October 10 from 9 AM to 1:00 PM @ Saanich Fairground, 1528 Stelly’s Cross Road, Saanichton
- Goldstream Farmer’s Market: Saturdays, through October 10 at 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM @ Goldstream Ave. and Langford Parkway, Veterans Memorial Park, Langford
Weekend Getaways
- Girls Weekend Getaways. Details
- Cheap Weekend Getaways for Couples. Details
- Wilderness & Off the Grid Getaways. Details
- Yoga Retreats & Getaways. Details
- Must-Visit Nature Parks. Details
Explore Cowichan
For those unfamiliar, Cowichan is a district located in beautiful British Columbia’s southern Vancouver Island. Cowichan, when translated from First Nations Coast Salish, means ‘Quw’utsun’ or ‘land warmed by the sun!’ The name is upheld by the expansive options of fun outdoor activities, heightened by the warm months of the summer. Details
V. Thanksgiving Brunch / Dinner / Events
Thanksgiving Afternoon Tea
Join us this Thanksgiving weekend for a cozy and delicious Thanksgiving Afternoon Tea, lovingly prepared with seasonal flavours and all the little touches that make autumn so special. Details
October 10 – 11, 2026 | 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM
White Heather Tea Room, 1885 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria
Thanksgiving Dinner Take-Out / Dine-In Options
- Brentwood Bay Resort on October 11 – 12
- 10 Acres Farm & Restaurants on October 11 – 12
- Fathom on October 11 – 12
- Aegir Room on October 11
- The Arbutus Room at Brentwood Bay Resort on October 11 & 12
- Sooke Harbour House on October 11 – 12
- Vista 18 Restaurant & Lounge
- LURE Restaurant + Bar
- Open Table listing
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there may be typographical/oversight errors, or events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from the concerned event Websites/officials.