Weekend Events & Activities in and around Victoria
Weekend events and activities in Victoria including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, sports, and exhibitions: Friday, August 1 – Monday, August 4, 2025.
I. Family & Kids Activities
Parksville Beach Festival
Known to locals as Beachfest, this 5 ½ week long family-oriented festival runs from mid July to the third week in August and includes: the Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition, Tim Hortons free Summer Concert Series, daily buskers, an artisan market and a special weekend evening light up of the sculptures. Details
Exhibition | July 14 – August 17, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Parksville Community Park & Beach, 193 Island Highway East, Parksville
$5 Suggested Donation
Visit Victoria Bug Zoo
See the amazing world of insects, arachnids, and their many-legged relatives. Details
Weekday | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Weekend | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Victoria Bug Zoo, 631 Courtney St, Victoria
Regular Admission $8 – $18; Child Ages 4 & Under is Free
Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Victoria Butterfly Gardens offers a unique opportunity for people of all ages to experience the beauty and curiosity of a tropical jungle up close. Details
Monday – Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday – Sunday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Victoria Butterfly Gardens, 1461 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay
Regular Admission $9.50 – $20; Ages 0 -4 is Free
Kidsdays
The BC Forest Discovery Centre celebrates kids this BC Day long weekend for 3 fun-filled days for families in and visiting the Cowichan Region. Train rides, entertainment, imagination station, and activities for the kids, prize draws, our almost famous BBQ, mini donuts, and a great educational experience, are only a few reasons for kids of all ages to come out to the event. Details
August 2 – 4, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
BC Forest Discovery Centre, 2892 Drinkwater Road, Duncan
Reduced admission rate of $16 for Adults, $14 for Seniors; $10 for Children from 3 years to 18 years, Children 2 years and under are Free
II. Live Music
SoberFest
On August 2nd at Starlight Stadium, SoberFest brings together an unreal lineup— Serena Ryder, The Strumbellas, Yukon Blonde, Snak The Ripper, Colicchie, and more—for a one-day festival that’s all about music, community, and recovery. Details
August 2, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Starlight Stadium, Victoria
General Admission $50 + fees; Kids from 5-12 $10 + fees
Tim Hortons Summer Concert Series
Enjoy free concerts every Friday and Saturday evening. Details
August 1 – 2, 2025 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
August 1 | Michael Patrick’s Blues Explosion
August 2 | Tumblin’ Dice
Parksville Outdoor Theatre in the Community Park, 193 Island Highway East, Parksville
Free
Summer Entertainment at The Butchart Gardens
Take in a live performance at the outdoor stage on the Concert Lawn. Details
Friday, August 1, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Tio Corinho & Flavia
Saturday, August 1, 2025 | 6:30 PM | Hank Lionheart and The Smoking Hot Toasters
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 9:30 PM | Fireworks
Sunday, August 3, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Get Back
The Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay
Regular Admission
Wonderment 2025
Live electronic & electro-acoustic music. Wonderment is produced by the Garden City Electronic Music Society and supported by The Government of Canada, The Province of British Columbia, BC Arts Council, Creative BC, Capital Regional District, and the City of Victoria. Details
August 1 – 4, 2025
Various Public Parks
Free and Ticketed events
Summer Skywalk Music series
The Summer SkyWalk Music Series blends the rhythm of the Island with the beauty of the forest. Think sun-dappled treetops, handmade smashburgers, and the sound of live music drifting over the Salish Sea. Details
Peter McMaster | Saturday, August 2 | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Tyler James Johnson | Sunday, August 3 | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Malahat SkyWalk – The Tower Plaza, 901 Trans-Canada Highway
Included with admission
Sunfest Country Music Festival
Sunfest Country
Sunfest Country Music Festival returns for 2025 with Jordan Davis, Ashley Cooke, Bailey Zimmerman, Chase Rice, Brothers Osborne, Sawyer Brown, Owen Riegling and Thursday Kick-Off Party featuring Tim Hicks. Details
July 31 – August 3, 2025
Laketown Ranch Music and Recreation Park – Lake Cowichan
The Pit Stop Weekend Pass: $553.70
Groove Kitchen: Beach Boogie
Groove Kitchen knows how to help you have a good time! We play music that makes you want to shake what the good Lord gave ya, have a few laughs and get that funk out!
This party-hearty crew really delivers the goods – Funk and Latin from classic tunes by Maceo Parker, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Buena Vista Social Club to hip hop and newer funk from Bruno Mars, Young MC, Will Smith, and Nelly. Details
Friday, August 1, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street, Victoria
$25 plus fees/tax
BackBeat Canada’s Most Authentic 60’s Musical Tribute
BACKBEAT is four mates from Victoria, BC. Four pretty fab guys who live and breathe the most exciting decade in music history. The boys have been thrilling audiences since 1988 with their loving and most authentic musical tribute to the 60’s. Details
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street, Victoria
$25 plus fees/tax
CanUS Traditional Jazz Matinee with guest Jim Armstrong
This you will not want to miss, Our original CanUS Jazz Band trumpet, trombone player, and singer Jim Armstrong bringing his spirit of traditional jazz along with a talent that made him a star musician on the U.S. Tradition Jazz Festival Circuit and took CanUS Jazz Band with him. Details
Sunday, August 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street, Victoria
$25 plus fees/tax
Symphony in the Summer Festival
Join us for a multi-day summer music festival around some of Victoria’s most beautiful locations. Details
July 24 – August 3, 2025
Various locations, Victoria
Free and ticketed events
Symphony SPLASH!
Symphony SPLASH! returns to Victoria’s Inner Harbour this summer! The iconic event on the water now spans two full days over the B.C. Day long weekend, offering more music, more community, and more celebration than ever before.
This expanded Symphony SPLASH! features four major concerts across the two days, along with free family-friendly activities, live community performances, and local food and beverage throughout Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour. From orchestral masterworks to contemporary music, SPLASH! celebrates our 85th anniversary and the community that surrounds it. Details
August 2 – 3, 2025
Inner Harbour, Victoria
Free
III. Live Theatre
Footloose
To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated Top 40 score, augmented with dynamic new songs, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind. Recommended for ages 12+. Details
June 27 – August 31, 2025
Friday, August 1 | 8:00 PM
Saturday, August 2 | 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Sunday, August 3 | 2:00 PM
Chemainus Theatre, 9737 Chemainus Road, Chemainus
$23 – $87
Parliament Past and Present Travelling Plays
This summer, join the Parliamentary Players on an award-winning interactive theatrical experience that takes visitors around the outdoor grounds of the Legislative Assembly and even back through time! The Travelling Plays are a perfect complement to your guided tour of the Parliament Buildings, so plan to include this as part of your visit. Details
Thursday to Monday
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, 501 Belleville Street
Free
IV. Sports
2025 Canadian Little League Championship
Come together with Little League Canada, Layritz Little League, and fans from across the country for one of Canada’s premier youth sporting events. Witness the nation’s top Majors level (ages 11/12) Little League teams compete for the chance to represent Team Canada at the renowned Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Details
July 29 – August 7, 2025
Layritz Park, Victoria
Pacific FC
vs Cavalry FC. Details
Stewie the Starfish’s Birthday | Monday, August 4, 2025 | 3:00 PM
Starlight Stadium, Victoria
Tickets starting at $29.05
Yoga At New Heights
Join us for gentle early morning yoga at the top of the SkyWalk Tower overlooking magnificent island views and breathing in fresh ocean air. Details
Saturdays and Sundays, June 21 – September 7, 2025 | 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Malahat SkyWalk Tower Top, 901 Trans-Canada Highway
SkyWalk Yoga Drop-In – $30 per class
V. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
Fireworks at The Butchart Gardens
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy our world-class firework show with your friends and family. Each show features original aerial and ground displays choreographed to music and designed by Jennie Butchart’s great-grandson Christopher Ross. Details
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 9:30 PM
The Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay
Regular Admission
Lavender Festival at Bilston Creek Farm
The Summer Lavender Festival at Bilston Creek Farm is the perfect balance of fun and relaxation. Envision yourself soaking in the beauty of lavender fields in full bloom, taking part in a hands-on workshop and browsing a variety of local makers at our summer festival market. Live music will fill the air on select dates as you enjoy product demonstrations, hunt for pollinators in our lavender field, watch our team harvest and distill lavender, or simply relax in the shade of heritage apple trees while enjoying a fresh made pizza, an ice cream or cup of tea. What could be more perfect? Details
June 1 – August 19, 2025
Bilston Creek Farm, 4185 Metchosin Rd, Victoria
$10 per adult, $6.00 for youth/seniors
Tea at The Empress
A grand tradition for over a century, the world-renowned Fairmont Empress has served England’s most beloved ritual of afternoon tea to famed royalty, celebrities, and dignitaries alike. Reinvigorated in our timeless, sophisticated Lobby Lounge, Tea at the Empress will continue this quintessentially Victoria experience. Details
Daily | 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Fairmont Empress, 721 Government Street, Victoria
$109 – $157
Guided House Tour
Built in 1865, the Gothic Revival Ross Bay Villa was built for Victoria businessman Francis Roscoe and his wife, Anna Letitia Roscoe. Located far away from the bustling streets of the upstart gold rush town and a short distance from the beach at Ross Bay, the property offered a bucolic country idyll for the Roscoes’ and their growing family.
Tour the meticulously restored house and gardens and learn about the Roscoe family, their myriad connections in Victoria and England, and Francis Roscoe’s political career as a BC Confederation advocate and Federal member of Parliament during the 1870s. Details
August 1, 2025 | 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM
August 2, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum, 1490 Fairfield Rd, Victoria
$8.46
Museum Tots – Life in the Harbour
This drop-in weekly program introduces children ages 3–5 to the exciting world of museum learning! Each session features a new theme, engaging little learners through crafts, play, songs, and movement. Details
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia, 744 Douglas Street, Victoria
Free with museum admission; No registration required.
Sea Glass Jewelry Workshop
Learn about the history of seaglass in this interactive workshop. Then design your own piece of jewelry using locally sourced sea glass. Details
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia, 744 Douglas Street, Victoria
$29.99 + GST
Sensory-Friendly Hours
Explore the Maritime Museum of BC during our weekly Sensory-Friendly hours, designed for visitors who prefer a quiet and subdued environment. Enjoy low-volume surroundings, dimmed lighting, and a scent-free atmosphere. These dedicated hours provide an inclusive experience for all, ensuring everyone can engage with our exhibits comfortably and peacefully. Details
Sunday, August 3, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia, 744 Douglas Street, Victoria
Included in admission
Salty Sundays: Watercolour Ink Workshop
Square up on your local tree and forest knowledge in this educational and creative drop-in workshop that teaches participants how to create ink postcard paintings of misty, biodiverse coastal BC forests. Participants paint while learning about these habitats, their connection to marine ecosystems, and the environmental risk factors that threaten them. No experience is necessary. Drop in and start creating! Details
Sunday, August 3, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia, 744 Douglas Street, Victoria
Included in admission
Victoria Harbour Ferry Water Ballet
When the harbour ferries were originally brought to Victoria in 1990, the skippers were amazed at their maneuverability. Taking inspiration from the world-famous RCMP Musical Ride, they set out to test their abilities by creating a synchronized performance. With no passengers on board, the captains were able to push the their little boats to the limit, making them twirl around the water in and out of beautifully choreographed sequences. Details
May to September 2025 | 10:30 AM
August 2 – 4, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Inner Harbour (best viewing in front of Steamship Terminal)
Free
Afternoon Tea at The Pendray Tea House
What could be more quintessentially British than Afternoon Tea? By the late 19th century, the concept of an afternoon break with tea and snacks had evolved beyond a simple light meal into a cultural phenomenon, with members of Victorian high society donning their finest to take part in the ritual of socializing over tea and refreshments. The Pendray Tea House offers a choice of delicious teas with an array of different flavours. Details
Daily | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Pendray Tea House, 309 Belleville Street, Victoria
$25 – $69
Cowichan Valley Wine Festival
Discover the magic of Cowichan Valley this summer with our month-long wine festival, an unforgettable journey through our premier wine region. From August 1st to 31st, indulge your senses and explore the exquisite offerings of 12 renowned wineries, each with its unique charm and exceptional wines. Details
August 1 -31, 2025
Participating Wineries in Cowichan Valley
$50/ticket
Global Threads: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz
Step into a fascinating world of colour and discover how India’s vibrant cottons inspired global fashion trends, transforming everything from t-shirts to floral prints, with Global Threads: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz. Featuring 80 objects spanning 10 centuries and 4 continents, this original Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) exhibition showcases India’s painted and printed cottons, revealing their enduring impact on art, science and fashion while uncovering their complicated history of labour and consumption. Details
March 28 – September 28, 2025
Daily | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville St., Victoria
$16.95 – $29.95
Odysseys and Migration
Explore the unique migration journeys that have shaped Chinese Canadian experiences and identities with Odysseys and Migration, developed by the Chinese Canadian Museum. Details
April 17, 2025 – May 3, 2026
Daily | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville St., Victoria
$16.95 – $29.95
Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change
Feel the rhythm and discover how music has shaped the course of history and inspired social change with Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, travelling from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. With artifacts ranging from Neil Young’s harmonica to stage outfits from Elton John through to Tegan & Sara and Public Enemy’s Chuck D, this exhibition showcases music as a powerful catalyst for social and political change with historical and contemporary examples. Details
May 30, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Daily | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville St., Victoria
$16.95 – $29.95
Government House Public Tours
Explore the art and rooms of this unique residence, and learn about the ceremonial and constitutional roles of the Lieutenant Governor, and the role the Office of the Lieutenant Governor has played in the history of Victoria and the province of British Columbia. Details
Saturday & Monday, August 2 & 4, 2025 | 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM & 12:00 AM
Government House, 1401 Rockland Avenue, Victoria
Free
Malahat SkyWalk
Experience the true beauty of Vancouver Island where the forested mountains drop away to the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the journey on the 600m elevated walkway to the breathtaking views as far as the eye can see from the 40m SkyWalk tower. Details
Monday – Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday – Sunday | 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Malahat SkyWalk, 901 Trans-Canada Highway
$27.95 – $46.95
Bastion Square Summer Market Series
The Sooke Fine Arts Show provides the opportunity for the finest artists from Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal islands to showcase and sell their work each summer. Details
Thursday – Sunday | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Bastion Square, Victoria
Free
Sooke Fine Arts Show
The Sooke Fine Arts Show provides the opportunity for the finest artists from Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal islands to showcase and sell their work each summer. Details
July 26 – August 4, 2025
August 1 & 4 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
August 2 – 3 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
SEAPARC Recreation Centre, 2168 Phillips Rd, Sooke
Adult (18-64) $17, Senior (65+) $12, Children & Youth (17 and under) Free
Farmers Market
- Esquimalt Farmers Market on Thursdays in Memorial Park, April – September. Details
- Gorge Farmers Market on Mondays in Esquimalt Gorge Park, June to September. Details
- James Bay Market on Saturdays, May 3 – October 4, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM @ the corner of Menzies and Superior. Details
- Moss Street Farmers Market on Sundays, May 3 to October 2025| 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM @ Sir James Douglas School. Details
Bookmark this page and check back next week for more weekend activities.
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