Summer in Victoria
The coastal city of Victoria boasts the mildest climate in Canada, with low humidity, and ocean breezes that keep temperatures moderate, which makes it perfect for exploring the natural beauty of the region.
Festivals & Events
Artists on the Causeway
May 1 – September 3, 2023
The Inner Harbour is the heart, and front porch, of Victoria. Located along the lower causeway, Artists on the Causeway features a wide array of street performers, musicians, food vendors, artisans and First Nations artists. Running from May to September each year, visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to view, engage and participate in the fun.
Moss Street Farmers Market
May 6 – October 28, 2023
Saturday’s from 10am – 2pm
Victoria’s premier farmers market with over 30 local, organic farmers and another 100+ crafters, artisans, bakers, and food and drink vendors. All locally made, there’s something for everyone at the market. Every Saturday, 10am to 2pm.
James Bay Market
May 6 – October 7, 2023
Saturday’s from 9am – 3pm
The James Bay Market Kicks off on Saturday May 6th! 9am to 3pm at the corner of Menzies and Superior! Come Celebrate over 25 years with our amazing Handmade, Homemade and Homegrown vendors!
Bastion Square Market
May 18 – September, 2023
Thursday – Saturday from 11am – 5pm
Sunday from 11am – 4pm
Craft and artisan market located in Bastion Square in Downtown Victoria. Runs May – October, Thursday through Sunday.
Ocean Week Victoria
June 2- 11, 2023
Ocean Week Victoria is a collaboration among local community organizations to help people learn and care about their big blue backyard. Ocean Week events include virtual and in-person educational and recreational activities that explore and interact with our oceans. Fun for all ages!
Victoria International Jazz Festival
June 22 – July 2, 2023
Vancouver Island’s longest-running multi-day professional music festival will present a culturally, musically diverse program of 70 stunning performances and free-to-attend workshops/clinics on 10 stages in Victoria.
Victoria Pride Festival
June 29 – July 3, 2023
Victoria Pride is a not-for-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to supporting Greater Victoria’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. VPS creates opportunities for visibility, collaboration, ongoing conversations and celebration as we work towards equity for all community members who are Gender, Sexuality and/or Relationship Diverse (GSRD).
Whistelemania
June 24, 2023
Whistle Buoy Brewing Company
A celebration of beer, music, and community at Whistle Buoy Brewing Company. An annual birthday party in the courtyard of Market Square.
Bacon, Beer & Bourbon Festival
June 24, 2023 from 4pm – 8pm
Starlight Stadium, Langford
$45/general admission | $119 VIP admission
Inspired by unique pairings between chefs and mixologists, Bacon, Beer, and Bourbon celebrates the best seasonal beers, bourbon cocktails, and the smells and tastes of pork-forward chefs’ creations.
Canada Day Celebrations
July 1, 2023 from 12pm – 10:30pm
Visit Victoria’s Inner Harbour for a day filled with entertainment and activities for the entire family, live music on the main stage, interactive displays, flavours of the world, and a fireworks spectacular to conclude the festivities.
Art Gallery Paint-In 2023
July 15, 2023
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is excited to announce the 34th Art Gallery Paint-In on Saturday, July 15, 2023! The Art Gallery Paint-In is the largest summer arts festival on Vancouver Island, bringing together over 160 Vancouver Island artists in celebration of art.
Eats & Beats Beach Party
July 29, 2023 from 1pm – 8pm
Enjoy live music all day with a food truck festival, a craft beer garden, a street market, a climbing wall, paddling, cycling and more! We’re celebrating summer with FREE fun on the street, sand, and sea.
Music by the Sea
August 1-5, 2023 starting at 8pm
Victoria International Marina
Enjoy live music from a variety of different artists at the Victoria International Marina every night at 8:00pm, August 1 through 5. Tickets start at $108.
Victoria Dragon Boat Festival
August 12- 13, 2023
Enjoy entertainment, cultural activities, family events, special ceremonies, and of course dragon boat racing in the Inner Harbour.
Victoria Fringe Festival
August 23 – September 3, 2023
Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival takes over downtown Victoria BC each summer for a celebration of live performance from around the world, featuring an eclectic mixture of spoken word, drama, musicals, dance, comedy, magic, theatre for young audiences and more at venues across the city.
Harbour Blues N Roots Festival
August 25 – August 27, 2023
The BC Smoke Shop Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival features local, international, and regional blues and R&B artists/groups in both free to the public and ticketed performances on the beautiful outdoor stage in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Ship Point Picnic Site.
Saanich Fair
September 1 – 4, 2023
Known as Western Canada’s oldest continuous agricultural fair, the Saanich fair offers shoppers food, entertainment and live performances!
Great Canadian Beer Festival
September 8, 2023 from 4pm – 9pm
September 9, 2023 from 12pm – 5pm
Featuring 90+ Canadian craft breweries from coast to coast, the 29th annual edition of Canada’s oldest beer festival returns this September. GCBF showcases breweries from every region of Canada, including the Maritimes, Québec, Ontario, Western Canada and the Yukon.
Esquimalt Rib Fest
September 8 & 9, 2023 from 12pm – 10pm
September 10, 2023 from 12pm – 9pm
Bullen Park
A weekend of BBQ ribs, local entertainment, craft beer, cider and wine, free kid’s activities, local arts, and vendors. Free admission.
Rifflandia Festival
September 15 – 18, 2023
Rifflandia music festival features national, international, new and emerging artists, as well as local food and drink.
Victoria International Wine Festival
September 24- September 30, 2023
Crystal Garden
Experience a global tasting voyage with over 400 wines from around the world. Aiming to increase guests’ wine knowledge while highlighting affordable wines, sommeliers will mingle with attendees throughout the festival grounds, assisting tasters by answering questions, making suggestions, and facilitating new finds.
Gardens & Vistas
With 55 acres of gardens, 900 bedding plant varieties, there is always beauty at Butchart Gardens. The gardens are in full bloom in Summer and there is so much to take in, from the stunning beauty of the Sunken Garden, to the serenity of the Japanese Garden and the vibrant colours of the Rose Garden to the sunny Italian Garden.
Tucked behind a hornbeam hedge, discover Prince & Princess Abkhazi’s garden that love built. Gardens flow around dramatic glaciated rocky slopes, magnificent native Garry oaks and gorgeous vistas. Drive, or borrow our Norco Cruiser bicycles.
Located about 40 minutes north of Victoria, the Malahat SkyWalk is an accessible 600 m TreeWalk through a beautiful arbutus forest leading to a spectacular gentle spiral ramp that takes you up 32m to a sightseeing lookout offering views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the distant Coast Mountains.
Victoria’s Inner Harbour
Take a stroll along Victoria’s beautiful inner harbour, just steps away, to watch ships, boats and seaplanes and harbour seals coming and going. This working harbour is part of the traditional lands of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Just 5 blocks from the inner harbour, Beacon Hill Park is 740,000 square meters of parkland. This park boasts manicured gardens, meandering footpaths, ponds, a Garry Oak ecosystem, and open vistas across the Strait of Juan De Fuca.
Government House is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians. The grounds embrace 36 acres, including formal gardens and a rare Garry oak ecosystem.
Hatley Castle National Historic Park
Just 13km from downtown, you will find this fascinating Edwardian estate, with Japanese, Rose and Italian Gardens on 565 oceanfront acres with an amazing view of the majestic Olympic Mountains.
Shopping
Check at the front desk for a copy of our Beautiful Boutiques curated map.
Government Street
Take a walk down Government Street to view beautiful heritage buildings and quaint shops with handmade gifts. Peruse Munro’s Books, Rogers Chocolates, handcrafted jewellery, gift shops and designer boutiques. Stop for delicious snacks along the way.
Local boutiques, one-of-a-kind merchandise, dining, coffee & craft beer eatery all in a beautiful heritage square!
Lower Johnson Street has many independent boutiques and specialty shops, many with a fashion focus, situated amongst the colourful heritage buildings.
Canada’s oldest Chinatown is characterized by heritage buildings, beautiful Gate of Harmonious Interest, small shops and restaurants. Check out the little shops in Fan Tan Alley.
Peruse local artisans, farmers, butchers, bakers, cheese-makers and more! Dive into pasta or tacos, sip tea, or delight in a meat or fruit pie.
Tours
Discover the Past Walking Tours
Best known for Ghostly Walks, Discover the Past also offers a range of fun and insightful History and Chinatown tours. John Adams, Victoria’s pre-eminent historian, leases a team of exceptional storytelling guides.
Magnolia’s Mobile Walking Tours
If you prefer to discover the city on your own, download one of our digital walking maps: Welcome to Victoria, Historical Victoria or Foodie Adventure.
Magnolia’s Curated Trails
Ask the Front Desk for one of our printed curated trails: Tapa Trail, Craft Brewery, Beautiful Boutiques for shopping, see the sights with Everything Victoria, discover Adventures, or check out Notable Dining. Explore a little further with our bikes and take one of our thee bike maps: Rockland & Cook St Village, Beacon Hill Park & James Bay or Bikes, Blooms & Brews. Runners can choose from a scenic 5.8km, 7.5km or 10.2km route.
Whale & Wildlife Tours
Kayak & SUP Tours & Rentals
The Pedaler offers a range of guided bike tours that showcase Victoria; its scenic views, its history, and its artisan food and drink.
Bike
Victoria is a cyclist’s dream, with many great places to ride. Bring your bike or borrow one of our bicycles and use one of our three curated bike maps to tour the city.
Hike
Hiking in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park
More than 25 kilometres of trails, varying in degree of difficulty, offer spectacular views, as well as the chance to view animals in their natural environment. In spring and early summer, the moss-covered rocky knolls come alive with a carpet of colourful, vibrant wildflowers.
188 hectares of forest and 21km of trails, take a leisurely stroll, explore the beach or hike to the summit.
Just 17 kilometers from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park lies amid the splendour of an old-growth temperate rain forest. See massive trees, majestic waterfalls, a meandering river that meets the sea, and a world class salmon-spawning stream with thousands of Chum Salmon returning between October and December. Hike to the top of one of the highest points in Greater Victoria, Mt Finlayson. Another trail leads you to Niagara Falls, higher than its namesake – a truly exquisite discovery buried deep in Goldstream’s forests.
Golf
Boasting beautiful views of Washington State’s Olympic Mountains, Olympic View Golf Club is located just 20 minutes outside of downtown and is rated ‘Top 10 Best Public Golf Facility’ in British Columbia by ScoreGolf Magazine.
18 Championship Golf Course and 9 Hole Par 3 Ridge course with massive fairways, huge greens and a course for every level of player.
Bounty of the Harvest
For a true sense of place, taste! Engage all of your senses when you visit and taste at local farms, wineries, breweries, distilleries and more! See the front desk for our Saanich Flavour Trail or Cowichan Flavour Trail to explore the region at your own pace.
Breweries
Ask the front desk for our Craft Brewery Trail!
Inspiration through fermentation. See what some beer nerds can accomplish with creativity and a welding torch.
A tiny brewery with big ideas, we make small-batch, experimental beers with high quality ingredients in the heart of Downtown Victoria. Pick-up window, taproom, and patio are located on the courtyard level of historic Market Square.
French for “Wild Island” the name is a reference to the wilderness of Vancouver Island and our focus on Belgian-style wild ales and sour beers. We make use of Kveik, Lactobacillus, and Brettanomyces fermentation, as well as secondary fermentation with fruit.
Vancouver Island Brewery, Victoria
A craft brewery since 1984, we are committed to producing fun, authentic, sharable brews.
Cidery
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Saanichton
An award-wining farm-based cidery focused on producing traditional artisan ciders from organically grown apples.
Merridale Cidery & Distillery, Cowichan Valley
Merridale makes farm-crafted Cider, Spirits, and Fortified Ciders. Visit their Tasting Bar, Eatery and retail shop.
Wineries
Symphony Vineyard, Saanich
Wines true to the region, 100% Saanich grown. Patio is open Fridays & Saturdays to enjoy a bottle of wine, though tastings are not yet available.
Rathjen Cellars, Saanich
A farm-based winery committed to using 100% Vancouver Island fruit, we draw inspiration from Old World traditions to create wines that reflect our coastal climate and pair beautifully with our local food.
Averill Creek Vineyard, Cowichan Valley
Averill Creek is built into the side of Mt. Prevost, and our state-of-the-art facility incorporates three buildings structured together, allowing wine to flow down from one stage to the next without the need for pumps. This gravity flow method allows for gentle handling of delicate varietals – helping to retain their subtle characteristics.
Blue Grouse Winery, Cowichan Valley
Family-owned, sustainably-farmed Blue Grouse Estate Winery produces award winning wines. Reserve ahead for a tasting, they often have several experiences available!
Unsworth Vineyards, Cowichan Valley
Tradition meets artisanal wine-making in this family owned winery. Stop for a tasting or reserve for lunch or dinner in the restaurant.
Art & Culture
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
With over 20,000 objects, the AGGV collection represents significant works produced in this region and art that represents our histories. Since its founding, we have been assembling work from around the Pacific Rim and have established one of the finest collections of Asian art in the world.
The Royal BC Museum, founded in 1886, is one of Canada’s greatest cultural treasures, collecting artifacts, documents and specimens of BC’s natural and human history.
Current Exhibitions:
- Dinosaurs of British Columbia. April 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Upcoming Exhibitions:
- Sacred Journey: Travelling Exhibition May 5, 2023 – October 29, 2023
- Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia June 2nd 2023 – January 14, 2024
Built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, this legendary Victorian mansion was built 1887-1890. The architecture showcases the Romanesque revival taking place at the time, and has been meticulously restored, giving visitors a glimpse of privileged life in the 1890s.
Theatre
Located in the heart of downtown Victoria, the historic Royal Theatre and McPherson Playhouse have been connecting world class performing arts and entertainment with our community for over a century. Discover What’s On-stage
We are dedicated to producing contemporary plays, with an emphasis on Canadian work, and to promoting artistic, cultural, and educational events in the Greater Victoria Region. What’s On
The Langham Court Theatre Society (has been producing engaging and high quality theatre with dedicated actors and creative teams for more than 90 years! The theatre itself is a charming surprise tucked away in the residential Rockland neighbourhood, seats 175 people and offers a licensed lounge for intermission. What’s On