Spring in Victoria
Explore the page below to find things to do in Victoria!
Spring is mild and arrives early in Victoria with temperatures from 8 – 14 ºC (46 – 57 ºF) but can drop down to freezing overnight. Flowers bloom early and cherry blossoms blanket parts of the city with pink snow.
Festivals & Events
Mother’s Day Musical Garden Tour by the Victoria Conservatory of Music
May 11 – 12, 2024, 10am-4pm
This beloved self-guided tour celebrates mothers, music, and our beautiful garden culture right here in the City of Gardens. Now in its 42nd year, this year’s tour features ten stunning springtime garden gems from all over Greater Victoria – each one unique and sure to inspire!
Mother’s Day Brunch at The Courtney Room
May 12, 2024 from 7:00am – 2:00pm
Treat Mom to a decadent Mother’s Day Brunch at The Courtney Room!
Mother’s Day Flower Event at The Victoria Butterfly Gardens
May 12, 2024 11am-2pm
Come plant a sunflower with your Mom and the Macaws at the iconic Butterfly Gardens! And as a special bonus, Mom gets free admission.
TEDxVictoria: It’s Up to Us
May 15, 2024, 9am-5pm
TEDxVictoria is a full-day event running from 9am to 5pm at the historic McPherson Playhouse on May 15, 2024. The event will feature 12 TEDx speakers, live performances, a networking period, and community exhibitions. TEDxVictoria’s theme, “It’s up to us”, will bring Victoria together for inspiring conversations that challenge inaction and encourage change personally, globally, and local to Victoria.
Luxton Spring Fair
May 16 – May 19, 2024
Feel like a kid again at the Luxton Spring Fair! Held at the Luxton Fair Grounds in Langford, this annual fair offers midway rides, a heritage museum, antique farm show and vendors galore! Admission to the grounds is free, and wristbands for rides are $47 per person.
Annual Highland Games
May 18 – 19, 2024
The longest continually running Highland Games in North America, the 161st Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival is a family-focused weekend of Scottish and Celtic arts and culture including pipe band competitions, Scottish Highland dancing competitions, Heavy Events (e.g. caber toss, hammer throw), Scottish country dancing, fiddling performances, Scottish/Celtic and folk music bands, Scottish Clan and genealogy booths and displays, historic military demonstrations and displays, Scottish/Celtic food and merchandise vendors.
Thrifty Foods 124th Victoria Day Parade presented by Chek TV
May 20, 2024, 9:00am
The annual Victoria Day Parade, hosted by the Greater Victoria Festival Society is a hit for all ages! Travelling down Douglas St from Finlayson St to Courtney St, the parade features over 100 decorated floats, marching bands and more!
Victoria Day Explore Victoria Book Signing at Munro’s Books
May 20, 2024, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Visit Munro’s on May 20 to meet the authors of four local books and get your copies signed! This event is free admission.
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
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:
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year, March 1, 2024 – June 1, 2024
- Old Town, New Approach – Always on
Upcoming Exhibitions:
- Stonehenge, May 10, 2024 – January 5, 2025
- Canadian Modern, June 28, 2024 – February 16, 2025
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.
Gardens & Vistas
With 55 acres of gardens, 900 bedding plant varieties, there is always beauty at Butchart Gardens. Spring is an exciting time with thousands of flowering bulbs, shrubs and trees bursting forth. See the gardens awaken from winter’s slumber with uplifting colour and refreshing scents.
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.
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.
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.
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.