We hope the snow’s been treating you well, Victoria!
If you get tired of frolicking through the powder, there’s plenty to do in the city this weekend. There’s a famous Canadian comedian to watch, tea to try, Valentine’s Day activities to take part in, and the mating habits of animals to learn about!
That last event sounds odd, but did you know that frogs sing and hummingbirds dance to attract partners?
Without further ado, here are 11 things to do in and around snow-covered Victoria this weekend.
Jon Dore: Live at Hecklers
Head down to Hecklers this Saturday to watch hilarious Canadian writer and actor Jon Dore deliver a killer set.
Dore has a lengthy list of accomplishments to his name, including a lead role on ABC sitcom How To Live With Your Parents, creation of the Jon Dore Show, and the time he once brought a live bear on to Conan.
- When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Where: Hecklers Bar & Grill, 123 Gorge Road East
Victoria Tea Festival Revival 2019
This grassroots farm-to-cup tea festival is returning this Saturday!
Join a community of tea lovers for tastings, a market, and a headlining talk by tea farmer Kohei Takakim who is flying in from Fukuoka, Japan, for the festival.
- When: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Where: International Tea Appreciation Society, 633 Courtney Street
Planning Your Year Round Veggie Garden
Join sustainability activist Kayla Siefried for a lesson on how to grow produce every month of the year in Victoria’s temperate climate.
Knowing when to sow seeds is important, but it’s just as crucial to know when and how to transition one crop to another. Get your green thumbs ready!
- When: Saturday, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Where: Compost Education Centre, 1216 North Park Street
Profiling Black Excellence Gallery Launch
This gallery launch event is for the new photo project, Profiling Black Excellence, which documents and shares the experiences of racism and racial profiling experienced by people of colour in and around Victoria.
Admission is free but donations are appreciated.
- When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
- Where: Fortune Gallery, 537 Fisgard Street
Valentide Handmade Market
Find the perfect handcrafted Valentine’s Day gift at this local Oak Bay market.
Many vendors and crafters from the Christmas Wintertide market are returning, but new artists are joining this weekend’s event too!
- When: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Oak Bay United Church, 1355 Mitchell Street
Canvas Class for Two
Speaking of Valentine’s Day, how does co-painting a piece of art with your partner sound to you?
Head down to Fired Up! for a step-by-step class on how to make two complimentary canvases that work as standalone pieces or work side-by-side.
- When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Where: Fired Up!, 1801 Fort Street
States of Play
Come explore 8 different installations at this Victoria Film Festival multimedia exhibition!
The installations showcase a variety of short films that have been show in previous Victoria Film Festivals, and often feature some type of viewer interaction.
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Atrium, 800 Yates Street
Charity Hockey Game
Come check out a charity hockey game of epic proportions as Greater Victoria Firefighters square off against Montreal Canadeins Alumni.
Funds raised at the game will go towards the Victoria’s Umbrella Society for Addictions & Mental Health.
- When: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Where: The Q Centre, 1767 Island Highway
Knotical Love Workshop
Looking for a West Coast DIY gift for someone special this Valentine’s Day?
The Maritime Museum of BC has you covered with their workshop that teaches you how to make a “love knot” macrame necklace or bracelet, while also sharing stories of coastal maritime traditions and legends of love.
- When: Sunday, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Where: Maritime Museum of British Columbia, 634 Humboldt Street
Love is in the Park!
Humans aren’t the only ones who think February is a month of love.
Head on down to Elk/Beaver Lake and listen to CRD park educators as they talk about the mating rituals of animals in the park, like tree frog singing, eagle cartwheeling, hummingbird dancing, and more.
- When: Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Where: Meet at the Nature Centre off Beaver Lake Road
Chinese New Year Lion Dance Parade
To help ring in the New Year, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) and the Wong Sheung Hung Fut Kung Fu Club are holding their annual Dragon Parade at the Gates of Harmonious Interest in Victoria’s Chinatown, the oldest in the country.
When: Sunday, February 10th, noon – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Gates of Harmonious Interest – Chinatown, Intersection of Fisgard and Government Streets
