Happy weekend, Victoria!
Whether you’re hiding away from the rain or embracing it, there’s plenty happening around town for everyone.
Here are 17 things to do in and around Victoria today:
Saturday
City-wide lemonade stand competition
Victoria’s Big Brothers & Big Sisters is holding a city-wide lemonade stand competition this week, and one of the best stands will be set up at Campus Nissan!
The fundraising competition, The Big SQUEEZE, calls on businesses, restaurants, and community members to set up their own lemonade stands in support of youth across Vancouver Island, and features trophies for categories like ‘best decorated stand’, ‘most creative recipe’, and ‘best tasting lemonade’.
- When: Saturday, August 24th, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 pm
- Lemonade by donation from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Free BBQ for customers from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Where: Campus Nissan, 3361 Oak Street
Art in the Alley 2019
This August, 13 local artists gather at one of the busiest tourist spots in Victoria – the Dragon Alley – to reveal the magic behind their art making.
Join the Victoria Arts Council for this one-day event to learn more about the local art community in the heart of downtown Victoria.
- When: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Where: Dragon Alley
Uptown Summer Market
For the second year in a row, Uptown is hosting their annual Summer Market – a carefully curated event of only the best locally made goods Vancouver Island has to offer.
This all-day market promises to have Uptown buzzing as they’ve partnered with Crafted Farmhouse Market to bring tons of talented entrepreneurs and a unique shopping experience for everyone!
- When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: Uptown Boulevard, 3440 Saanich Road
Vic West Community Garage Sale
The Victoria West Community Association is hosting its first ever community garage sale! Rent a table for $15 or bring your own for $10.
To register/rent a table, email programs@victoriawest.ca or visit http://www.victoriawest.ca/vic-west-community-garage-sale/ for an application form.
- When: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Where: Dragon Alley, 532 Fisgard St
Indigifest Music Festival
The First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) are hosting Indigifest, an Indigenous music, arts and culture festival at Esquimalt Gorge Park on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples in Victoria, B.C.
The family-friendly, free-admission event will feature Indigenous musicians from across B.C. performing on two outdoor stages. Live musical performances will run from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. with main stage acts performing until 10 p.m.
- When: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Where: 1070 Tillicum Road, Esquimalt Gorge Park
Picnic in the Park with Andrew Weaver
Victoria Green Party candidate Racelle Kooy is hosting a picnic at Willows Beach and will be joined by party leader Andrew Weaver.
- When: 12 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
- Where: Willows Beach
Grand Opening – Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground
The children’s playground is opening in memory of Cst. Sarah Beckett, a West Shore RCMP officer who died in the line of duty when her police cruiser was struck by a drunk driver in 2016.
The memorial park’s grand opening takes place between 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will feature family entertainment, live music, a bouncy castle, face painting, a dunk tank, and more.
- When: Saturday, August 24th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Where: Sarah Beckett Memorial Playground, 1089 Langford Parkway
Ross Bay Beach Clean Up
Surfrider Vancouver Island and Raincoast Conservation Foundation have teamed up for an End of Summer Beach Clean Up at Ross Bay Pebbles Beach (across from Ross Bay cemetery). Their tents will be set up in the green space at Clover Point.
Bring your friends and family for a fun-filled afternoon. Dress accordingly and wear sun screen- this is an outdoor event.
- When: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Where: Ross Bay Pebbles Beach
Summer Puzzle Competition
Bolen Books is bringing their summer puzzle competition back by popular demand. Each team will be given the same Piatnik puzzle supplied by Autruche. More details will be provided via email to the competing teams.
To sign up, email your team name to: bolenspecialevents@gmail.com.
- When: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Where: Bolen Books, 111-1644 Hillside Ave
2019 Victoria Fringe Festival
The Victoria Fringe Festival is an explosion of live performance, featuring 47 shows from around the globe, outdoor events for the whole family and late night programming in the Fringe Club.
- When: Saturday, August 24th – Saturday, August 31st, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Where: Intrepid Theatre, 1609 Blanshard St
Vancouver Island Metal Festival 2019
The Vancouver Island Metal Festival returns once again. This year the event will span August 22nd through 25th, and will feature some of the best talent from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and beyond.
- When: Saturday, August 24th, 4 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Sunday, August 25th, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. - Where: Saturday, Centennial Square between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Logan’s Pub (1821 Cook St) between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Sunday, Logan’s Pub
Drag Bingo Victoria
This Pride Society fundraiser features local drag performer Electra Socket.
She is back at Paparazzi night club with Drag Bingo and guest host Xoe Xo. Here’s your chance at winning some incredible prizes!
- When: 7 p.m. – 10 a.m.
- Where: Paparazzi Nightclub, 642 Johnson St
Rebelle Rebelle Pop-up Installation at Mayfair Shopping Centre
Mayfair Shopping Centre’s latest and greatest pop-up installation, where music’s greatest rebels and DIY denim fashion come together to form the ultimate celebration of all things rockin’.
You can pop by this pop-up located across from Aritzia Wednesday, August 21st through to September 1st and take part in one or all of the fun interactive workshops Mayfair will be holding.
- When: August 21st – September 1st – open all mall hours
- Where: Mayfair Shopping Centre, #221-3147 Douglas Street
Sunday
2nd Annual Canamera Classic Car Show
On Sunday, August 25th, head down to Keating Cross Road for a massive vintage and classic car show, all in support of the BC Children’s Hospital.
Following last year’s successful fundraising event, over 200 unique vehicles will be in attendance for this year’s show, with even more unregistered cars expected to stop by.
- When: Sunday, August 25th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Where: Canamera Refrigerated Transport Inc., 2205 Keating Cross Road
Esquimalt Arts Festival
Nestled among the trees and near the Township’s village core, the Esquimalt Arts Festival offers artists the opportunity to showcase their work in one of the region’s fastest growing arts and cultural centres.
With food vendors, music, and an artist’s walk, this Festival is designed to be an event for the whole family.
- When: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Where: Memorial Park, 1200 Esquimalt Rd
Yoga in the Park
In partnership with the City of Victoria, One Yoga Victoria are bringing back Yoga in the Park. Every Sunday in July and August head over to Irving Park and flow in nature for FREE!
This event is sponsored by local businesses.
- When: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
- Where: Irving Park, 250 Menzies St
Essential Oil Wellness Workshop
If you are curious about using high quality essential oils for health concerns, mood management, effective natural cleaning, personal care DIYs, beauty and more, this workshop is for you.
The instructor will dive into what your specific concerns are (classes are no more than 6 attendees) and I’ll show you how (and why) essential oils work so well for such a wide range of applications.
- When: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Beacon Hill Park
