Gung hay fat choy, Victoria! This weekend you can celebrate one of the world’s biggest cultural events — Chinese New Year!
Take a walking tour of Chinatown on Saturday, enjoy the downtown celebrations on Sunday, or just indulge in some amazing Chinese food all weekend long!
Whatever you do, we hope you enjoy these 17 amazing events happening in and around Victoria this weekend!
Chinese New Year
2020 is the Year of the Rat, representing the first year in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, and it falls on January 25th this year.
Victoria is home to numerous events every Chinese New Year. Support local artists and businesses while enjoying the rich history and exciting celebrations!
- When: Various events on Saturday and Sunday
- Where: All around Victoria
Victoria Health Show
If you’re tired of plugging your ailments into Google or scouring WebMD, and don’t know which of the latest health trends could be for you, look no further than the Victoria Health Show!
Happening this weekend, you can head over to the Pearkes Recreation Centre to chat with a host of professionals and exhibitors ready to talk to you about your health journey.
- When:
- Saturday, January 25th, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Sunday, January 26th, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Where: Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd
Monster Trucks
Titled Monster Truck Chaos, the show will feature the nation’s most competitive monster trucks as the 10,000-pound, car-crushing giants compete in racing and freestyle action. Top riders will perform ridiculous tricks like cliffhangers, double seat grabs, superman seat grabs and the backflip.
If that wasn’t enough of a reason to buy a ticket, the event also features freestyle motocross!
- When:
- Saturday, January 25, 2020, Pit Party at 5 p.m., show at 6 p.m.
- Sunday, January 26, 2020, Pit Party at 12 p.m., show at 1 p.m.
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
The Bad Mama Jama Show
If you can’t choose between comedy and music, then this show is your perfect Saturday night out. This weekend, Campfire Empire’s twice-monthly show will feature a variety of local comedic talent as well as performances by hip hop artists Thunderfeet and Skeetz.
- When: January 25th, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Where: Vinyl Envy, 1717 Quadra Street
Robert Burns Whisky Night at Victoria Caledonian Distillery
Join Victoria Caledonian Distillery on Saturday January 25th as they celebrate Robert Burns Day, a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, the author of many Scots poems. These fantastic evenings will include a night of revelry with a piper, poetry, a 4-course meal and whisky pairing.
- When: Saturday, January 25th, doors at 5:30 p.m. for a 6:00 p.m. start
- Where: Victoria Caledonian Distillery, 761 Enterprise Crescent
Robbie Burns Night in Oak Bay / Downtown Victoria
You can also celebrate Robbie Burns with one of the most traditional foods you can think of — haggis! Also, hear The Canadian Scottish Association Pipes & Drums in each one of our rooms followed by the traditional Address to a Haggis.
They will be playing at Penny Farthing at 5:30 p.m., the Irish Times between 6:30/7:00 p.m., and finishing off at the Bard & Banker at approximately 7:30/8:00 p.m.
- When: Saturday, January 25th, 5:30 p.m.
- Where:
- Penny Farthing (2228 Oak Bay Avenue)
- Irish Times (1200 Government Street)
- Bard & Banker (1022 Government Street)
Robbie Burns Day at Craigdarroch Castle
Want to celebrate Robbie Burns Day but can’t stay out too late? No problem. Head to Craigdarroch Castle for some music, friendship and haggis as they celebrate the Bard of Ayrshire, Robbie Burns. They’ll be joined by the Cookeilidh Celtic music band as well as Cole Griffith, who will lead the castle in the traditional piping in of the haggis.
- When: Saturday January 25th, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Where: Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent
Mammoth Birthday Party
Woolly the Mammoth debuted in Victoria 40 years ago in December 1979, and the museum is celebrating with a mammoth-sized celebration for the furry fan favourite.
The four-hour party will have music, crafts, an educational animation station, and an hourly chance to win one of five stuffed Woollies!
- When: Sunday, January 26th, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street
The Gettin’ Higher Choir — Singing the Deeper Story
The Gettin’ Higher Choir’s winter concert brings wholehearted, uplifting songs in support of The Power of Hope, a local charity for youth in the community!
The popular local choir will sing new arrangements of songs from Joni Mitchell, a current Broadway musical, the Indie Pop charts, Nashville, and the choral tradition, as well as a couple of their favourites from years past.
- When: Saturday, January 25th, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Where: Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue
Glitterer at Lucky Bar
Glitterer, the project of New Yorker indie artist Ned Russin, features spartan instrumentation — bass, drum machine, synths, and a familiar voice — and its compositional ethos, such as the listener can grasp, lies in hyper-efficient deployment of discrete harmonic and melodic ideas, also known as verses, choruses, and bridges. Appearing with Justus Proffit and Pooched.
- When: Saturday, January 25th
- Where: Lucky Bar, 517 Yates Street
OneTree Exhibit at the Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature
The oneTree 2019 exhibit will feature the work of almost 80 artisans that have all created their work from a single, salvaged Maple tree.
The artwork includes boxes, chairs, tables, and sculptures, all made from the wood of a single tree.
- When: December 17th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., running until February 29th, 2020,
- Where: Bateman Foundation Gallery of Nature, 470 Belleville Street
Victoria Symphony Presents: Shaken, not Stirred
Grab your tux and Aston Martin and head to the Royal Theatre to hear the Victoria Symphony play the timeless music from the James Bond series.
From Russia with Love, Skyfall, Goldfinger, and Thunderball are just a few of the classics that you’ll hear in this spy-themed performance with tenor, David Curry, and Maestro, Sean O’Loughlin. Other notorious spy anthems from Mission Impossible and The Pink Panther are also on the program.
- When:
- Saturday, January 25th, 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday, January 26th, 2:00 p.m.
- Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
Diversion Burlesk: Pasties and Pastries!
Diversion Burlesk presents Pasties & Pastries! A daytime burlesque show featuring amazing performers and a variety of baked goods!
This show brings together delectable performers and delicious baked goods, including Empire Donuts! We will do our best to accommodate as many dietary restrictions as possible. There will also be mimosas, caesars, coffee, and tea available at the bar for all your Sunday morning beverage needs!
- When: Sunday, January 26th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Where: Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad Street
A Tale of Two Cities: Kelowna/Victoria Comedy Showcase
Six comedians from Kelowna and six from Victoria take the stage in this hilarious meeting of the minds. Turn your dreary week around and laugh along with a dozen of your new favourites from across the province.
- When: January 25th, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Where: Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad Street
When Raven Became Spider
Coming to Open Space after a critically-acclaimed nation-wide tour, When Raven Became Spider brings together work from six Indigenous artists who transpose supernatural beings from Indigenous stories into the realm of superhero comics.
On Saturday, curator Leena Minifie will give a talk on the new exhibition, a great chance to gain insight on the incredible work.
- When: Saturday, January 25th, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Where: Open Space Gallery, 510 Fort Street
Wonder Sundays
Are you the kind of person that needs their Sunday hibernations? Why not learn more about the science of hibernating, with an informative (and late-starting) session at the Royal BC Museum!
- When: Sunday, January 26th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street
A Taste of Victoria Food Tour
This 2-hour tour begins at the Victoria Public Market and includes stops at The Gates of Harmonious Interest, Fan Tan Alley, Market Square, Bastion Square, Trounce Alley, Government St., and the Inner Harbour Causeway.
Depending on the day, there are between 6-8 tastings along the route, as we discuss the history and quirks of beautiful Victoria, B.C. Tastings can include bread, pierogis, meatballs, craft beer, macarons, chocolate, and much more!
- When: January 18th and 19th, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Starts at the Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas Street #6
