The long weekend is here and that means there’s more time for fun activities!
Victoria Buzz has your event planning for this BC Day Long Weekend covered, with COVID-19 safe events, outings, and workshops!
As you head out to activities and events, please follow the restrictions and guidelines that these businesses require to keep their employees and patrons safe during the pandemic.
As always, wash your hands, wear masks, practice social distancing, and stay home if you feel sick or show symptoms!
Summer Recital Series 1: MacLeod and Holliston
Victoria Symphony clarinetist Keith MacLeod and VCM pianist Robert Holliston are joined by violist Jennifer MacLeod in this Romantic program featuring selections from Max Bruch’s Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (op. 83) and Brahms’ Two Songs (op. 91), as well as Vaughan Williams’ opulent Romance for viola and piano.
- When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Where: Christ Church Cathedral, 911 Quadra Avenue
- Cost: $30 per person
Let’s Roam Treasure Hunt: Essential Victoria!
See the best of Victoria and delight your friends with some epic scavenger hunt ideas for adults. On, Essential Victoria, you will wander with purpose to see the most entertaining sights in Victoria, and learn about the history and culture while you’re at it. Snap silly photos, answer tough trivia, and have a blast with the Let’s Roam scavenger hunt app!
- When: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.
- Where: 501 Belleville Street
- Cost: $43.01 for a date night pack (2 players), $48.31 for a family pack (4 players) and $86.49 for a party pack (8 players)
Victoria Scavenger Hunt: Sea, Squares & Spirits
Try a Victoria photo scavenger hunt. On Sea, Squares & Spirits you will be going on an enthralling tour around Victoria checking out the art, history, and culture along the way. You’ll see groups of friends competing to unearth fun facts, taking ridiculous pictures, and deciding who will be the next scavenger hunt champion! This is the ultimate small group activity.
- When: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.
- Where: 1500 Douglas Street
- Cost: $43.01 for a date night pack (2 players), $48.31 for a family pack (4 players) and $86.49 for a party pack (8 players)
Silent Disco Yoga + Brunch in the Orchard at SeaCider
Every Sunday come out for distanced silent disco yoga and brunch out in the orchard at SeaCider! Your admission ticket will provide you with a set of wireless headsets which will allow you hear our live DJ during your 1-hr yoga class taught by Salt Spring Island local Amy Haysom. Enjoy a COMPLIMENTARY cider tasting as well as coffee, tea, or bottled water generously provided by SeaCider.
- When: Sunday, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: SeaCider, 2587 Mount St. Michael Road
- Cost: $27.54 per person
Hermann’s Jazz Club Live: The Nick La Riviere Band
The Nick La Riviere Band will perform live at Hermann’s on July 31 and August 1, with some changes made to follow new COVID safety guidelines. Among those changes are a 50 person capacity for the audience, and 5 musician limit on stage. The band will also play one longer set rather than two shorter sets.
- When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Where: Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street
- Cost: $25 per person
Hermann’s Jazz Club Live: CanUS & Friends
Listen to Jim Armstrong singing his songs and playing trumpet and trombone, Al Pease on reeds, Joey Smith with his bass, Avram McCagherty singin’ & strummin’ that banjo and Toni Blodgett at the grand piano.
- When: Sunday, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street
- Cost: $15 per person
Chronically Queer Embroidery Workshops
Are you from the disabled and/or LGBTQ2+ community and want to grow circle? Do you want to learn embroidery?
The Chronically Queer Embroidery Workshops will take place every other Saturday from July 18 to October 3 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm via Zoom. Through the workshops, you will learn basic embroidery skills, complete five different projects, learn entrepreneurial skills to help build a side hustle business, and amplify an online disabled and LGBTQ2+ community.
- When: Saturday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Zoom – head to the event page to register.
- Cost: Free
Saturday Moss Street Market
One of Victoria’s largest weekly summer farmer’s markets is back for its 29th year at a new and expanded location to help vendors and customers practice proper physical distancing. Enjoy fresh, local produce, delicious food and handmade goods.
- When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: Sir James Douglas school grounds and Moss Street and Thurlow Road boulevards.
- Cost: Free
Discover Fan Tan Alley of the Olden Days
A new pop-up exhibit in Fan Tan Alley aims to connect passersby to the history of the area.
The exhibit features a map from 1891 that highlights Fan Tan Alley, also known as “the bank street,” as an economic centre that connected the trans-Pacific trade to the interior. During this time, the opium trade was still legal and brought the city “a lot of revenue at the time,” according to Tzu-I Chung, curator of the exhibit.
Across from the map, is a digital showcase of a handmade lantern that was displayed at the Chinese Freemason’s headquarters – which is one of the oldest Chinese organizations in the country, dating back to 1863 – in Victoria and likely at local Lantern Festivals during the 1930s and 1940s.
- When: Daily
- Where: Fan Tan Alley
- Cost: Free
Virtual Victoria Symphony Splash!
Fireworks and symphony will once again come together in medley this summer—and this time, can be viewed right from your living room no matter where you live!
While the 31st annual Victoria Symphony Splash was cancelled due to COVID-19, organizers are not letting the magic fizzle out.
This Sunday, August 2, tune in on Facebook, YouTube, or the Victoria Symphony Splash website at 7:30 p.m. to watch a recorded rendition of the 2018 concert, with some exciting new additions in place.
- When: Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Facebook, YouTube, or the Victoria Symphony Splash website
- Cost: Free
Paddle & Pint in Brentwood Bay
Head out on the water, and then enjoy a cold pint on the patio. Kayak or Paddleboard are available for rent at $39 per person and includes a cold pint.
- When: Daily, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Brentwood Bay Resort, 849 Verdier Avenue
Christie’s Pub Monday Night Trivia
For rounds of complete random obscure knowledge including movies, music, sports, science, geography and possible things found in a hardware store …who knows!
- When: Monday, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Where: Christies Carriage House Pub, 1739 Fort Street
