Happy weekend, party people!
Hope you’re just as thrilled as we are to dive into all of the different events taking place throughout Victoria over the next couple of days.
Below you’ll find details for plenty of high-energy activities, including the Queer Theatre Festival, a big shopping event at the Bay Centre, and a Luminesque Dance show!
Additionally, there’s some wonderful relaxed things to do, like attend a folk live-music event, find another feature in the Hot Chocolate Festival, and try out Dine Around Victoria.
For all of this and more, here’s 10 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend—February 3rd and 4th:
OUTstages: A Decidedly Queer Theatre Festival
Theatre lovers, drama addicts, and adrenaline cravers, pay attention!
Intrepid Theatre is thrilled to present their 10th annual OUTstages: a decidedly queer theatre festival—it kicked off on January 31st and will be running until February 11th.
This huge 10th-year celebration will bring dazzling queer performances and adventurous programming to Victoria with a 12-day run of eclectic and electric shows by queer artists from both Vancouver Island and other areas of Canada!
Ticket prices vary and can be found along with the performance schedule, here.
- Where: Location will depend on the show, but will be held at the following:
- Metro Studio Theatre, 1411 Quadra Street
- Intrepid Studio, 1609 Blanshard Street #2
- When: Running from January 31st to February 11th
Hot Chocolate Festival
In case you haven’t had the chance to indulge in the hot chocolate craze happening in Victoria right now, there’s still time!
The Hot Chocolate Festival kicked off on January 20th and will be running until February 20th—so you have plenty of opportunities to check out the masterful hot chocolate creations around town.
The participating local businesses will be putting the money raised towards the BC SPCA Victoria Community Animal Centre!
Participating locations include popular hotspots like the Fairmont Empress, Chocolate & Co, Pure Lovin’, Shirley Delicious, and more.
If you want to view the full list, you can do so on their website.
- Where: Participating businesses across southern Vancouver Island
- When: Running from January 20th to February 20th—hours vary per business
Dine Around and Stay in Town 2024
Brought to you by Destination Greater Victoria and the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association Victoria Branch, Dine Around will be celebrating its 20th anniversary—happening from January 26th through February 11th!
You can check out the full line-up of participating restaurants here, featuring newcomers like Good Ovening, FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room, Marilena Café + Raw Bar, and Hermann’s Jazz Club.
On the ‘stay’ side of things, you can make it a night on the town and enjoy discounted rates on room bookings during the Dine Around program period. This year, they’re offering deals from this list of twelve Greater Victoria hotels!
And don’t forget to check out this handy Dine Around and Stay in Town 2024 Guide, giving you all the best tips and tricks!
- Where: Participating restaurants all around Greater Victoria! See the full list here.
- Where: Running from January 26th to February 11th, 2024
Victoria Film Festival
Every year, the VFF celebrates cinema’s finest—showcasing acclaimed works and offering local audiences a unique opportunity to experience the magic of the big screen.
This year’s festival kicked off on February 2nd and will run until February 11th, with plenty of amazing films to catch over the weekend.
Screenings include I Used to be Funny,Hey, Viktor!, Seagrass, WaaPake, and more! To find full schedule and locations, visit their website.
Note that you have to purchase a $2 membership fee to attend the movies.
- Where: Locations vary depending on the showing
- When: Saturday, February 3rd and Sunday, February 4th—showtimes vary
Live Music at the Victoria Event Centre
Join Ora Cogan, Hope City Waters, and actual human people for a wonderful, soul-searching evening of folk-inspired music.
Ora Cogan’s music is described as a smoky, psychedelic approach to gothic country, merged with post-punk, psych-rock and traditional balladry.
Hope City Waters is a indie folk-soul band, with top notch songwriting, performances that are touching and tasteful, and a sound that is reminiscent of bands like Big Thief and Frazey Ford.
actual human people’s sound is born from indie-folk, contemporary jazz, and ambient music—all combined to give listeners an impactful experience.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door. Students with a valid ID can get in for $5.
- Where: Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad Street
- When: Saturday, February 3rd at 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.)
The Invitation at Capital Ballroom
The Capital Ballroom is thrilled to present audiences with a captivating, enticing, and sensual show by Luminesque Dance, The Invitation.
It will feature an abundance of heels dancers, and you’re invited to watch as they transform into their boldest, brightest, unabashedly blissful selves before your very eyes.
Feast your senses on awe-inspiring choreography, heart-racing soundtracks, and spine-tingling vignettes captured by local filmmaker Lindsey Blane!
Regular admission tickets are $30 and it’s $40 at the door.
- Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates Street
- When: Saturday, February 3rd at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.)
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
There are always multiple incredible exhibitions happening at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and what they’re offering now is no exception!
Their current displays include In The Flesh, which opened in early December and will run until the end of March—curated by Steven McNeil, Chief Curator & Director of Collections and Exhibitions.
It brings together more than one hundred works of art that share a common focus: the nude as a subject for artistic expression at varying times of beautiful, sensual, intimate and provocative.
Plus, because it’s the first Saturday of the month, admission is free!
- Where: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street
- When: Saturday, February 3rd (free) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dinner and Drag
Every Saturday, Friends of Dorothy hosts a gourmet dinner experience with the iconic Queen Mina Mercury and phenomenal weekly guests!
With a mixture of incredible food, drag performances, and cocktails, it has quickly become one of their most popular events.
Bring your family and friends and embrace the unique and marvelous atmosphere!
You can book a table on their website or by calling (778) 432-4565.
- Where: Friends of Dorothy, 537 Johnson Street
- When: Saturday, January 6th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“Meet the Makers” Market at The Bay Centre
Victoria Market Collective will officially launch their “Meet the Makers” market—set to occur the first Sunday of every month!
The first date will be this Sunday, then March 3rd, and lastly, April 7th.
This event is free to attend and gives you a chance to meet and support talented local artisans, designers, and crafters!
- Where: The Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas Street
- When: Sunday, February 4th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Music Bingo at the Fernwood Inn
Lakehill Majors Baseball Team is hosting a Music Bingo event to raise money for the Provincial Tournament happening in July!
They invite everyone, whether involved in baseball or not, to come and sing your hearts out and win some great prizes at the Fernwood Inn!
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.
- Where: Fernwood Inn, 1302 Gladstone Avenue
- When: Sunday, February 4th at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
