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Yay, it’s time for some weekend fun—including St. Patrick’s Day festivities!
The sun is out and happiness levels are soaring—celebrate the wonderful change in weather by indulging in one or many of the events happening around Victoria.
Take the opportunity to go on a little day-hike, a road trip up to Tofino for the Pacific Rim Whale Festival or check out a season-opener plant sale!
The Drake is hosting a dark beer extravaganza, the Victoria Royals will play in their second game against the Prince George Cougars, there’s a spring market and plenty of St. Patrick’s Day events.
For all this and more, here’s 11 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend—March 16th and 17th:
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Community favourite exhibition, Wildlife Photographer of the Year has returned to the Royal BC Museum as of March 1st!
This exhibit uses the power of photography to raise awareness around animal advocacy and environmental conservation while showcasing some of the world’s best nature photography.
Grab your family and friends and see what was worthy of display this year up!
- Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street
- When: Opened Friday, March 1st and runs until June 2nd during museum hours
Pacific Rim Whale Festival
Up for a road trip, anyone?
The community favourite Pacific Rim Whale Festival is coming to Tofino and Ucluelet from March 16th to 24th and is to celebrate marine life while also raising awareness for our ocean pals, the Grey whales.
This unmissable opportunity will include a wide variety of events—separated into ‘ticketed’ and ‘button’ events.
Button events only require a one-time purchase of a button to access a multitude of incredible activities and ticketed events will require a new ticket purchase each time!
To view the full list of events, you can visit the Pacific Rim Whale Festival website.
- Where: Tofino and Ucluelet—exact locations vary
- When: March 16th to 23rd—event times and dates vary
Super Superficial at Xchanges Gallery
Bask in the creative mind of visual artist Kosar Movahedi during her solo exhbition, Super Superficial—kicked off on Friday, March 8th and will run every weekend until March 24th.
As described, this exhibition combines photography with drawing and collage, playing with the surface and frames of images.
This makes for a dynamic experience where the boundary between the exhibition space and image-based work is challenged.
Viewers slip into the world of knowing and not knowing what they’re looking at, instead considering the process of viewing and making.
To name a few of her many accomplishments, Movahedi holds an MFA from the University of Victoria and a BSc in Architecture from University of Tehran and her work has resulted in publications and exhibitions in Iran, the UK, and Canada.
She has also received grants and awards from the BC Arts Council, Audain Foundation, and SSHRC Canada.
- Where: Xchanges Gallery & Studios, 2333 Government Street
- When: Saturday, March 9th and Sunday, March 10th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Victoria Royals vs. Prince George Cougars—Country Fest
Similar to Friday’s game against the Prince George Cougars, there will be live country music, beer deals and an extremely lively atmosphere for both adults and kids.
The puck will drop at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, but gates will open two hours before for festive country fun!
For those who arrive early, there will be a beer garden on the plaza where you can score yourself $5 Bud Lights during Bud Light Happy Hour.
Grab your tickets today!
- Where: Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- When: Saturday, March 16th, puck drops at 6:05 p.m., with bands starting to play on the outside plaza from 4 p.m. onwards (Arrive early for the Bud Light Happy Hour!)
Festive Franco Market
The Franco Fest started on Monday, March 11th and has featured a wonderful mix celebrations for French-Canadian traditions!
The festival will wrap up with the Festive Franco Market from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday at Victor-Broudre School.
Attendees will get to check out the featured French-speaking artisans and artists and there will even be the opportunity to make maple taffy on snow!
- Where: Victor-Broudre School, 637 Head Street
- When: Saturday, March 16th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Drake: Dark Beer Extravaganza
Looking for an adventurous night of beer tasting?
The Drake is offering a showcase of malt-forward beers, including many rare Porters and Stouts for you to enjoy all day on Saturday!
No ticket is require—just bring yourself and maybe a few pals to embark on this journey with you.
- Where: The Drake Eatery, 517 Pandora Avenue
- When: Saturday, March 16th from 12 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.
Crafted Farmhouse Spring Market
Hosted at the Mary Winspear Centre, the Crafted Farmhouse Market is a showcase of local handmade goods from small businesses!
Enjoy a unique market experience with local live music, different flavors of food trucks, local handcrafted curators, sweet treats and a fun, friendly vibe.
There’s a $5 cash entry fee and all shoppers will be entered to win prizes! If you forget cash, no worries—they’ll have an ATM on site!
- Where: Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Avenue
- When: Saturday, March 16th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pacific FC vs. Vancouver FC
Soccer fans, this is for you!
Victoria’s Pacific FC team will be facing the Vancouver FC in a friendly match this Saturday at Q’unq’inuqwstaxw NDSS Turf Fields.
This is a pre-season game and is free to attend!
- Where: Q’unq’inuqwstaxw NDSS Turf Fields in Nanaimo
- When: Saturday, March 16th at 1:30 p.m.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
It’s time to celebrate the luck of the Irish with traditional music, Guinness or green beer, and include as many shamrock-related things in your outfit choices!
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are infectious, and whether you’re Irish or not, we’ve rounded up the best events and places to celebrate around Victoria this weekend.
Don’t forget to wear green and check out the St. Patrick’s Day parties happening in and around Victoria!
Full article: 11 festive ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Victoria this weekend
Season Opening Plant Sale
The Victoria Edible Nursery is opening for the season this Sunday!
To celebrate, they’re throwing an opening day plant sale with a huge supply of early season annuals, perennials, trees and herbs available.
Each week they’ll will be adding new varieties as the weather warms, so you’ll be able to keep returning to complete your plant shopping needs!
- Where: The Victoria Edible Nursery, 1015 Balmoral Road
- When: Sunday, March 17th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Retromania at Vic Theatre
The Vic Theatre is where movie buffs and film lovers venture to see what’s new and hot in the movie world, but it’s also the best gathering place for nostalgia obsessors too!
And that’s exactly what Retromania is all about—presenting Victoria residents and visitors alike with the opportunity to catch old classics on the big screen again and again.
This edition of Retromania has been coined the “Equal Sequels Edition” and kicked off with Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Next up this Sunday is Aliens: This Time It’s War following on Sunday! Tickets are just over $13 and you can buy them here.
- Where: Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas Street
- When: Sunday, March 17th at 7:30 p.m.
