Victoria Events and Festivals

(Victoria, British Columbia - BC, Canada)

The popularity of Victoria is very much reflected in the quality of annual events hosted each year by the city. Things to do are a their most plentiful in the summer months, with many festivals and free entertainment taking place around the Beacon Hill Park, James Bay and also at the Market Square.

The university of Victoria enjoys a hilltop setting and is just a short walk from the actual oceanfront, offering various theatrical events, film festivals and concerts throughout the year. Victoria is also known for its sporting events, which in the past have include the Men's Curling Championships, Skate Canada, the FIFA World Cup and even the Commonwealth Games.

Victoria Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

The following is a fairly comprehensive list of the main events held each year, both in and around Victoria.

• TerriVic Jazz Party - April, held over a four-day period
• Creatively United for the Planet - late April, established in 2012, this is a weekend Eco event
• Emily Carr Festival of the Arts - April and May, at the Emily Carr House
• Victoria Day Parade - late May, a colourful street procession
• Swiftsure International Yacht Race - late May, a popular sailing event
• Victoria Flower and Garden Festival - mid-June, a major horticultural show at the Royal Roads University
• Jazz Fest (Jazzfest International) - late June, at the Market Square
• Canada Day - July 1st, a national holiday and event, with Symphony Splash concerts and fireworks
• Victoria Shakespeare Festival - mid-July to mid-August, featuring a number of classic theatrical performances
• Victoria International Festival - July and August, the biggest arts jamboree held in the city
• Folk Fest (Folkfest) - last week of July, nothing short of an arts extravaganza
• First People's Festival - early August, celebrating the rich heritage of Canada's aboriginal community
• Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival - mid-August, with more than 100 teams competing around the Inner Harbour
• Classic Boat Festival - late August / early September, a display of antique wooden boats
• Vancouver Island Wine Festival - early September, at various vineyards around the Cowichan Valley
• Fringe Festival - September, featuring various theatrical events and performances
• Royal Victoria Marathon - early October, held during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend
• Great Canadian Beer Festival - second week of November, with tastings at the Victoria Conference Centre on Douglas Street
• Merrython Fun Run - mid-December, a 10-km / 6-mile run through the city centre