Victoria Events June 18-25

Happy Tuesday, friends. Welcome to another edition of TWIV, the newsletter equivalent of your neighbourhood coffee shop bulletin board.

On our radar

🎶 Laketown Shakedown: The music festival will take place June 28-30 at Laketown Ranch in Youbou, with headliner Gwen Stefani. More artists to be announced. 

🎵🍺 Phillip’s Backyard: Check out Tilt weekend July 5-7 and Reverb weekend Aug 11, with acts including Saint Motel, Orville Peck, and Jungle set to perform.

🍻 The Great Canadian Beer Festival: The fest will take place at Royal Athletic Park, Sept 6-7. 

🤘 Rifflandia: Victoria’s biggest music festival will take place Sept 13-18 at its new location at Matullia Lands.

👠 Bob the Drag Queen: See the hilarious winner of season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race perform her solo comedy show at McPherson Playhouse, Sept 28. 

🤣 Russell Howard: The British comedian will bring his optimistic outlook to McPherson Playhouse, Oct 5. 

😂 Jimmy Carr and Jim Jefferies: Two headliners for the price of one—see the comedians at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, Oct 26.

🍌 Raffi: Bring your little ones to see the iconic children’s performer at the Royal Theatre, Nov 23 & 24. 

🎸 Sum41: See the pop punk legends at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, with special guests PUP and Gob, January 10, 2025. 

🎭 Whose Live Anyway: See improv legends from Whose Line Is It Anyway—including two original cast members—at the Royal Theatre on Jan 17, 2025.

Happening this week and weekend

🎷 Jazz Fest Victoria

Starts Friday | Various times and locations

Check out this festival of shows happening at Bullen Park, Hermann’s, and Wicket Hall. The Jazz Fest will run until June 30. [Individual show tickets and festival passes available]

🇯🇲 Victoria Ska Fest 

Wed-Sun | Ship Point & other locations | Various times

Victoria’s ska and reggae festival is back in downtown Victoria for five days of live music. [$182 full fest pass]

🥓🍺🥃 Bacon, Beer, and Bourbon Fest

Saturday | Langford Starlight Stadium | 5-8pm

Taste a variety of delicious food and drink at this annual festival. [$55]

Bands! Bands! Bands! | Tuesday | 7:30pm

See local musicians Baba Chaka, Jesse Heinz, High Dive & Five Foot Nine perform at Victoria Event Centre. [$10]

Pixel Perfect opens at Gage | Tuesday | 11am-5pm

See a mixture of photography and digital art at this show, running until July 7. [Admission cost]

Composting Basics Workshop | Wednesday | 6:30pm

Head to the Central Saanich Cultural Centre to get some tips on successful composting. [Free]

Louise Rose | Wednesday | 7pm

Back at Hermann’s with her “Alone Together” series, Louise Rose will perform solo jazz vocals and piano. [$20]

Indigenous Arts and Culture | Wed-Sat | 10am-3pm

Celebrate Indigenous contributions to art on the Island and in Canada at the Colwood Arts and Culture Society. [Admission cost]

Matilda the Musical | Thur-Sun | 1:30pm & 6:30pm

See this musical about a powerful little girl, based on the book by Roald Dahl, at the Charlie White Theatre. [$30]

Entertainment Village | Thursday | 8pm

Head to The Mint for this improv comedy show hosted by OK Dope. [$20]

Family Dinner w/ Summers Brother | Thursday | 7:30pm

See these local indie rockers at Victoria Event Centre. [$17]

Michael Jackson History | Thursday | 7pm

See this tribute to Jackson’s “History” show from the 1990s, featuring the star’s biggest hits at the Royal Theatre. [$80]

Cameron Whitcomb | Thursday | 9pm

See the country singer perform at Capital Ballroom. [$25]

The Master Restorer | Thursday | 7:30pm

Learn about the life of Sergeant Joseph Loxton Rawbon, 19th century artist and art restorer, at the Ross Bay Villa. [$10]

Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration at Royal Roads | Friday | 10am

Celebrate Indigenous culture, with performances by Lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Dancers, live music, canoe challenges, kids activities, and a fry bread station. [Free]

National Indigenous Peoples Day Quadra Village | Friday | 4-8pm

Explore the Indigenous market, hear live drumming, and grab some free bannock and strawberries (known as heart berries in some Indigenous languages) at the Quadra Village Community Centre. [Free]

Free Swim for Indigenous Peoples Day | Friday | 7pm

Join this free swim at Panorama Rec, in honour of IPD—everyone is welcome. [Free]

OK Dope: Crowd Work Show | Friday | 8pm 

Join in on the fun at this show where comedians chat with the audience and improvise jokes. [$20]

AfriCa Fest Victoria | Fri 1-9pm; Sat 11am-9pm; Sun 11am-8pm

Check out this fest celebrating cultures from the African continent, including food, live music, dance, art, and more at Centennial Square. [Free]

Hot Pink | Saturday | 7pm

See the Cheesecake Burlesque Revue perform this show—in its 11th year—at the Belfry Theatre. Catch a special pop-up performance in Fernwood Square at 6pm. [$40]

Midsummer Slay | Saturday | 10pm

See this summer solstice show featuring drag artists, DJs, and go-go dancers at the Victoria Event Centre. [$35] 

Wingstock | Saturday | 1-4pm

Victoria Firefighters will be serving up some delicious chicken wings and local brews to fundraise for Victoria Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation at the Roundhouse. [$80]

Trackside Paint Jam | Saturday | 10am-7pm

Check out this live mural painting event at Esquimalt E&N trail, featuring beats by local DJs. [Free]

Soil Amendments Workshop | Saturday | 10am-12pm

Get some gardening and soil tips at the Compost Education Centre. [$30]

Ziggy Alberts | Sunday | 7:30pm

The Australian singer will bring his folk-pop melodies to the Royal Theatre. [$40]

Riot Grrrls Human Body Slam 2.0 | Sunday | 5:30pm & 8pm

Catch this queer feminist wrestling show, featuring drag and burlesque artists. The dress code is “thrift shop.” [$25]

The Big IDEA: Sharing our Music and Telling our Stories | Sunday | 2:30pm

This Pride celebration, hosted by the Victoria Conservatory of Music, will showcase an afternoon of musical performance and conversation about equality. [$24]

Victoria Italian Day | Sunday | 1-5pm

Celebrate Italian culture—including some yummy food—at the Da Vinci Centre. [Free]

Workshop with Cory Henry | Monday | 3pm

Get music tips from the jazz artist at the Archie Browning Sports Centre. [Free]

Francophone Ornithology Cafe Chat | Next Tuesday | 10:30am

Go birding and brush up on your French language skills at this outdoor cafe chat on the Songhees Trail. [$20]

Ongoing events

Fort Common Music Series | Thursdays | 12-1pm

Hear live tunes at this music series running June-August. [Free]

Music in the Park | Every Friday and Saturday | 5:30pm

Check out these free live music shows, happening at parks across Colwood every weekend this summer. Check the schedule to find info on locations and performers. [Free]

James Bay Market | May 4 - October 5 | 9am-3pm

Check out this summertime favourite market at the corner of Menzies and Superior. [Free]

Westshore Swap, Shop & Market | Every Sunday until Sept 1

Browse a variety of local vendors with new items available every week at Westshore Parks and Rec. [$2]

Esquimalt Farmers Market | April 4 - Sept 26

Head to Memorial Park every Thursday to pick up farm-fresh goods. [Free entrance]

Ross Bay Historic Villa Guided Tours | Saturdays | 2pm

See the restored home, built in 1865, and learn about the family who lived there. [$8.50]

Drag Brunch at Vicious Poodle | Saturdays & Sundays | 11am

Enjoy a hearty brunch while Victoria’s top drag performers put on a show. [Free entrance]

Moss Street Market | Saturdays | 10am-2pm

Discover local vendors, get farm-fresh produce and listen to live music at this weekly market. [Free]

Feel Free: Free Gallery Days at AGGV | First Saturday from 10am-5pm | Thursdays from 5-9pm

The first Saturday of every month and every Thursday evening will be a Free Gallery Day at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

That’s it!

Thanks for checking in this week. Hope you found something good to add to your calendar. If not, reply back and let us know what you’re looking for. Consider us your concierge to good times.

See you next week? Same time, same place.

✌️ TWIV

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