Victoria Events June 25-July 2

Canada Day, Jazz Fest, Laketown Shakedown, and more!

Author

Robyn Bell
June 25, 2024

Happy Tuesday, friends. Welcome to another edition of TWIV, the newsletter equivalent of your BFF telling you what’s happening around town.

On our radar

🏳️‍🌈 2024 Victoria Pride: Take part in several activities that are welcoming to queer people, including watching the parade or taking your pup to the Big Gay Dog Walk. [Free]

🎵🍺 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, Jan 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

Monday | Legislature Lawn & Inner Harbour | 11am-10:30pm

Join in on the celebration downtown, with live music, food vendors, and a special drone and firework show. [Free]

Fri-Sun | Laketown Ranch 

The music festival will take place this weekend at Laketown Ranch in Youbou, with headliners Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes, and Jesse Roper. [$200+]

Today - Sunday | Various times and locations

This festival of shows will continue this week, with concerts at Bullen Park, Hermann’s, and Wicket Hall. [Individual show tickets and festival passes available]

Chi Cheng Lee | Opens Tuesday | 11am-5pm

See artistic jewelry made by Lee at The Avenue Gallery, available to see until next Tuesday. [Free]

See Canada’s national women's basketball team take on Portugal at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, as part of a pre-Olympic training camp. [$27+]

Photo: Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre

Goin’ Underwater | Thursday | 8pm

Catch this live music show, featuring local bands at Victoria Event Centre. [$15+]

Peaches’ Palace | Thursday | 8:30pm

This monthly show is back at Friends of Dorothy, featuring drag, comedy and burlesque. [Free]

Entertainment Village | Thursday | 8pm

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

See local standup comedians crack jokes and celebrate Pride. [$15]

Snak the Ripper | Friday | 8:30pm

See the BC rapper perform at the Capital Ballroom. [$35+]

Catch this show at Quadratic Sound with Maryze, DJs and more. [$15+]

TheatreSports | Friday | 8pm

Catch this hilarious improv show at KWENCH. [$25]

Harris Anderson | Friday | 8pm

See the Vancouver comedian take the stage at the Mint. [$20]

Queer Open Decks | Friday | 10pm

See DJ Lunasty and enjoy a night of Pride-centric music. [$15]

Photo: Royal McPherson

Bruce McCulloch | Saturday | 8pm

The Kids in the Hall legend will take the stage at the McPherson Playhouse to perform his solo work. [$30]

See 120+ works by some of Canada’s most celebrated artists, including Emily Carr, the Group of Seven, and Kent Monkman at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Running until Oct 27. [Gallery entrance fee]

Hollow Coves | Sunday | 7:30pm

See the Australian indie rockers at the Capital Ballroom. [$35]

The Love You Make | Sunday | 7:30pm

See the Wavelengths Community Choir perform top favourites from The Beatles at the Charlie White Theatre. [$40]

Jasper String Quartet | Sunday | 7-9pm

The group will perform as part of Quartet West Fest, happening at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall. [$27]

Photo: Peter B. Jakab Photography / Victoria Pride Society

Memorial Drag Baseball | Monday | 12-3pm

To kick off a week of Pride events in Victoria, head to Vic West Park and watch the annual drag baseball game, in honour of those lost to the AIDS epidemic. Expect lots of laughs, theatrics, and of course, some baseball. [Free]

Ukulele Strum Along  | Next Tuesday | 7-9pm

Strum along at the Fernwood Inn with a group of ukulele enthusiasts. [$10]

Ongoing events

Music at Ship Point | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 6-7pm

Catch live music in the Inner Harbour from June 11 to Sept 19. [Free]

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 - Oct 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]

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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