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August long weekend is in full swing and it’s set to be a great one!
Soak up the sun, enjoy a good meal with friends and family, listen to good music, and take a moment to breathe and slow down as the work week comes to an end.
If you’re up for an adventure, we’ve created a diverse list of things to do this weekend and you’ll be able to participate in as many as you want!
You’ll have your choice between several different lively and action-packed festivals — including the sought-out country music festival, Sunfest, and the wonderfully vibrant Viva! Victoria Latin Festival.
For our browsers, there are a couple of car shows set to take place this weekend, one of which will have a vehicle available for purchase!
Anyway, let’s dive in! Here are 14 things to do this August long weekend:
Ocean Idlers “Blast From The Past”
On Saturday, you can browse over 100 different exceptional makes and models ranging from early 1900s to the present — there will even be a special car that’s for sale, so keep your eyes out!
Additionally, the Arrowsmith Recreation Association will be putting on a pancake breakfast to kick off the show and there will be food available throughout day as well.
Come down for the cars and stay for the additional activities and perks like 50/50 tickets, prizes for the kids, raffle draw, and more!
Visit their website for more information.
- Where: 1014 Ford Road, Coombs
- When: Saturday, August 5th from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Ska Punk Night at Quadratic Sound
Calling all the fans of NOFX, Strike Anywhere, Sublime, and Good Riddance.
The Depot is excited to host Safe Decisions & Kownterpoint and deliver a night of melodic punk with plenty of woah-ohs and singalong choruses!
As described, it’ll be a blend of ska, reggae, dub, and hardcore punk with some psychedelic flavour in there too.
- Where: 655 Queens Avenue
- When: Saturday, August 5th from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Symphony and Opera at the Cameron Bandshell
The Victoria Symphony is putting on a special show in Beacon Hill Park at the Cameron Bandshell for those looking for some melodic afternoon beauty.
This show is free to attend and you’re welcome to grab a seat on one of the benches or set yourself up on a blanket with some snacks.
Come on down for a relaxing night and feel at peace amongst nature and good music!
- Where: 250 Bridge Way
- When: Saturday, August 5th from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tight Hair at Hermann’s Upstairs
Tight Hair is described as a bunch of disco-living misfits that utilized the power of Fakebook and roller skates to form an authentic disco band.
- Where: 753 View Street 2nd floor
- When: Saturday, August 5th at 9 p.m.
Horse Girl at the Theatre
As described, this special production by Timetheft Theatre — a group of emerging queer theatre artists, is a farcical comedy about dead horses, dead mothers, glue factories, and growing up.
In other words, audiences are in for a wild ride!
The performance is 45 minutes long and had their debut show on Friday, August 4th and will be playing at the SKAM Satellite Studio Theatre until Sunday, August 6th.
Tickets are available on a sliding scale at $10, $15, $20, or $25 — cash only tickets may be available at the door up to 15 minutes before the show.
- Where: 849 Fort Street
- When:
- Saturday, August 5th at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Sunday, August 6th at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunfest
This massive country music phenomenon hosted at Laketown Ranch kicked off on Thursday, August 3rd and will be stomping until Sunday, August 6th!
Every year, thousands of people cycle through the park each day — all there to sing along to favourite songs and party with best friends.
This year’s lineup has some HUGE names like Blake Shelton, High Valley, Born Reckless, and more!
Different ticket packages are available for purchase depending how you want to customize your visit — for example, you can buy VIP packages and camping passes with your festival tickets.
- Where: 8811 Youbou Road #648, Lake Cowichan
- When: Kicked off Thursday, August 3rd and runs until Sunday, August 6th
Viva! Victoria Latin Fest
This weekend the Viva! Victoria Latin Festival is back for its third year and will be transforming Centennial Square into a vibrant mix of Latin performances!
To represent the growing Latino community in Victoria and celebrate diversity, director Moises del Olmo and volunteers are excited to present a lineup of anticipated artists, Latin traditional dances, authentic foods, and cultural performances!
Musicians include Dani B, who’s an alternative Pop Urbano artist; Natan J, a Dominican reggaeton singer; Pablo Cardenas & The West Coast Cuban Orchestra, performing a mix of contemporary and traditional Cuban music; and more.
You’ll also want to check out performers like the Fiesta Latina Folklore Dancers and Danza Colombia!
These events are free to attend, just bring cash for the available food, beverage, and arts and crafts vendors on-site!
For the full schedule, visit their website.
- Where: 1 Centennial Square
- When: Saturday, August 5th and Sunday, August 6th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
IRL Battle Arena
Fun for the whole family! Book this epic experience with a group of people and enjoy the socialization, the great outdoors, and the thrill of a game come to life.
The staff bring over 3 decades of experience with archery, paintball and other live action combat sports. Drawing heavily from that background they aim to create safe, family friendly games that everyone will enjoy!
Their most commonly used outdoor venue is PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) where they let everyone loose for laser tag.
To learn more information and book this family fun for yourselves, check out their website!
- Where: Also flexible, but the PKOLS location is generally next to the parking lot on Cordova Bay Road
- When: Flexible!
Wonderment Fest
Don’t forget about the free day-time electronic festival happening at multiple venues across Victoria as well as the extra ticketed events in the evening!
The atmosphere for the day-time programming will be more of an immersive and ambient experience as opposed to electro-dance music — if you hope to dance, check out the night-time programming!
The ticketed night-time programming is only for adults +19 and will present live and DJ’d dance music at the Victoria Event Centre and Captial Ballroom for everyone hoping to keep the party going!
The festival kicked off on Friday, August 4th and will continue until Monday, August 7th.
Night-time tickets cost between $25-$28 per performance!
- Where: Locations vary depending on the show (view their website for details)
- When: Kicked off on Friday, August 4th and runs until Monday, August 7th — showtimes vary
Torque Masters Sidney Summer Car Show
The biggest car show in Sidney is returning this Sunday, August 6th and will have exceptional models of classic vehicles lined up from Mary Winspear to Small Gods Brewing.
There will also be food trucks and a beer garden available so you can enjoy the display and keep yourself fed and quenched all day long!
If you’re hoping to get ahead of the action, they’re also hosting a Poker Run on Saturday, August 5th from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — it starts from Mary Winspear and is priced at $10 per run.
Afterwards, pull up to the Star Cinema for a Classic Car Movie Night from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to support the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank
Admission by a cash donation or a food bank item!
- Where: Along Beacon Avenue between 5th Street and the waterfront, Sidney
- When: Sunday, August 6th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Beer gardens: Saturday, August 5th from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, August 6th from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The Malahat SkyWalk
What better way to spend August long weekend than taking in the beauty of Vancouver Island?
At the Malahat SkyWalk you’ll catch a glimpse of the rolling hills, distant mountains, and the sparkling river — and after you’ve climbed to the top and breathed it all in, you can take the slide down!
On Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., you’ll be able to catch live music performances at the base of the tower next to their food vendors. Enjoy some goodies and a beverage while you bop along to some tunes!
On Sunday mornings, if you’re into that early morning calm in the freshly risen summer sun, yoga sessions are offered with general admission from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Tickets are around $37 — but there’s a 25% discount if you purchase tickets after 4 p.m.
- Where: 901 Trans-Canada Highway
- When: Open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Abkhazi Garden
A garden built on love — this beautiful location is home to many different textures and plants and is open all year round!
A dream that began in 1946, the garden came to life under the care of newlyweds, Prince and Princess Abkhazi after their separate experiences in prison camps during World War 2.
Have a peaceful wander through the grounds (admission by donation) and head up to the Teahouse for a refreshment!
- Where: 1964 Fairfield Road
- When: Open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (summer hours until September 30th)
Cadboro Bay Fest
Cadboro Bay Festival is back for another year of shenanigans and you’re invited.
On Sunday, August 6th, everyone is welcome to come down to Cadboro Bay and Gyro Park to partake in a variety of free family-friendly activities and soak up the sun!
Organized events include interactive games like three-legged races, cornhole, and lawn games.
There will also be face painting, live music, arts and crafts, and food provided by Chinatown Lions Club and the Saanich Lions Club.
- Where: 2625 Sinclair Road
- When: Sunday, August 6th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Local Folk Fair
The Junction Orchard and Cidery is hosting a relaxing ‘meandering market’ in a beautiful orchard setting on Sunday.
There will be over 35 local artisan vendors, live music, games, special orchard experiences, workshops, and more!
Yummy Junction cider and food will also be available.
Admission to enter is $4!
- Where: 273 Prospect Lake Road
- When: Sunday, August 6th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
