Happy Mother’s Day weekend, Victoria!
Get ready for an absolutely stunning weekend as the weather calls for sun and very little cloud—the perfect opportunity to bask in the rays and celebrate your mom with activities around the city.
In addition to the abundance of Mother’s Day events happening, there’s also plenty of adjacent things to do, such as a plant sale, a Pacific FC game, a foodie tour and much more.
Without further ado, here’s 14 things to do in and around Victoria this Mother’s Day weekend—May 11th and 12th:
Celebrate Mother’s Day
It’s the time of year to express our love and gratification for the mothers out there, and we’ve compiled a list of activities to give you ideas.
Choose from carriage tour packages, an abundance of brunches, the perfect photo-op, a garden tour, Buccaneer Days and more!
Hotel Zed is even offering a special ‘gift a nap’ for moms, giving them that much needed rest—mothers will get access to all hotel amenities as well as their room.
See our list of 11 things to do in and around Victoria to treat your mom on Mother’s Day!
Take a Taste the City Tour
If you’re looking for a new way to explore the city’s culinary delights, look no further!
A self-guided tasting experience called “Taste the City” has launched in Victoria—all it requires is that you bring along your cellphone.
As described, tasters will spend around 25 minutes at each restaurant, getting to try a pre-selected sample size dish that best represents the culinary style of that location.
Then, guests will be prompted via text message, and sent on a short walk to the next mystery restaurant.
- Where: Location is revealed upon booking!
- When: Book your tour here
Tour a Garden
Warm springtime days brings a reminder of the city’s sparkling beauty—everywhere we turn, we see green grass, budding leaves and flowers scattering the ground and blooming in trees.
So, get outside, count your blessings and sniff some flowers at a number of different gardens around the city.
We’ve even included the iconic Butterfly Gardens just in case you’re looking for a sprinkle of tropical in your garden adventures.
Take your mom and hop to it!
Full article: 5 glorious gardens to explore in and around Victoria this Spring
Esquimalt Buccaneer Days
Esquimalt’s beloved Buccaneer Days kicked off on Friday, May 10th and will be running until Sunday, May 12th at Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sport Centre.
This community celebration brings a flurry of family-friendly activities, including the famous parade on Saturday, May 11th at 10 a.m.
Other activities include a community BBQ, Midway by West Coast Amusements, a collection of vendors in a pop-up market place, a pancake breakfast, and much more.
New this year will be music bingo, with Friday’s slot reserved for all ages and Saturday’s evening for adults 18 and up—there are plenty of prizes to be won!
For the full list of activities along with their dates and times, you can visit the Buccaneer Days website.
Wristbands are required to enjoy the Midway rides and can be purchased for $47.
- When: Kicked off on Friday, May 10th and runs until Sunday, May 12th
- Where: Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sport Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Road
Pick a Mother’s Day Bouquet: Westshore Town Centre
If you’re in need of a gift for mom, Westshore Town Centre has a solution!
Poppy, the Flower Truck by Platinum Floral Design, will be parked in the Centre Court (near Coast Capital Savings) for all of your floral needs.
Poppy will pop up during Saturday, May 11th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 12th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You’ll be able purchase ready-made bouquets, or build your own. You’ll also find a seasonal selection of potted herbs, succulents and air plants.
Looking to pre-order your bouquet for pick up? You can do so via Platinum Floral Design’s website.
- Where: Centre Court, Westshore Town Centre, 2945 Jacklin Road
- When: Saturday, May 11th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 12th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Photo Pop-Up at Hillside Shopping Centre
Looking to take an updated photo with your mom?
Take a break from your shopping at Hillside Shopping Centre and stop by their photo pop-up on Saturday afternoon!
Walk-ins are welcome, but you can book a time at their Guest Services desk too. Price is $10, which includes a 5×7 photo, a floral folder frame and a digital copy of the image.
Proceeds go towards BC Cancer Foundation VI!
- Where: Hillside Shopping Centre, 1644 Hillside Avenue #21
- When: Saturday, May 11th at 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1 to 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Science Rendezvous Victoria
Ocean Networks Canada has partnered with post-secondary institutions, UVic and Camosun campuses, to host an all-ages Science Rendezvous Victoria!
There will be both all-day activities and activities/presentations offered at specific times for ages between kindergarten to grade 12, you can view the full schedule here.
Join them for a free day of exploration related to all things science, technology, math and more!
- Where:
- University of Victoria in the Bob Wright Centre, 3800 Finnerty Road
- Camosun College, Interurban Campus in the The Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness, 4441 Interurban Road
- When: Saturday, May 11th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Victoria Compost Education Centre: May Plant Sale
The Victoria Compost Education Centre (CEC) is hosting their annual May Plant Sale event on Saturday, May 11th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Haegert Park.
Featured at this marvelous sale are local farmers offering a wide variety of organically grown vegetable, herb and flower seedlings, plus perennial and native plants for your growing season.
Highlighted vendors include Saanich Organics, Metchosin Farm, Satinflower Nurseries, Crooked Fir Farm & Nursery and more.
Get cozy and bring a blanket and/or picnic so you can enjoy the included bicycle-powered live music and stay a while.
- Where: Haegert Park, 1202 Yukon Street
- When: Saturday, May 11th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Traces of Old Victoria: Art Exhibition by Mone Vogel
The Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum is to host their first-ever art exhibition, open and free to the public on May 11th and 18th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The show will feature contemporary urban landscape paintings in oil by Victoria painter Mone Vogel titled, Traces of Old Victoria.
Vogel focuses on capturing local landmarks she holds dear in hopes of preserving the life they breathe into the community.
Tickets for this talk are available here, and can be purchased for $10.
If you don’t get the chance to catch this art exhibition, Ross Bay Villa hosts monthly events, including lectures and workshops, related to local history and the specific history of the house and Victorian era family who first lived there.
- Where: Ross Bay Villa, 1490 Fairfield Road
- When: Saturday, May 11th and Saturday, May 18th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pacific FC vs. Forge FC
Join fellow fans at the Starlight Stadium this Saturday for the Pacific FC’s Mother’s Day weekend game!
They’ll be taking on Forge FC—get some snacks and a bevy and get ready to cheer our home team to victory.
Plus, they’re hosting a wholesome Mother’s Day contest—see their Instagram post below for details! Tickets are $28 for general admission and can be purchased here.
- Where: Starlight Stadium, 1089 Langford Parkway
- When: Saturday, May 11th at 2 p.m.
Victoria Royals: Locker Room Sale
Deck yourself out in Victoria Royals gear at a good price!
In celebration of a great season and the recent draft picks, they’re hosting a Locker Room Sale—which will include game worn jerseys, hockey equipment, merch and more.
The team store will be open and all items will be 15% off!
Plus, enjoy some music and games during and in-between your shopping.
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- When: Saturday, May 11th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Beehive Design Collective: UVic Campus Community Garden
The UVic Campus Community Garden is a nonprofit group within the UVic Students’ Society, and they’ve partnered with the Beehive Collective to put on a panel of discussion, storytelling and education.
It is a free event and registration is not required! However, they will be taking food bank donations for the UVSS Foodbank if you have some non-perishable goods to spare.
They will also be taking cash donations for Beehive, who’ll be selling ‘Zines on site.
- Where: UVic Campus Community Garden, 2100 McKenzie Avenue
- When: Sunday, May 12th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sarah Beckett Memorial Run
Run for a good cause in Langford this weekend!
The Sarah Beckett Memorial Run is a 5 kilometer family run/walk that raises money for local non-profit organizations in the Western Communities.
This event is in memory of Constable Sarah Beckett, a Police Officer from the West Shore RCMP Detachment, who was killed in the line of duty on April 5th, 2016.
Registration is $30 and includes a race bib and a finishers medal. If you’re running virtually, registration is $20.
To learn more and register, visit their website here.
- Where: Starlight Stadium, 1089 Langford Parkway
- When: Sunday, May 12th at 10 a.m. (come by at 8 a.m. for some coffee/pre-run chatter)
Northern Lights over Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island and the rest of the country could be treated to a stunning display of Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, as meteorologists around the world warn of a severe geomagnetic storm late Friday night and into Saturday.
The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm watch that could also impact satellite and radio communications.
- Where: Across Vancouver Island and the rest of the country
- When: Throughout the weekend with Friday, May 10th being the strongest aurora potential around 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Pacific Time.
