Clear your calendar and polish your chrome, Victoria!
One of the region’s most iconic car festivals is set to return on Sunday, July 13th, as the Oak Bay Collector Car Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary with a showcase of classic, exotic and adventure-driven vehicles.
The annual event, which takes over five blocks of Oak Bay Avenue, consistently draws crowds of car enthusiasts from across Vancouver Island.
As festival founder Ken Agate says, it’s a place “where the cars are the stars.”
This year’s theme, Drive for Adventure, will spotlight vehicles that have participated in transcontinental rallies and off-road races, including a locally owned 1956 Volkswagen Beetle that completed the gruelling Peking to Paris rally in 2019.
The car, driven by Victoria brothers John and Chris Beresford, remains in its “as finished” condition, complete with dust from Mongolia after covering 16,000 kilometres from Beijing to Paris.
Organizers expect more than 300 unique vehicles to line Oak Bay Avenue between Monterey and Mitchell Streets, along with parts of Hampshire Road and Elgin Street.
The event is free to attend and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with car exhibitor check-in beginning at 8 a.m. at the west end of the Avenue near Foul Bay Road.
In addition to the automotive showcase, the festival will include a food court at the Municipal Hall parking lot, complete with food trucks, barbecue, and ice cream options.
Local restaurants and businesses along the route are also expected to be open throughout the day, contributing to the festival atmosphere.
A variety of prizes will be awarded to standout entries, judged by local businesses and community personalities. Vehicle registration is available online for $25 at oakbaycarshow.ca, or $30 in person on the day of the event, space permitting.
Volunteers are still being recruited for roles in marshalling, safety and general assistance. Those interested can email OBCCFVolunteer@gmail.com to get involved.
Oak Bay Collector Car Festival
- Where: Along five blocks of Oak Bay Avenue, Monterey to Mitchell Street plus a portion of Hampshire Road
- When: July 13th at 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
