5 things to do in and around Victoria this Thursday, April 30th

We’re almost to the weekend, Victoria!

The party is starting early this Thursday with some drag queens, concerts and the Design Victoria Festival.

Whether you’re looking to see the iconic Vivian Vanderpuss in action or take things a little easier with a plant potting workshop, there’s something going on for just about everyone.

Here are 5 things happening in and around Victoria this Thursday, April 30th:

Beside Myself at the Belfry Theatre

Beside Myself by Jennifer Wynne Webber is an intimate and powerful play about identity, loss and reclaiming your sense of self.

Following Hally—a recent widow who leaves Saskatchewan to live on a sailboat off the coast of British Columbia—the play weaves together grief, myth and particle physics through conversations with people past and present that bridge the gap between our world and the next.

Poetic, funny, and deeply human, Beside Myself centers lived experience, resilience and the right to self definition.

Tickets are pay-what-you-can and can be purchased here.

This show will run until May 9th.

• Where: The Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue
• When: Thursday, April 30th – 7:30 p.m.

The Social Sip and Shop at Uptown Mall

Sip while you Shop exclusive discounts at participating Uptown retailers and a chance to win a prize pack valued at $500.

An evening of style, connection and exclusive perks.

Join in for a curated shopping experience with drinks, live music and special in-store offers you won’t find anywhere else.

Start your evening at the booth on Uptown Boulevard to pick up your event map.

As you explore each location, collect punches along the way. Visit them all for a chance to win the grand giveaway valued at $500.

Don’t forget to pick up your exclusive Uptown tote bag and have it custom embroidered for free!

Tickets are only $6.99 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Uptown Mall, 3440 Saanich Road
• When: Thursday, April 30th – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Plant Potting Info Session and Plant Swap

Join Ecologyst and Little Plant Shop for an informative and fun night all about plants!

Do you want to learn how to properly re-pot your plants? Do you love house plants but don’t know where to start?

If yes, this event is for you!!

Bring your own tropical plant(s) and small to medium size pot(s) and we will provide the rest!If you don’t have a pot, you may purchase one from Little Plant Shop.

Little Plant shop will be teaching folks how to re-pot their plants properly and keep them healthy.There will be demos and Little Plant Shop will also help you with re-potting.

Feel free to bring extra tropical plants for a plant swap after the information session.Participants can also bring a small plant or cuttings to swap or come just for the plant swap.

This event is free, but you can reserve a spot here.

• Where: 552 Johnson Street
• When: Thursday, April 30th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Design Victoria Launch Party

Celebrate Victoria’s creative community at the official kickoff to Design Victoria 2026.

The Launch Party is where the festival begins — setting the tone, generating buzz, and bringing together the designers, makers, architects, artists, and creative leaders shaping our city.

Step into an immersive, design-forward environment.

Produced in collaboration with leading voices in the local design industry, this is one of the city’s most anticipated creative gatherings—and the single biggest moment when our design community comes together in one room.

Join in and raise a glass to creativity and kick off a weekend of ideas, inspiration and connection.

• Where: Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware Ltd, 1807 Store Street
• When: Thursday, April 30th – 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Drag the Inn at Fernwood Inn

Things are going to get spicy, campy and electrifying as four local drag artists heat up the Fernwood Inn for a night of drag, shenanigans and hijinks.

The hair is big, the numbers are campy, and the fun keeps rolling in as local drag returns to the Fernwood Inn!

Join the dynamic drag trio of Victoria’s bearded and campy theatre queen Woofie; the fresh, zesty and spunky Vivian Vanderpuss (Canada’s Drag Race Season 3) and British import, comedy queen and high camp connoisseur Ket Bush on April 30th. Plus special guest, the Bollywood King, Bad Shah.

Enjoy delicious cocktails, local brews, and a full menu over two sets of over-the-top drag numbers, comedy and delicious surprises.

Doors open and seating begins at 7:30pm, show at 8pm.

Limited seats. Tickets are $20, only single tickets at the community table are still available. Purchase them here.

• Where: The Fernwood Inn, 1302 Gladstone Avenue
• When: Thursday, April 30th – 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.