21 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend – June 5th to 7th

The first weekend of June is here, Victoria!

While we officially settle into the summer spirit, there is so much going on to help us celebrate.

We’ve got AfriCa Fest, the Oak Bay Tea Party, Ocean Week, summer markets and more to get us feeling great about the wonderful community we have here in Victoria.

Whether you want to get out to a market, support some local artists, help save the ocean or get out on the dance floor, we’ve compiled a list of things to do for everyone in the city.

Here are 21 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend – June 5th to 7th:

ALL WEEKEND

Oak Bay Tea Party

The Oak Bay Tea Party is back!

Returning for its 64th year with rides, games, food, crafts and more, the Oak Bay Tea Party is always a fun time for the whole family.

The event will be taking place from Friday, June 5th to Sunday, June 7th.

And don’t miss the famous Floating Tea Cup Challenge on Sunday at 3 p.m., when Oak Bay’s mayor Kevin Murdoch will race participants in a floating tea cup!

On Saturday and Sunday, the Esquimalt Lions will be serving up a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

You can head down to the event for free, or grab a $40 weekend wristband for the rides at Shooting Star Amusements’ website here.

• Where: Willows Park, 2740 Dalhousie Street
• When: 
  • Friday, June 5th – Rides from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 6th – Rides from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 7th – Rides from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

AfriCa Fest 2026 at Ship Point

AfriCa Fest will be putting on a party all weekend long at Ship Point!

With different artists putting on shows every day from now until Sunday, June 7th, this cultural celebration is one that Victorians look forward to all year.

This year, the festival will feature performances and workshops celebrating Japan, Cuba, Mexico, Ghana, the Philippines, Colombia and beyond.

The events are free and always a blast.

For a full schedule of performances and events, visit the AfriCa Fest website here.

• Where: Ship Point, Wharf Street
• When: Thursday, June 4th to Sunday, June 7th – varying times

FRIDAY

80s Dance Party at Capital Ballroom

Head down to the Capital Ballroom for an 80s Dance Night!

Dress up in your brightest neon and biggest hair and dance the night away to all your favourite 80s hits.

DJ Brian St. Clair will be spinning ABBA, Madonna, Prince, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and more all night long.

Get “Into the Groove,” Victoria!

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here. Be quick, they are selling quickly!

• Where: The Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates Street
• When: Friday, June 5th – 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Theatresports: Competitive Improv Comedy at Theatre SKAM

Theatresports is competitive improv comedy at its best!

Join some of Victoria’s best improvisers as they go head-to-head in hilarious improv contests where the audience decides the winner.

The spring 2026 season of Theatresports is directed by Claire Pollock.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Theatre SKAM, 849 Fort Street
• When: Friday, June 5th – 8:30 p.m. to 9:40 p.m.

Candlelight Concerts Tribute to ABBA and more at St. Ann’s Academy

Catch a concert with the musicians surrounded by candlelight!

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Victoria.

Get your tickets now to discover the music of Queen versus ABBA at St Ann’s Academy and Auditorium National Historic Site under the gentle glow of candlelight.

This is a tribute concert experience that you won’t forget!

Tickets for the event start at $48 and can be purchased here.

• Where: St Ann’s Academy and Auditorium National Historic Site, 835 Humboldt Street
• When: Friday, June 5th – 7 p.m.

Wizard of Oz Jr. with SMUS at McPherson Playhouse

Head down to the McPherson Playhouse and enjoy the magic of The Wizard of Oz and the story of strength, intelligence, humanity and courage that are within us all.

Explore the journey to find the way home and remember that there is ‘no place like home’.

This performance will be put on by the Grade 5 students at St. Michael’s University School.

Tickets start at $20.25 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The McPherson Playhouse
• When: Friday, June 5th – 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Summer Social Vintage Fair and Market

Head down to the Summer Social Vintage Fair and Market for all things vintage and nostalgic!

Music, food trucks and over 70 vendors celebrating vintage, nostalgia, collectibles, vinyl, jewelry, art, photography and more!

Make sure to catch the lunch time solo performance of Dogwood from Dogwood & The Shakers at 12:30 p.m.

The fair is only $5 to attend and children get in free with an adult. Admission can be paid for at the door.

• Where: The Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vic West Fest at Banfield Park 

Vic West Fest is a free, all-ages outdoor festival that celebrates the diverse culture, creativity and community spirit of Victoria West.

The festival will feature a main stage with live music and cultural performances, an interactive stage with drag storytime, a dog show, belly dance and Soca fit.

There will also be an artisan market, plant sale, dragonboat demonstration, kids zone, Spinnakers drink court and food trucks!

The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Banfield Park, 521 Craigflower Road
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Moss Street Market

Moss Street Market is back in full swing!

This year, Moss Street Market is celebrating its 35th season of offering local and organic farm-fresh produce, local foods, handmade crafts, artisanal clothing, inspiring services and community education.

The market takes place May through October, every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Sir James Douglas school grounds—rain or shine.

Enjoy the sunshine and grab some local produce and crafts.

The market is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Sir James Douglas school grounds, surrounding boulevards and Porter Park
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Brendan Wong at the Stage in the Park 

Join Brendan Wong and the band for a free afternoon show in Beacon Hill Park!

Enjoy some folky and jazzy and folky jazzy-y goodness, perhaps with some ice cream and the peacocks.

This show is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Roller Derby Double Header at the Victoria Curling Club

Catch a roller derby double header at the Victoria Curling Club!

Get ready for a night of full-contact chaos as the Eves of Destruction bring you an action-packed double header of nonstop Roller Derby.

Catch the Rotten Apples Jr. Roller Derby leave it all on the track, then watch the Margarita Villains bring the heavy hits for an exciting Saturday night closer.

Online tickets are $20 advance for general admission ($25 at the door), $15 for students and seniors ($20 at the door) or free for children 10 and under. Get yours here.

• Where: Victoria Curling Club, 1952 Quadra Street
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Entanglements: a Scientifically Accurate Ocean Circus Show for Ocean Week

An exploration of ecological anxiety, grief, and hope.

Island Circus Space presents Entanglements: a Scientifically Accurate Ocean Circus Show.

The show pairs contemporary circus with scientific research to tell the story of ocean deoxygenation and its impacts on local marine ecosystems.

Audience members will be immersed in Barkley Canyon, off the coast of Vancouver Island, where warming waters are reducing oxygen and reshaping marine life.

Featuring acrobatics, flow arts, contortion and truly breathtaking aerials!

Tickets are $30 plus a sliding scale donation, with all proceeds going to two Indigenous charities on W̱SÁNEĆ land: the PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation and the W̱SÁNEĆ Land Trust Society. Purchase your tickets here.

• Where: 903 Devonshire Road
• When: Saturday, June 7th – shows at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Victoria HarbourCats versus Kelowna Falcons at Royal Athletic Park

Catch the HarbourCats at Royal Athletic Park on Fireworks Night! Enjoy the fireworks and some great baseball.

It is the first of three fireworks nights for 2026 with a battle against the Kelowna Falcons.

Tickets sell fast for this event, so get yours now before they are gone!

Tickets start at $17 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Avenue
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 6:35 p.m.

Forbidden Nights at the McPherson Playhouse

This one’s going to get spicy.

Forbidden Nights UK Brings the Heat to Canada for their May and June 2026 tour.

Brace yourself for something truly spectacular… Forbidden Nights is here, the UK’s hottest male revue show straight from London’s West End.

Unleash your inhibitions as they take you to a whole new level, delivering more than your wildest dreams!

Following their Canada’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent success with over 84 million views, now’s your chance to see Forbidden Nights live, up close and personal.

Tickets start at $43.25 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 7:30 p.m.

HOG Live at the Phoenix with Pharm, Rad Dog and Physicalist 

Live at The Phoenix!

Four bands, no filler. Expect face melting riffs, sweat, raw energy, love and rage.

HOG – With influences like Nomeansno, Death From Above 1979 and Royal Blood, one can count on a unique brand of entertainment.

Hard hitting fast riffs and therapeutically aggressive vocal hooks tie together with dark and soulful lyrics. Their raw punk rock performance summons a contagiously electric energy that will make you want to rage quit your soul sucking nine to five jobs.

Pharm – A nasty power trio from Kelowna that plays aggressive progressive music

Rad Dog – From the heart of the Kootenays, Rad Dog explodes their unique sounds through sonicly amplified frequencies of a cosmic flavor. Totally heady and progressive punk meets hard charging psychedelic space rock. A mind melting, shape shifting listening experience.

Physicalist – A Vancouver/Montreal three-piece with two speeds: on and off (but the off button is broken).

Tickets are $17.40 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Phoenix Bar and Grill, 3944 Quadra Street
• When: Saturday, June 6th – 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

Cook Street Village Block Party

The Cook Street Village is on!

This is one of the biggest community markets and events Victoria has to offer.

The seventh annual Fastest Dog of Cook Street Competition will be happening again this year, with bragging rights on the line, as well as a podium for the top three. All participants get a gift bag, register your dog here.

The party will also feature live music, food trucks and all of your favourite local vendors.

The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Cook Street Village
• When: Sunday, June 7th – 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

June Orchard Market at Junction Orchard and Cidery

Junction Orchard and Cidery is back with yet another artisan market this year!

All the vendors you know and love, food trucks, great drinks and a beautiful atmosphere.

There will also be live music from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 3:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

These markets are all about community, inclusivity and fun. They are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Junction Orchard and Cidery, 273 Prospect Lake Road.
• When: Sunday, June 7th – 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Curvy Girls Sale at the Royal Canadian Legion

Looking for some new clothes at a great price?

The Royal Canadian Legion in Esquimalt is back with the 15th year of their Curvy Girls Cleanout Sale!

There will be 20 vendors, all selling sizes ranging from XL to 5XL, as well as purses, jewelry, accessories and more.

There won’t be changing rooms, so organizers suggest wearing leggings and a tank top so you can try clothes on over top.

Suggested admission is a non-perishable item for homeless shelters in the area. If you’re unable to bring a food item, a $5 donation will also be accepted, which will go towards animal welfare, animal shelters and animal rescues.

• Where: Royal Canadian Legion, Esquimalt Dockyard #12, 102-622 Admirals Road
• When: Sunday, June 7th – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

World Ocean Day Celebration in Sidney

World Ocean Day is SETINES/Sidney is an annual event celebrating the wonder and conservation of the Salish Sea.

This free, family-friendly event takes place in Beacon Park on the waterfront in Sidney.

Explore, learn and engage by enjoying more than 18 exhibitors, art stations and local artist demonstrations, educator-led games, photo opportunities and a science show!

The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Beacon Park, 9801 Seaport Place
• When: Sunday, June 7th – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Roscoe James Irwin of the Cat Empire at the Coda

Prolific Australian trumpet player, singer, arranger and producer, Roscoe James Irwin—known for his work with legendary Australian bands including the Cat Empire—brings his vibrant and raucous brand of soul and jazz to the shores of BC.

Joined by the island’s finest (including Louis Rudner – Double Bass, and Damian Graham – Drums), plus some very special guests, expect a wild evening of soul jazz, old-school southern rhythm and blues and rowdy New Orleans barroom singalongs.

Tickets for the show are $20 advanced or $25 at the door. Get yours here.

• Where: The Coda, 751 View Street
• When: Sunday, June 7th – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Pinhalla Open Mic Night

Pinhalla is inviting performers of all varieties and their supporters to its first ever open mic!

Bring your original music, covers, stand up, poetry, storytelling, magic, juggling etc.

Sign up in advance by emailing the venue with your name and talent or sign up at 7:30pm.

Visit their website to reserve a table for your friends and family and come showcase your budding talent!

The event is hosted by vanDriver frontman Paul Surjadinata who will be performing a solo set at 9:30pm.

• Where: Pinhalla, 516 Fisgard Street
• When: Sunday, June 7th – 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.