21 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend – August 21st to 23rd

The weekend is finally here, Victoria, and there are markets and live music aplenty!

There’s also a pre-Fringe Festival event, the FringeKids Fest, to get you excited about the Victoria Fringe Festival starting next week.

If you’re looking to hit the town, there are some great shows and dance parties happening around town.

And don’t forget the free movie showing at Beacon Hill Park for the Free-B Film Festival, which has its final two showings this weekend!

For all of this and more, here are 21 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend – August 21st to 23rd:

ALL WEEKEND

FringeKids Fest 2026 at the Kaleidoscope Theatre

FringeKids is back!

Ahead of Victoria Fringe Festival next weekend, head down to Kaleidoscope Theatre for two fun-filled days for young Fringers as FringeKids joins forces with Kaleidoscope to Fringe-up their indoor and outdoor spaces.

FringeKids features drag storytime, music, interactive theatre, dress-up, crafts and more!

For more information, visit their website here.

• Where: Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People, 613 Pandora Avenue
• When:
  • Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday, August 23rd – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Four Winds Weekend at the Malahat Skywalk

Head to the Malahat Skywalk for an Indigenous cultural celebration!

On Saturday and Sunday, the landmark will come alive with vendors, performers and artists.

More than a series of performances or an artisan market, Four Winds Weekend is an invitation to slow down, listen, ask questions and connect.

Watch artists at work, discover the meaning and process behind what they create, hear songs and stories shared across generations or find a piece of art that speaks to you and meet the person who made it.

The best part? The celebration is included in general admission.

Admission is $49.95 for adults, $45.95 for seniors, $35.95 for youth and free for children 5 and under. You can purchase admission here.

• Where: Malahat Skywalk, 901 Trans-Canada Highway

• When: Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday, August 23rd – 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

LampPost’s Pop-Up finale at Ship Point

Head down to Ship Point for a pop-up party!

This is LampPost’s third and final pop-up of the summer.

If you’ve been to the previous two, you know how great these parties are.

Music, dancing, food trucks and the one and only lamppost beer bus, all at the beautiful Inner Harbour as the sun sets. What else can you ask for?

These events are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Ship Point, Inner Harbour
• When: Friday, August 21st – 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Art Battle at Magic Box Studios

Art Battle returns to Victoria!

Art Battle pits talented artists against each other in several rounds of live paintings.

Each artist gets only 20 minutes to complete a work of art, which is then voted on and put up for auction at the event.

Winners of each round move on to the final, where the best of the best face off against each other.

In a new venue this time around, Magic Box Studios is a beautiful venue that features a top floor to overlook the painting.

Remaining tickets are $26.91 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Magic Box Studios, 429 Hillside Avenue
• When: Friday, August 21st – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Goth Nite: Blacklight at the Downbeat

Get UV reactive at the Downbeat!

Head down to the Downbeat for Nightjar’s first ever benefit show.

DJs Corvix, Craig Huxtable, Mr. Zoth and Blasphemy will be spinning all night, spotlighting as much Black-made goth and industrial music as they can fit on the tracklist.

Half of the profit from this show will be donated to the newly established Black and Here Community Centre, so throw on your glow and go dance for a good cause!

Remaining tickets are $22.63 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Downbeat, 1325 Government Street
• When: Friday, August 21st – 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

BLIND DATES LIVE! at the Mint

OK, DOPE is proud to present BLIND DATES LIVE! with Alex Forman!

Looking for something to do on a Friday Night!? Well look no further—whether you are single or taken, this will be a show you won’t want to miss.

Watch singles take the stage for a live first blind date all the while Alex sits behind them attempting to help when things go south, but often making things much worse.

Tickets are $25—grab yours here!

• Where: The Mint, 1414 Douglas Street
• When: Friday, August 21st – 8 p.m.

I Married a Monster from Outer Space at Free-B Film Festival in Beacon Hill Park

The Victoria Film Festival (VFF) is producing an outdoor cult classic film fest all August long.

Their ‘Free-B Film Festival’ will bring moon men, monsters and more to the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park every Friday and Saturday as part of their month-long event, with their final showings this weekend.

This Friday, catch I Married a Monster from Outer Space, starring Peter Baldwin, Gloria Talbott and Tom Tryon.

Aliens arrive on Earth to possess the bodies of humans. One of their first victims is a young man, whose new wife soon realizes something is wrong with him.

Before each film, catch a pre-show serial of Radar Men from the Moon from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Where: Beacon Hill Park, 100 Cook Street
• When: Friday, August 21st – 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

Josie and the Pussycats at the Free-B Film Festival in Beacon Hill Park

The ‘Free-B Film Festival’ is back on Saturday night for another flick!

This time, they’ll be showing Josie and the Pussycats, starring Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid and Rachael Leigh Cook.

A girl group finds themselves in the middle of a conspiracy to deliver subliminal messages through popular music.

Remember that before each film, catch a pre-show serial of Radar Men from the Moon from 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Where: Beacon Hill Park, 100 Cook Street
• When: Saturday, August 22nd – 9 p.m.

Salish Sea Lantern Festival in Sidney 

After a week of community lantern displays in Sidney, the culmination happens this weekend!

The festival will begin with face painting, costumes, temporary tattoos and a viewing of lanterns, and will end with a lantern parade.

Daniel Cook and the Radiators will also take to the stage at 7:15 p.m. at the Bandshell in Beacon Park, so make sure not to miss the live music!

This event is free to attend. For a full schedule of events, click here.

• Where: Beacon Park, Sidney

• When: Saturday, August 22nd – 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 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, August 22nd – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Queer and Trans Farmers Market at Banfield Park

A community-led Jubilee!

Head down to Banfield park this Saturday for the third annual Queer and Trans Farmers Market.

This event is a celebration of queer and trans excellence, featuring a marketplace with more than 60 farms, food, crafts and art vendors.

There will also be a resource garden where market goers can connect with service providers and non-profits, and entertainment featuring queer musicians and drag performances.

This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Banfield Park, 521 Craigflower Road
• When: Saturday, August 22nd – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

UVic Vikes versus Oregon State University at CARSA

Oregon State University is headed to the island!

This is a rare opportunity to see an NCAA program in CARSA taking on the Vikes.

This will be a tough opponent for the Vikes, so make sure to show up and bring the thunder!

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased here.

• Where: UVic CARSA, Gabriola Road
• When: Saturday, August 22nd – 1 p.m.

Dayglo Abortions, Dirtnap and Half Dead Wench at Lucky Bar

The Dayglos are back!

Catch them hit the stage with Dirtnap and Half Dead Wench at one of Victoria’s favourite venues.

The Dayglos are a hardcore punk and metal band from Victoria.

Half Dead Wench is a horror-punk, horror-folk, punk, jazz and blues band, and Dirtnap is a ska, punk and hardcore band.

This show is bound to be a great one for head-bangers!

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Lucky Bar, 517 Yates Street
• When: Saturday, August 22nd – 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

James Bay Market

Head down to the James Bay Market at the corner of Superior and Menzies Streets for one of Victoria’s favourite local shopping experiences.

Just steps from the iconic BC legislature, this vibrant market features vendors from across Vancouver Island offering handcrafted jewellery, knitting, body care products and locally sourced food and beverages.

• Where: Corner of Superior and Menzies
• When: Saturday, August 22nd – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Westshore Rebels versus Okanagan Sun at Starlight Stadium

Catch the Westshore Rebels at Starlight Stadium!

The Westshore Rebels are a junior football team who play in the BC Football Conference.

This Saturday, they take on the Okanagan Sun.

The team is three-and-one on the season, beating the Kamloops Broncos 64-0 in their last game.

Saturday’s game will be 90s themed, so make sure to dress appropriately!

Tickets are $25 for adults or $20 for students, seniors and youth and can be purchased here.

• Where: Starlight Stadium, 1089 Langford Parkway
• When: Saturday, August 22nd – 4 p.m.

SUNDAY

Pop Punk Party at Lucky Bar 

Head to Lucky Bar for a night of uplifting community, reconnection and nostalgia.

Pop Punk Party features live music with each band covering at least one pop punk anthem for everyone to sing along to.

Bands Punk Is Dead, RazorVoice, Charmed and Dysaynia will take to the stage.

Remaining tickets start at $21 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Lucky Bar, 517 Yates Street
• When: Sunday, August 23rd – 8 p.m.

Summer Sounds Concert Series: The Timebenders at Beacon Park in Sidney

Catch another free outdoor concert at Beacon Park in Sidney!

Founded in 1992, The Timebenders is and has always been one of the finest, most popular show bands for corporate, casino and festival entertainment in North America.

Today, they continue to fit as many greatest hits as possible into one show, from the 60s all the way to now!

Experience 50 years of great music wrapped up into one dynamite performance.

Complete with costume changes and fantastic impersonations this group is sure to get everyone up dancing!

These events are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Beacon Park, Sidney
• When: Sunday, August 23rd – 2 p.m to 4 p.m.

Move & Groove Picnic Party at Ship Point

Ship Point hosts another party this Sunday!

Head down to the Inner Harbour for the Move & Groove Picnic Party for a free afternoon of DJs, dancing, picnic and community.

Bring a picnic mat or a lawn chair to settle in, or head to the stage and dance the afternoon away!

Food trucks will be available, or bring your own.

This event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Ship Point, Inner Harbour
• When: Sunday, August 23rd – 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Vintage Market on Uptown Boulevard

In collaboration with CREAM Life + Style, Uptown is hosting a curated Vintage Market on Uptown Boulevard.

Head down to the boulevard to explore an array of vintage apparel, home décor and one-of-a-kind treasures.

Enjoy live music throughout the day and unwind in the dog-friendly beer garden hosted by Browns Socialhouse.

This event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Uptown Boulevard
• When: Sunday, August 23rd – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mythic & Mint Collectibles Market at the Fernwood Community Centre Gym

The Mythic & Mint Collectibles Market Presented by Collectr is back!

After an incredible first market, they listened to feedback and have been working hard to make this one even better.

They’ll be welcoming an awesome group of vendors, with even more variety than the first market!

Whether you’re hunting for a grail item, adding something new to your collection or just looking for a fun day out, there will be plenty to discover.

The market is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Fernwood Community Centre Gym, 1240 Gladstone Avenue
• When: Sunday, August 23rd – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Horn Divertimenti with Victoria Baroque at Goward House

Catch Horn Divertimenti with Victoria Baroque at Goward House!

The horn has long been associated with outdoor entertainment.

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy some music by Telemann and friends for horn, violin, bassoon and harpsichord.

Tickets are $30 for adults for $5 for children.

• Where: Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road
• When: Sunday, August 23rd – 2:30 p.m.