21 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend – October 16th to 18th

Just a couple more weekends until Halloween, Victoria!

Things are already starting to get scary in the Garden City, with some truly frightening events throughout the city, including some classic horror flicks at The Vic Theatre and a devilish drag performance at Alix Goolden Performance Hall.

Markets are also taking over the city, including the Victoria Annual Orchid Show & Tropical Plant Sale, a Halloween pop-up vintage market and a couple of harvest markets.

If you’re not interested in celebrating the scary season quite yet, check out the Grand Slam of Curling at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre or some live music at one of Victoria’s many fantastic venues!

Here are 21 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend – October 16th to 18th:

ALL WEEKEND

Grand Slam of Curling at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

Catch the best curlers in the world at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre this weekend!

Both Canadian national teams are at the event, with Team Homan ranked as the best women’s team in the world and Team Jacobs coming in fresh off their gold medal at the 2026 Milan Olympic Games.

They’ll take on some stiff competition from global powerhouses from Japan, South Korea, Scotland, Norway, Sweden and more, alongside some other Canadian teams.

There have already been some exciting finishes at the event, with Team Homan winning a shoot-out victory against Team Nihira and Victoria’s Team Reese-Hansen narrowly losing in a shootout against Sweden’s Team Hasselborg to put the team at 1-1.

The event goes on from October 13th to October 18th, with play-offs beginning on October 17th.

Ticket prices vary and can be purchased here.

• Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
• When: Tuesday, October 13th to Sunday, October 18th

Dance with the Devil – Reap what you sow at Alix Goolden Performance Hall

There’s no better time than Scary Season to indulge in the darker side of life.

Pandora’s Box Cabaret will lean into temptation and present two nights of a sin-filled production at one of Victoria’s most historic venues.

Hosted by the Devil himself, the show will blend burlesque, drag and dance into a wicked night of variety performances.

Pandora’s Box performers will bring each of the deadly sins to life, revealing new temptations and torments at every stage of the performance.

Tickets prices vary and can be purchased here.

• Where: Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street
• When: 
  • Friday, October 16th – doors at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 17th – doors at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.

Victoria Annual Orchid Show & Tropical Plant Sale

Plant lovers, get ready for a colourful weekend!

For those who love growing things, the Victoria Annual Orchid Show & Tropical Plant Sale will set down roots at Our Lady of Fatima Church at 4625 Elk Lake Drive from October 16th to 18th.

The showcase will highlight exotic orchid displays from a family that includes more than 30,000 species and 100,000 hybrids globally, many of which are not locally available. Alongside the exhibition will be a sale featuring a variety of tropical plants.

Guests can pre-order specific plants from the vendors to ensure they get the rare plants they are after and avoid lines at the event. Pre-ordering can be completed on the event website here.

Admission to the showcase is $10 for adults, and $8 for students and seniors. Visitors can also receive a $1 off coupon by clicking here.

• Where: Our Lady Fatima Church, 4625 Elk Lake Drive
• When:
  • Friday, October 16th – 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 17th – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 18th – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Drive-In Movie Nights at Mayfair

Grab the popcorn!

Mayfair Shopping Centre is bringing the classic drive-in experience back to the city this weekend, giving Victorians the chance to watch a movie from the comfort of their own car.

For two nights only, Mayfair will transform part of its parking lot into an outdoor theatre, with free drive-in movies under the stars on Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th.

And the movie lineup is pretty perfect for October.

On Friday night, moviegoers can settle in for Twilight, the 2008 vampire romance that launched a pop culture phenomenon and feels especially fitting for a fall evening on Vancouver Island.

Then on Saturday, it’s time to get into the Halloween spirit with Hocus Pocus, the beloved seasonal classic featuring the Sanderson sisters.

The movie nights are free and everyone is welcome to attend however registration is required and can be completed here.

• Where: Mayfair parking lot, Blanshard Street and Finlayson Street
• When: 
  • Friday, October 16: Twilight
  • Saturday, October 17: Hocus Pocus

Hank Pine versus Hunkotron at Other Guise Theatre

Musical Comedian Hank Pine showcases his new album of songs, but things slowly go awry when his laptop upgrades itself into sentience.

A fun, chaotic, and frenetic look at the role of Artificial Intelligence and Art; full of sexual tension, dark humour, and unrelenting optimism.

Hank Pine has written seven staged musicals, including the smash hit HEATSEEKER: a musical about gayness, grindr and filling the hole (in your heart) with Jenson Kerr.

He is a frequent collaborator with Atomic Vaudeville, Ingrid Hansen, JIMBO, Lily Fawn and more!

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Other Guise Theatre, 716 Johnson Street
• When: 
  • Friday, October 16th – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 17th – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 18th – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Twilight marathon at Cinecenta

See the entire Twilight Saga at Cinecenta this weekend!

Danger once again surrounds Bella (Kristen Stewart), as a string of mysterious killings terrorizes Seattle and a malicious vampire continues her infernal quest for revenge.

Amid the tumult, Bella must choose between her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner), knowing that her decision may ignite the long-simmering feud between vampire and werewolf.

Special discount passes for sale: see all 5 movies for $35, plus a free popcorn and pop! Limited quantities are available and can be purchased at the Munchie Bar or Cinecenta box office.

• Where: Cinecenta, 3800 Finnerty Road
• When: 
  • Friday, October 16th – 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. showtimes
  • Saturday, October 17th – 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. showtimes

FRIDAY

Il Trovatore at Royal Theatre

Catch Pacific Opera Victoria at Royal Theatre!

One of Verdi’s most thrilling operas, Il trovatore is an epic tale of love, vengeance and fate, driven by soaring melodies, explosive emotion, and unforgettable choruses—including the iconic “Anvil Chorus.”

In this passionate masterpiece, devotion and obsession collide with devastating consequences.

Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased here.

• Where: 805 Broughton Street
• When: Friday, October 16th – 7:30 p.m.

Girls Night! at OK, DOPE Comedy Club

Girls Night is OK, DOPE’s female-forward stand-up comedy show, featuring some of our favourite comedians from Victoria and beyond.

Expect a fresh lineup of hilarious comics, great drinks and the perfect excuse to get the group chat together for a night out.

Go hang, grab some food, have a drink, and enjoy a comedy show where the girls are the main event.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here.

• Where: OK, DOPE Comedy Club, 1821 Cook Street
• When: Friday, October 16th – 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Maria Bamford at McPherson Playhouse

Maria Bamford, one of the most innovative and critically acclaimed comedians of her generation, is bringing her live stand-up comedy to Victoria for one night only.

Revered for her personal, experimental and fearless comedy, Bamford has built a singular career by transforming conversations around mental health into powerful, hilarious and profoundly human performances.

Her work has earned widespread critical acclaim for its originality, vulnerability and emotional intelligence—cementing her status as one of the most important voices in modern comedy.

As a trailblazer in the stand-up world, Bamford was the first female comic to record two half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials and starred alongside Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis and Brian Posehn in the influential stand-up collective The Comedians of Comedy.

She also created and starred in the cult-hit web series The Maria Bamford Show, famously playing every character herself.

Tickets to the show start at $56.75 and can be purchased here.

• Where: McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square
• When: Friday, October 16th – 9:30 p.m.

Hot 2 Go Chappell Roan Tribute Show at Upstairs Entertainment

Head to Upstairs for a local band Hot 2 Go for a night full of all your favourite Chappell covers!

Dressing up for the event is highly encouraged, whether it’s Halloween, Chappell-themed or both.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Upstairs Entertainment, 15 Bastion Square
• When: Friday, October 16th – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Big Night

Big Night is returning to Victoria!

After the first few events at the VEC (RIP), they’ve been searching for an appropriate home for this art party, cult rave and immersive night of insanity.

In 2023, they took over the Dome Stage at Rifflandia for a night and handled full production of the stage to bring it up to the level they needed.

Now they’ve got a new home, and it’s going to be better than ever.

They’ll be keeping the location and what they’re doing a surprise, but here’s what they can say: this is going to be their craziest event yet, with a lot of room to play.

They’re bringing together incredible artists of all disciplines to transform a venue into a series of immersive worlds with insane sound and lighting, lots of areas to chill and explore and all wrapped in a bunch of confusing mystery.

This is not your average night on the town—prepare to go deep.

Remaining tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Location TBA
• When: Friday, October 16th – 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

SATURDAY

Halloween Pop-up Vintage Fair and Market at Lazy Susan’s

Island Vintage is back with another pop-up vintage market specializing in Halloween wares!

Expect all things vintage, retro, mid-century modern, Halloween, handcrafted, jewelry, clothing, collectibles and more.

Admission to the market is free.

• Where: Lazy Susan’s 2039 Oak Bay Avenue
• When: Saturday, October 17th – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Harvest Fest 2026 at Horticulture Centre of the Pacific

Join the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP) on Saturday to celebrate the harvest season, local growing knowledge and community.

Enjoy a mix of activities for all ages, including free garden talks, family activities with HCP Kids, coffee and baked treats, live portrait illustrations, community garden and horticulture groups with opportunities to bring your garden questions, plant sales and a squash race!

Admission is $10 per person at the gate on the day of the event.

• Where: Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Road
• When: Saturday, October 17th – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fall Harvest Market at Patio Gardens

Head to the Patio gardens for a cozy, community-focused market celebrating the beauty and bounty of the autumn season.

This intimate event will feature 20 to 25 carefully selected local vendors offering handcrafted goods, seasonal décor, fresh baking, preserves and more.

Whether you’re looking to stock up on fall favourites, get a head start on holiday shopping or simply enjoy the festive atmosphere, the Harvest Market is the perfect way to support local and celebrate the season at Patio Gardens.

Admission is by donation by cash or non-perishable food item.

• Where: Patio Gardens, 6536 West Saanich Road
• When: Saturday, October 17th – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Improv Gameshow at OK, DOPE Comedy Club

Part improv show, part game show, all competition.

Inspired by the hilarious game show formats of Dropout TV, OK, DOPE Game Show pits three comedians against each other in a battle of improv, quick thinking and absolute nonsense.

Host Bo Jagger Essery puts contestants to the test with a series of questions, prompts, challenges and setups designed to push their improv skills to the limit—all in the name of becoming Victoria’s ultimate improv champion.

Three comedians enter, two will lose and one will leave a champion.

Come grab some food, have a drink, pick your favourite contestant and watch the competition unfold live!

• Where: OK, DOPE Comedy Club, 1821 Cook Street
• When: Saturday, October 17th – 8 p.m.

Daniel Son at Studio 919

Daniel Son hits the studio 919 stage, don’t miss out!

A vital part of Toronto’s hip-hop scene, Daniel Son is the founder of the Brown Bag Money collective and a member of The Umbrella.

His debut album, Moonshine Chemist, was released in 2015 and he has since released numerous solo and collaborative projects—most recently with Ghost Notes on this year’s glitchy rap odyssey, The Estes Method.

Tickets for the show are $20 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Studio 919, 919 Douglas Street
• When: Saturday, October 17th – 10 p.m.

Backroom: An Evening of Drag with RUSH

Drag at RUSH, monthly!

Organizers sprinkled a little drag into RUSH here and there, but now it’s here to stay.

Backroom is a monthly showcase of local drag superstars as they take over RUSH!

The first instalment gives them the purr pleasure of hosting Aria Okay, Imani and Henriette Dubet!

Doors are at 8 p.m., the show starts promptly at 8:30 p.m., and ends around 9:30 p.m.

The after party, FERAL residency by NITRO, starts at 10 p.m.

Come for one or stay for both!

Tickets for only the drag show are $20, or $35 for the drag show and after party. Both can be purchased here.

• Where: RUSH, 1605 Store Street
• When: Saturday, October 17th – 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

South Island Vinyl Record Show at Mary Winspear Centre

Calling all vinyl collectors!

The South Island Vinyl Record Show is heading to Sidney this Sunday.

This event at the Mary Winspear Centre will include a variety of vendors selling vinyl records, CDs, cassettes and other related items.

Admission is $5 and can be paid at the door.

• Where: Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Avenue

• When: Sunday, October 18th – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Paul Oakenfold at Capital Ballroom

Paul Oakenfold is, plainly put, a legend in the electronic music DJ scene.

He was given an award by the late Queen Elizabeth II for being a “Pioneer of the Nation” for his contributions to dance music.

This is a great get for the Cap, and the show is going to be one of the best in October for dancers.

Oakenfold will be supported by Xavier.

Tickets are selling quickly, with only Tier 3 tickets still available. These are $50 plus fees and can be purchased here.

• Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates Street
• When: Sunday, October 18th – 8:30 p.m.

Owen Riegling at McPherson Playhouse

Gifted Canadian country music artist and award-winning singer and songwriter Owen Riegling blends small-town roots with a modern edge that continues to resonate with fans across Canada and beyond.

Since winning the 2022 Boots & Hearts Festival’s Emerging Artist Competition, this Universal Music Canada recording artist has parlayed his success of his platinum-certified hit “Old Dirt Roads,” and the release of his expanded EP Bruce County (From The Beginning) to leave his comfort zone and explore new songwriting territory.

He’ll be supported by guest Sully Burrows.

Tickets start at $52 and can be purchased here.

• Where: McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square
• When: Sunday, October 18th – 8 p.m.

Suspiria for Fright Fest at The Vic Theatre 

Catch Suspiria for Fright Fest at The Vic Theatre!

Welcome to the finest dance academy in Germany, where the classes are intense, the décor is alarming and something is definitely not right.

Dario Argento’s gloriously strange horror classic combines ballet, witches and enough blood to make even the most dedicated dancer consider dropping out.

Tickets are $14.29 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas Street
• When: Sunday, October 18th – 7:30 p.m.