5 things to do in and around Victoria this Friday, May 22nd

Thank goodness it’s Friday, Victoria!

We’re gearing up to have another great weekend in the city, so start it off right with one of these great events happening today.

Whether you want to head down to Ship Point for a pop-up dance party as the sun sets or catch a local film at the Vic Theatre, there’s something for everyone!

Here are 5 things happening in and around Victoria this Friday, May 22nd:

Ship Point Pop-Up

Friends, good food, a beautiful location and good tunes. What’s not to love?

LampPost Social, R.U.S.H. and Public Assembly will be hosting a pop-up party at Ship Point.

Tunes will be supplied by Victoria artist lilweeezie and Calgary-based DJ Lorne Burlington.

Vagabond Pies and Cold Comfort will be serving food, while Vic Beer Society and Softer Drink will be offering the beverages.

The event is free to attend and everyone is welcome.

Head down to Ship Point for some good tunes and a beautiful sunset!

• Where: Ship Point, 812 Wharf Street
• When: Friday, May 22nd – 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cara Luft at St. Paul’s United Church for Sidney Seaside

The Sidney Music Festival has their first show this Friday!

One of Canada’s most acclaimed and much-loved singer-songwriters Cara Luft makes a long-anticipated return with a joyful solo album—her first in over 13 years.

The culmination of a period of upheaval and transformation, My Heart Will Always Be is her most assured and personal work to date.

Cara’s guiding principle was simple: to write and record with friends who embodied kindness, consideration and generosity of spirit.

From this ethos emerged the foundations of her new album and a trusted creative entourage she affectionately calls “The Quadrangle of Awesomeness”. 

This entourage consists of musician/singer/songwriter Clayton Parsons (Cranbrook, BC), session musician/producer Soctt Poley (Liverpool, UK) and studio engineer Julia Graff (Vancouver, BC).

Tickets for the show are $35 plus fees and can be purchased here.

• Where: St. Paul’s United Church, 2410 Malaview Avenue
• When: Friday, May 22nd – 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sea Otters at IMAX® Victoria

With their fluffy fur, expressive faces and playful antics, sea otters have stolen the hearts of millions all around the world.

Once driven to near extinction by the Maritime fur trade in British Columbia, sea otters have made a remarkable comeback—breathing new life into Vancouver Island’s wild west coast and reviving its kelp forests.

Sea Otters: A Wild Family Adventure takes you on the captivating coming-of-age journey of a sea otter pup, Finn.

Under the dedicated care of first-time otter mum Bella, Finn has only 8 months to prepare for a life of his own on these rugged coasts.

Together they will overcome incredible odds, and witness some of nature’s most dramatic spectacles.

Grab a paw and join the raft in this immersive adventure for IMAX® and giant screen theatres.

Tickets are $13 for adults, $12 for students, seniors and youth, $6 for children and free for infants. You can purchase yours here.

• Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street
• When: Friday, May 22nd – 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Indie Rock Showcase at the Loft Pub

Head down to the Loft Pub for an Indie Rock Showcase featuring War Eyes, the Carla Olive Trio and the Jeremy Bateman Band!

War Eyes delivers urgent, melodic, guitar-driven songs with grit and heart.

The band blends textured guitars, dynamic rhythms, and emotionally charged vocals into a sound that feels both raw and anthemic.

Carla Olive Trio fronted by Carla Olive on lead guitar and vocals delivers Carla’s deeply personal and powerful original songs to the stage with driving rhythms, unforgettable melodies and rock anthems that showcase her unique songwriting.

Jeremy Bateman Band brings passionate, melodic indie rock straight from the heart. Led by Bateman himself on guitar and vocals, the band delivers heartfelt original songs with raw emotion, strong melodies and genuine stage energy.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Loft Pub, 229 Gorge Road East
• When: Friday, May 22nd – 7 p.m.

Green Valley Film and Fundraiser at the Vic Theatre

Join the Vic Theatre for a special one-night screening of Green Valley, the debut feature documentary from Victoria-raised filmmaker Morgan Tams.

Filmed over two and a half years entirely off the grid, the film follows the residents of Blue Jay Lake Farm—a remote, self-sustaining community on BC’s West Coast—as they build homes, grow food, raise animals and find their way to each other.

This isn’t just a screening. It’s a gathering.

Victoria Cool Aid Society, the Compost Education Centre, The Gardener’s Pantry, and Wilder Restoration have all come together around this film—bringing native plant seed packet giveaways, community displays, a raffle and much-needed plant nerdiness.

Proceeds from the evening support the Victoria Compost Education Centre.

Green Valley premiered at the 2025 RIDM Documentary Film Festival to critical praise. On Friday it comes home.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas Street
• When: Friday, May 22nd – 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.