21 things to do things weekend, May 29th to 31st

We made it to another weekend, y’all!

As the weather is heating up, so are the events around the city. We all know there’s no better place to be than Victoria in the summer, and these fun things happening in the community are such a big part of why that is.

Whether you want to celebrate Chinese culture and heritage at the Chinatown Awakening Festival, walk through Fernwood and enjoy some pop-up art displays, hit a market or street party or socialize with your community at a giant picnic this weekend, there’s something going on to remind everybody why we love Victoria!

Here are 21 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend, May 29th to 31st:

ALL WEEKEND

Fernwood Art Stroll, Fernwood Cat Walk and Ichigo Strawberry Market

This Fernwood Art Stroll is a free, family-friendly event, which invites visitors to explore the creative spirit of Fernwood and surrounding neighbourhoods while meeting local artists and discovering their work.

Once again, artists and creatives in the greater Fernwood area will open their studios, homes and gardens to the public.

With more than 17 locations, the 2026 Fernwood Art Stroll features a wide range of local art, including painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, garden art, clothing design, collage, mixed media and more.

New this year: the Fernwood Art Stroll is excited to be collaborating with the Fernwood Cat Walk on Saturday, May 30 — so along with wonderful local art, visitors may also meet some very special feline hosts. Yes, there will be kitties!

They’ll also be partnering with Ichigo Strawberry Market this year! The market is our favourite time of year, when a truck full of Saanich strawberries arrives in Fernwood, school is almost out and summer is just around the corner.

There will be Karaoke, K-POP dancers, over 130 artists, designers and food creators, dress-up prizes, delicious food and fun humans!

This weekend is truly a celebration of everything Fernwood is about.

The Ichigo market is $4 at the door or free for children, and the rest of the celebrations are free all weekend long!

• Where: Various locations in Fernwood
• When: Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Peony Festival at the Atrium

Head down to the Atrium and experience the magic of 7,000 plus peonies in the heart of the Garden City.

Wander the blooms, snap a photo and share the beauty with friends.

Discover pockets of joy around every corner and breathe in that sweet, unmistakable scent of summer.

The festival starts Thursday with ‘Night in Bloom,’ an elevated cocktail-style evening celebrating the grand opening of the festival.

Wander through immersive botanical installations, sip on floral-inspired cocktails and move to the sounds of a live DJ as the space blooms around you.

The festival is free to attend on Friday and Saturday.

• Where: The Atrium, 800 Yates Street
• When: Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 30th – 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

Diva Cabaret 2026 at Alix Goolden Performance Hall

Forget stuffy events and ho-hum galas.

The Diva Cabaret will put local business leaders and change-makers in drag for the first time.

These future kings and queens will each be matched with a local drag artist, who will mentor them all the way to the stage and their big debut number in a fabulous cabaret!

This fundraiser is in support of Intrepid’s year-round programming—help support artists, run residencies and bring more incredible theatre and performance to our shared community.

There will also be a 50/50 Raffle, drag bags and fabulous refreshments.

Tickets are $25 (or you can purchase a $50 or $100 fundraiser ticket and receive a tax receipt). Purchase yours here.

• Where: Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 900 Johnson Street
• When: Friday, May 29th – 7:30 p.m.

Prezzer B2B Lex, Ænniæ and Primitive DJ show at the Downbeat

Head down to the Downbeat, Victoria’s premiere dance venue for a DJ jam featuring the founders of the famous Midnight Project!

Prezzy and Lex, who will be playing b2b, then Ænniæ to close, Primitive on an extended opener.

Tickets start at $11.98 and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Downbeat, 1325 Government Street
• When: Friday, May 29th – 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Heroes on the Air at the Vic Theatre

In the time before the internet and before television, friends and families gathered to watch the glowing light of the radio and to listen to their weekly stories.

This immersive theatre experience lets audiences see what happens behind the glowing light, as they enter a “live” 1940’s radio studio broadcast!

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), this production entertains with a riveting blend of live radio style theatre, music and storytelling.

Let us take you back to the golden age of radio, as five talented actors portray over thirty RCAF heroes, complete with live sound effects and music.

Written by Sara Moyle and musically directed by two-time Juno award nominee, Jason Wilson, this is more than a tribute; it’s a celebration of Canadian courage brought to life through powerful storytelling.

Tickets are $25 plus fees and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas Street
• When: Friday, May 29th – 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Oaklands Garage Sale Day and Street Party

Summer’s here and it’s time for Oaklands’ Garage Sale Day and Street Party!

There will be dozens of morning garage sales around the Oaklands neighbourhood and 20 indoor as well as an exciting street party from 11am-3pm on Belmont Avenue with food trucks, kids activities, live music and much more!

The event is free to attend, just be sure to bring some money in case anything strikes your fancy!

• Where: Belmont Avenue in Oaklands
• When: Saturday, May 30th – Street Party 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., garage sales times vary

Pacific FC versus Atlético Ottawa at Starlight Stadium

Join Pacific FC as they take on Atlético Ottawa at Starlight Stadium in Langford!

The club is still searching for their first win this season, after parting ways with their head coach James Merriman last week.

The team sits at zero wins, one draw and six losses over their last seven games, and hopes to capture their first win against an Ottawa club that is looking strong at three wins, one draw and three losses.

Tickets are at $25 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Starlight Stadium, 1089 Langford Parkway
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 2 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, May 30th – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3rd Annual Beacon Hill Slappy Curbs

This one’s for the skaters out there!

An all ages event with BBQ grillin’, prizes and more skateboarding than a grainy 90s music video!

Support the local skating community!

This event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.

• Where: Beacon Hill Park
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 12 p.m.

Period Promise Fill the Bus Fundraiser

This weekend, United Way BC needs help and donations to fill an entire BC Transit bus with new, donated menstrual products.

Yes, a whole bus! Bring tampons, cups, pads, etc. to the Tillicum Centre and donate to a good cause.

The goal of the fundraiser is to help curb period poverty via the organization’s Period Promise campaign.

The organization said they’ll have Seymour the Otter around for the event, and that attendees can enter for a chance to win a pack of gift certificates and local experiences!

• Where: Tillicum Centre
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Choirs YYJ Spring Concert

See The Choirs YYJ for their Spring Concert!

For over a decade, this vibrant community of 200+ singers has reimagined pop, indie and folk music alongside bold, joyful original choral arrangements.

The Choir, The Chorus, and The Mini-Choir look forward to sharing original choral and piano arrangements of songs by Brandi Carlile, Radiohead, The Beaches, Weezer, Wolf Alice and more.

All net proceeds for the show go to Rainbow Kitchen.

Tickets are $25, or $5 for children 12 and under. You can purchase yours here.

• Where: Farquhar Auditorium, The Farquhar at UVic, Jamie Cassels Centre, Ring Road B115
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (ish)

FACE 2 FACE DJ Battle at Capital Ballroom

Head down to the Capital Ballroom for the third face-to-face DJ battle.

Each DJ has their own set of decks and mixers and will be facing each other. They’ll be interacting, feeding off of each other’s energy through merging separate mixes.

Once again, they’ll be bringing together a curated lineup of DJs from Victoria and the Lower Mainland for a massive night of Techno, Hard House, Garage, Breaks, U.K.G. and more.

Expect a full midnight production with a new lighting setup, with all DJs going face to face throughout the night.

Grab your tickets early to save some money! Remaining tickets start at $18 and can be purchased here.

• Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates Street
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 9:30 p.m.

The Slackers at Studio 919

Victoria BC Ska & Reggae Society is excited to bring back Brooklyn, New York’s ska/reggae kings The Slackers to Victoria at Studio 919.

The last time The Slackers came to BC was in 2024 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival.

Through The Slackers’ mixed repertoire of music ranging from ska and reggae to soul, R&B, folk and bossa nova they’ve managed to capture fans that span the spectrum of music with audiences of all ages.

The band also plays with an aggressive edge and their songs veer in themes from the personal to the political.

Since forming in 1991, the Slackers have released 16 albums, five EPs and countless singles.

They have performed thousands of energetic concerts for their global fanbase and remain unstoppably prolific.

Opening for The Slackers are one of Canada’s most beloved ska/rocksteady groups. Hailing from Victoria, Phonosonics will be on tour with The Slackers for both Island shows in Victoria and Cumberland.

Tickets start at $32.50 plus fees and can be purchased here.

• Where: Studio 919, 919 Douglas Street
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Dance Unlimited Recital at the McPherson Playhouse

Dance Unlimited’s 33rd Annual Recital is a celebration of everything their dancers have worked so hard for this season.

From the little ones stepping on stage for the first time to our more experienced dancers, each performance reflects their growth, confidence and love of dance.

Celebrate this special moment with them as they celebrate 33 years of dance.

• Where: McPherson Playhouse, 3 Centennial Square
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Broadway Babes, Whore-ia Estefan, Eddi Licious and Woofie at Intrepid Theatre

Here she is boys, here she is world, here’s a drag-fuelled romp through some of Broadway’s biggest hits.

From the merry murderesses of Chicago to the faded spotlight of Sunset Boulevard, this night features a collection of theatre’s greatest songs, performed as they were originally intended: by over the top drag queens and kings!

Hosted by Victoria’s campy, bearded theatre queen Woofie, featuring local Two-Spirit shapeshifter Eddi Licious and Vancouver’s live-singing diva Whore-ia Estefan, the name on everybody’s lips is going to be Broadway.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here, although there is a pay-what-you-can option available as well.

• Where: Intrepid Studio, 1609 Blanshard Street
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 6:30 p.m.

Brown’s Socialhouse 10-year anniversary

On Saturday May 30th, Browns Socialhouse Uptown is celebrating their 10-year anniversary!

With an all-day party featuring live music, games, prizes, beer gardens, a balloon house, photo booth and Happy Hour all day long, this is sure to be a good time.

The event runs from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Uptown Boulevard and will also include family-friendly fun, great food, and a dog-friendly beer garden.

They’ll also be hosting a raffle for an incredible Tofino weekend getaway package that includes a two-night stay at Tin Wis Resort, passes to Tuff City Sauna and Tofino Paddle Surf, plus a $100 gift card to Browns Socialhouse Tofino.

A portion of proceeds from the event will support the BC SPCA.

• Where: Brown’s Social House Uptown, 3680 Uptown Boulevard
• When: Saturday, May 30th – 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SUNDAY

Awakening Chinatown Festival

The streets of Canada’s oldest Chinatown will come alive with the sights and sounds of Chinese Canadian culture once again as Awakening Chinatown returns for its fourth year.

Organized by the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society (VCMS) and Chinatown businesses, this annual celebration marks the last Sunday of Asian Heritage Month with a day filled with performances, cultural experiences and community engagement, taking place on and around lower Fisgard Street in the heart of Victoria’s Chinatown.

Building on the success of previous years, this year’s festival promises to be even more vibrant.

From traditional Chinese dance and opera to modern cultural expressions, the event reflects both the deep history and evolving diversity of Chinatown.

• Where: Victoria’s Chinatown, Lower Fisgard Street
• When: Sunday, May 31st – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Rooftop Car Show at Mayfair Shopping Centre Roof with Light’EmUp.TV

Head over to Mayfair Shopping Centre for a rooftop car show!

Last year’s season opener on Mayfair Shopping Centre rooftop was an insane turn-out.

Hundreds of amazing show vehicles and thousands of attendees. If you were there, you already know how awesome it was.

This will be the first of three 2026 shows taking place at the Mayfair Mall rooftop location.

This event will be packed with fun for the whole family, including everything from hundreds of incredible show vehicles to a Hot Wheels race track competition with a cash prize to bouncy castles for the little ones.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend!

• Where: Mayfair Shopping Centre roof, 221-3147 Douglas Street
• When: Sunday, May 31st – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

12th annual World Ocean Day Celebrations at Fisherman’s Wharf

We are excited to announce our 12th annual World Ocean Day Celebrations at Fisherman’s Wharf!

Eagle Wing Tours and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority are very excited to welcome back friends, partners and the local community for some family-friendly ocean-related fun!

The event is fun, free and family-friendly and features a variety of conservation organizations from around the Salish Sea.

It features interactive activities, marine exhibits, a touch tank, live diving presentations, ocean conservation displays, face painting and much more.

• Where: Fisherman’s Wharf, 1 Dallas Road
• When: Sunday, May 31st – 11 a.m.

Bob Log III one-man-band at the Capital Ballroom 

Bob Log III is a one-man-band, slide guitar party.

A perverse product of the Arizona desert, Bob Log III has been diligently travelling the globe since 1996, showcasing his incomparable talents and developing a devoted following along the way.

A whirlwind of dexterous limbs and digits, this super star sonic showman has to be seen to be believed.

Clad in his cannonball man, extra tight jumpsuit and signature motorcycle helmet with telephone/microphone attached, Bob Log III unfailingly sweats up a river while kicking on a kick drum, stomping his homemade foot cymbal and playing slide on an old archtop guitar.

His endless pursuit for musical mayhem and a downright party has seen his unique talents utilized for children’s birthday parties, obscure beer barns, mammoth music festivals and everything in between.

Yet, beyond these mesmerizing visuals, lies the true reason for Bob Log’s international cult status and superhero adoration.

It is quite simply the guitar playing—finger-picking lightning, sliding up and down, stopping when it wants to, then starting again when it feels like it, all in a way that makes people move uncontrollably, smile and reel.

Tickets are $18.50 plus fees and can be purchased here.

• Where: The Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates Street
• When: Sunday, May 31st – 7:45 p.m.

Giant Picnic Season with LampPost Social at William Stevenson Park

Giant Picnic Season is back with LampPost Social!

These events were so popular last year they’ve brought them back again now that the weather is warmer. Head down to the season premier this Sunday!

Markets, food, large blankets, chatting with strangers, painting, crafts, writing, spikeball and room for every snack you can carry.

This event is free, open-air, feel-good and fully accessible good times.

• Where: William Stevenson Park
• When: Sunday, May 31st – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.