2010 Annual Festivals & Celebrations for you to enjoy!
March
Victoria French Fest (March 4-7)
Location(s): Centennial Square, Da Vinci Centre, McPherson Theatre, Sticky Wicket
A four day event filled with music, art, Francophone culture, traditional food from different francophone ethnicities, local artists and artisans and many family events. Highlights include a concert featuring a Montreal based Circus from Africa, an international dinner buffet featuring traditional dishes from various francophone communities around the world, music food and beer garden at Centennial Square and artisans' fair and Kid Zone at the Da Vinci Centre.
Contact for more Information: (250) 388-7350 or visit www.francocentre.com
Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival (March 27 - May 11)
Location(s): Assorted
Applaud the future!!! 5,000 of Victoria's best young performing musicians, singers, dancers and actors perform daily throughout the festival at venues all around Victoria The program highlights include eight honours concerts in music theatre, strings, piano, vocal, dance and choral as well as the Roberto and Mary Wood Scholarship concerts.
Contact for more Information: (250) 386-9223 or visit www.gvpaf.org
April/May
Northwest Guitar Festival (April 9-11, 2010)
Alexander Dunn, Director
Victoria Conservatory of Music
Special Guest - Pepe Romero
Western Canada's finest artists, composers and teachers gather to celebrate the diversity of the guitar in one of North America's most beautiful cities. Three days of concerts, classes, lectures, and the Northwest Competition!
Contact information: www.vcm.bc.ca/009_VictoriaConse/2600_NWGuitarFest.html
Great Victoria Easter EggStravaganza (April 12)
Location(s): St. Ann's Academy Grounds
Enjoy a fun-filled Easter egg hunt for the entire family.
Contact for more Information: (250) 388-5251 or visit www.burnsidegorge.ca/upcomingEvents.htm
Fairfield Artist Studio Tour (April 24-26)
Location(s): Fairfield Community Assorted
Enjoy this free weekend showcasing the creative talent in Fairfield. Over 50 artist studio locations as well a group show and art preview at Fairfield Community Centre and Fairfield United Church. You will need both days to view them all. Maps are available.
Contact for more Information: (250) 382-4604 or visit www.fairfieldcommunity.ca
Stage in the Park (May-September)
The Stage in the Park, commonly known as the "Cameron Bandshell", is an outdoor performance venue located off of Arbutus Way and Bridge Way in the heart of Victoria's renowned Beacon Hill Park. Although the Bandshell is closed for the winter months, it comes alive with activity from May to September. The Bandshell hosts a variety of FREE events and concerts on its stage including "Concerts in the Park Series", dance, theatre, band and choral performances, as well as youth community events. Bench seating and the surrounding grass areas provide a perfect spot for spectators to relax and enjoy free performances.
The "Concert in the Park Series" includes the return of the popular Sunday and Holiday Concerts, as well as Jazz in the Park on Saturdays and Seniors Concerts in the Park on Fridays. The Concerts in the Park Series begins June 11th and runs through September 20th from 1:30 p.m. until 3:20 pm.
Contact for more information: 250-361-0548 or www.victoria.ca/visitors/events_artvenucam.shtml
6th Annual Tartan Parade (May 15) & 73rd Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival (May 22 & 23)
Location(s): Centennial Square to Parliament Buildings /Topaz Park
The Tartan Parade of local and visiting pipe bands and highland dancers begins at the Legislative Building and marches up Government Street to Centennial Square for demos of more singing, piping and country dancing. All this is in preparation for the Celtic Festival and the 72nd Highland Games scheduled the next weekend at Topaz Park (Blanshard and Finlayson) - Activities include dance, bagpipe and drum competitions, pipe bands, caber throwing, heavy event championship, historical display, entertainment, and Celtic food.
Contact for more Information: (250) 598-0120 or visit www.victoriahighlandgames.com
Uno Fest: Canada's Singular Live Theatre Event (May 20-30)
Event location: The Metro Studio, Intrepid Theatre Studio
Canada's groundbreaking solo performance festival is back this year with a line up of the country's most highly regarded experimental performers, returning Fringe Favourites and innovative emerging artists. Uno Fest, now in its 13th year, is Canada's only festival dedicated to outstanding one-person live theatre and features comedy, drama, physical theatre, dance and performance art.
Tickets: Free - $15
Contact for more Information: (250) 383-2663 or visit www.intrepidtheatre.com
Island Farms Victoria Day Parade (May 24)
Location(s): Downtown Victoria along Douglas Street
Victoria's largest parade event - marching bands, floats, clowns, etc. Over 120,000 spectators watch this popular annual event in person and on television. Fun for the whole family.
Contact for more Information: (250) 382-3111
Selkirk Waterfront Festival (May 29)
Location(s): Selkirk Waterfront
A free family friendly annual outdoor festival for all ages. Activities include a variety of cultural / musical performances, a family fun fair, food vendors and artisans market.
Contact for more Information: (250) 388-5251 or visit www.burnsidegorge.ca/upcomingEvents
June
JumpCuts: A Festival for Young Filmmakers (June 3-5)
Location(s): Centennial Square, McPherson Playhouse, A Channel, Event Centre, City Hall
A festival for young filmmakers - a unique opportunity for youth aged 7 - 15 to participate in workshops in order to understand and learn to create media content divided into two skill levels.
Contact for more Information: (250) 389-0444 or visit www.vifvf.com
Heritage Day (June 19)
Location: Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park
Over 500 dancers take to the stage and present traditional dances in a day-long dance extravaganza! Pack a lunch and come experience Victoria's ethnic energy while you are dazzled by the sounds and colours of our city's multi-cultural communities. Proudly presented by the Veselka Ukrainian Dancers, Dodd's Furniture & Mattress, and the City of Victoria.
Contact information 250-475-1174 or www.veselkadancers.com
8th Annual Fathers Day Ceilidh in the Park (June 20)
Location: "Stage in the Park", (Cameron Bandshell) Beacon Hill Park
Time: 1:30pm
Music Brings people together like nothing else! Spend some quality time with dad and the whole family at the annual Father's Day Céilidh in the Park. This Celtic music extravaganza filled with Irish Dancers, fantastic fiddlers, rousing singing and genuine good fun in the Irish and Scottish musical traditions.
"Céilidh" or "kitchen party" is the Gaelic word for an informal gathering of music, dance and storytelling.
Contact for more information: 250-361-0548 or www.victoria.ca/visitors/events_artvenucam.shtml
Vancouver Island's 7th Annual Afro-Carib Carnival (June 20)
Location(s): Selkirk Waterfront
A free cultural event featuring music, food and fashions of a variety of African and Caribbean countries. Carnival Day consists of live performances, a marketplace with clothes, jewellery, art, and crafts and various food vendors representing numerous regions. Presented by the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island.
Contact for more Information: (250) 727-6454 or visit www.ahavi.ca
JazzFest International (June 25-July 4)
Location(s): Royal Theatre, Centennial Square, Alix Goolden Performance Hall, Open Space Gallery, Victoria Event Centre, and numerous other downtown venues
"Ten hot days and nights of the coolest music in town." Enjoy over 90 high calibre individual jazz performances taking place in numerous indoor and outdoor venues/stages with over 400 musicians. A series of free admission performances in Centennial Square will also take place during the daytime with ticketed and cover charge performances scheduled in various theatres, clubs and restaurant venues in the evenings. Free workshops by visiting musicians as well.
Contact for more Information: (250) 388-4423 or visit www.jazzvictoria.ca
Victoria Pride Week (June 27 - July 4)
Location(s): Fisherman's Wharf, Dallas Road Waterfront and other venues
A week worth of events celebrating the gay and lesbian community leading up to a Pride Parade and afternoon festival on July 4.
Contact for more Information: (250) 886-3076 or visit www.victoriapridesociety.org
July
Canada Day Celebration 2010
Thursday July 1st (times tbd)
Locations: Legislative Grounds and Victoria's Inner Harbor
Victoria's annual celebration of our beloved nation, featuring our "Eh' Rated" firework display which gets better every year. The Canada Day Celebration is proudly presented by the City of Victoria and its event partners.
Contact for more information: 250-361-0548 or www.victoria.ca/canadaday
Raven Baroque in the Summer
Dates: July 1-2, 4, 8, August 3-5
Locations: Legislature Lawn, Centennial Square, Mt. Tolmie reservoir, Bastion Square, Cameron Bandshell, Market Square
See and hear 12 musicians in Renaissance and Baroque costumes playing concertos by Vivaldi, Handel, Corelli and other favourite composers from the Baroque era. Young musicians from UVIC play solos with this unconducted orchestra.
Contact information: www.victoriachamberorchestra.org
Victoria's 11th Annual Ska Festival
Event Date: July 7 - 10, 2010
Event Location: Ship Point (Inner Harbour), Victoria Curling Club, Long & McQuade Music Education Centre, Element Nightclub, Lucky Bar
Victoria's 11th Annual Ska Festival is the largest and longest running festival of its kind in the world. Presented by the Victoria BC Ska Society, the festival features bands from around the world that specialize in a variety of genres in addition to ska including reggae, jazz, Latin, rock, folk, and much more. Half of the festival overall is free and accessible to all ages. Free workshops are also offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Ticketed performances range from $15 - $39.50.
Phone 250-385-0051 or www.victoriaskafest.ca
Festival Mexicano (July 9-11)
Location(s): Victoria Event Centre and Centennial Square
Celebrate Mexican/Latin American culture - features an open air main stage with local performers sharing traditional music and dance, kiosks showcasing Mexican/Latin American food and beverages, arts and crafts.
Contact for more Information: (250) 216-3664 or visit www.1415broad.ca
Art Gallery Paint In (July 17)
Location(s): 1040 Moss Street and Moss Street from Fort Street to Dallas Road
This popular free annual community event showcases the talents of Victoria's artists and the techniques that they employ. Up to 100 artists line the boulevards of Moss Street from 11:00 - 4:30 pm. The Food and Beverage Garden, featuring entertainment and dancing, is open until 9:00 p.m. in the Art Gallery Parking Lot, 1040 Moss Street.
Contact for more Information: (250) 384-4171 or visit www.aggv.bc.ca
Capital Festival Celebration (July 30 - August 2)
Victoria Electronic Music Festival (VEMF) (July 31 - August 1)
Location(s): Centennial Square; Hush Nightclub, Sugar Nightclub, Event Centre and other downtown locations
Dance oriented event showcasing live electronic music via main stage performances. Also educational seminars from local industry leaders. Event attendees can dance, interact with peers, and take part in hands-on demonstrations.
Contact for more Information: (250) 480-9673 or visit www.vemf.ca
August
Symphony Splash (August 1)
Location(s): Victoria's Inner Harbour
The Victoria Symphony Orchestra performs a full two-hour concert of light classical orchestral music from a barge anchored in the Inner Harbour. Highlights include Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, accompanied by cannons fired by the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, bell ringing and fireworks. Make it a full day event and enjoy the pre-concert entertainment starting at 4:00 p.m.
Contact for more Information: (250) 385-9771 or visit www.victoriasymphony.ca
Victoria Tango Festival (Aug 4-8)
Location(s): Centennial Square, Cameron Bandshell, Victoria Arts Connection, Alix Goolden Hall, Metro Theatre
A three day extravaganza of tango activities, music concerts, lectures and dance performances by international, Canadian and local artists. Concerts feature tango classics to tango blended with other cultural art forms and cutting edge contemporary work.
Contact for more Information: (250) 418-8898 or visit www.passion4tango.com
Free B Film Festival in the Park (Aug 6, 7, 14, 21, 27, 28)
Location: Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park
Go beyond the summer blockbusters and enjoy a movie under the stars with another great line-up of B-movies from the "Family-Friendly" to the "Funky and Fun"
Contact information: (250) 389-0444 or www.victoriafilmfestival.com
Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival (August 13 - 15)
Location: Victoria Inner Harbour/Ship Point
Be part of an ancient tradition! Come down to the Inner Harbour for exhilarating dragon boat races, cultural entertainment and crafts for the whole family. Free Admission.
Contact information (website and phone number): (250) 704-2500 www.victoriadragonboat.com
24th Annual Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival (Aug 26-Sept 5, 2010)
Location(s): Metro Studio, Victoria Event Centre, Market Square, St. Andrew's School, Wood Recital Hall and other downtown locations
A non-stop, twelve-day explosion of comedy, improv, drama, performance art and dance from around the world. All venues downtown, some pay-what-you-can shows at the Fringe Club, random 'happenings' (FringeKids Fest, Fringe Block Party, Pick of the Fringe Pancake Breakfast) and commissioned projects. Ticketed venues $9 or less!
Contact information: (250) 383 2663 or www.intrepidtheatre.com
September/October
Vancouver Island Blues Bash (Sept 4-6)
Location(s): Victoria's Inner Harbour - Ship Point Outdoor Stage
This Labour Day weekend festival is a celebration of blues and R & B music with afternoon free and evening ticketed performances. Features more than 14 individual bands over three afternoons and three evenings. The main outdoor stage of this festival is located at Victoria's Inner Harbour at Ship Point with other venues used for late night entertainment.
Contact for more Information: (250) 388-4423 or visit www.jazzvictoria.ca
Victoria Fine Art Festival (September 16 - 19)
Summer Chess Festival (September 18 & 19)
Location(s): CRD Plaza
An annual chess festival with activities such as human outdoor chess games, demos, twilight blitz, lectures; learn to play chess, treasure hunts, and a drawing contest.
Contact for more Information: (250) 595-0025 or visit www.cycc2009.pbwiki.com
