Natasha Baldin/News Staff
To mark the 156th year since Canada’s confederation, a variety of family-friendly and multicultural events and performances will be happening all around Greater Victoria.
Canada Day Victoria 2023
A variety of local, multicultural performances will take place on the lawn of the B.C. legislature.
Festivities start at noon and will open with a performance of the national anthem by EF International students, who will be in Victoria for three to six months learning English.
Performances by local and area artists including The Blue Hearts, Spendo, Alpha Centauri, Elise Boulanger, Cheko & The Lion Rockers, Brass Camel and Cristian de la Luna will continue throughout the day. Headliner Jill Barber will take the stage at 9 p.m. leading up to the fireworks finale over the Inner Harbour at 10:20 p.m.
A kids zone will also be set up on the Legislature lawn from 12 to 6 p.m., featuring a bouncy castle, face painting and games. An Indigenous artist collective pop-up market will take place on Belleville Street featuring a diverse array of Indigenous art and craft.
Pancakes at Huntingdon Manor
Huntingdon Manor Hotel in the Inner Harbour will be hosting a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m., along with music and activities in the garden. The breakfast is by donation, with all proceeds going to the Victoria Women’s Transition House.
HarbourCats Baseball
The Victoria HarbourCats will be playing a Canada Day matinee at Royal Athletic Park against the Bellingham Bells. Doors open at 12 p.m. and the first pitch is at 1:05 p.m.
JazzFest
TD Victoria International JazzFest is set to continue with Victoria-based singer-songwriter Kristina Helene taking the stage at Hotel Grand Pacific at 9 p.m.
The festival will also be hosting a day of free performances at Bullen Park in Esquimalt from 12 to 5 p.m., with performances from artists including New Groovement, Pacific Blue Band and The Midnights.
Fort Rodd Hill
Catch the giant Canadian flag flying from the Fisgard Lighthouse at Fort Rodd Hill in Colwood. Free celebrations will take place around the site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including live music and heritage-themed ice cream and soda.
Canada Day in Langford
Returning for the second year, the City of Langford will be hosting a variety of Canada Day activities at the Starlight Stadium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A by-donation pancake breakfast will be offered from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by a performance by Langford magician Jason Verners from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a blue ribbon pie contest at 12 p.m. and a hot wing eating contest at 1:30 p.m.
Celebrations will also include stilt walkers, a bocce ball tournament, a firefighter obstacle course, live music, an Indigenous drum group, a community art project, and more.
Gorge Picnic
The Gorge Canada Day Picnic will be returning along the Gorge Waterway from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include a family parade, pancake breakfast, strawberry tea, Gorge on Art, live performances and a 65-vendor street market. The 1.7 kilometre stretch along Gorge West Road from Tillicum Road to Admirals Road will be closed to traffic.
Despite ongoing construction on Gorge West Road, festival organizers stated they anticipate re-paving will be finished before July 1. Landscaping and sidewalk construction will not be complete, but all construction equipment will be cleared for the event.
Craigflower Manor
Celebrations will also take place at the historic Craigflower Manor at 1801 Admirals Rd. Activities include Highland games events, tours of the manor and live music and dance performances in the brand new Craigflower Community and Performing Arts Centre.
Tides Are Changing
The Victoria International Marina will be presenting a sustainable art exhibition and ballet, Future Oceans: Tides Are Changing, on Canada Day.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for a wearable art exhibit exploring ocean preservation, a sustainable tasting menu and performances by the Nanaimo Contemporary Ballet, Felicia Harding, Allan Donnelly and Pippa Williams.
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