Enter a spicy chicken wing contest, drink strawberry tea, take in performances by entertainers, ride a dragon boat, close your eyes and listen to the music, attend a cedar weaving workshop, tour a navy vessel and watch fireworks light up the night sky at one of a number of free events, celebrations and festivals being held on Vancouver Island to celebrate Canada Day this weekend.
Victoria Canada Day events
Bring your blankets and chairs and stay for a full day of entertainment, family-friendly activities and fireworks at the Victoria Canada Day 2023 celebrations on the lawn of the legislature, beginning at noon Saturday.
The event is sponsored by EF International Language Campuses, with students from France, Mexico, Colombia, Japan, Ecuador and South Korea opening the event at noon with a singing of the national anthem.
The Lekwungen Traditional Dancers lead a lineup of local, award-winning multicultural performances headlined by singer/songwriter and Juno award nominee Jill Barber on the main stage. Entertainment runs from 1 p.m. to 10:20 p.m.
The day will feature an eclectic mix of artists including The Blue Hearts, Spendo, Alpha Centauri, Elise Boulanger, Cheko and the Lion Rockers, Brass Camel and The Phonosonics. La Société Francophone de Victoria is sponsoring the performance of award-nominated Cristian de la Luna.
Family-friendly activities include a bouncy castle, bouncy obstacle course, face painting and glitter tattoos from noon until 6 p.m. in the Kids Zone. Children will be entertained by Tickles and Yowza (clowns) between 1:30 and 4 p.m.
An Indigenous Artist Collective pop-up market will feature artisan vendors showcasing their Indigenous art and crafts.
Food trucks will form the Flavours of the World Food Court.
The finale is a fireworks display at 10:20 p.m.
An accessible area will be available for viewing with staff and volunteers available throughout the day to provide assistance. An accessible drop-off zone will be at Menzies Street and Belleville Street, via Superior Street.
With large crowds expected, people are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transit. Free bike valet parking will be available off Government Street behind the B.C. legislature. Car parking will be free at the city’s five parkades and at on-street meters on Saturday.
B.C. Transit will run on a Sunday schedule on July 1. Additional buses will be available to assist customers departing from downtown after the fireworks. People can ride all day by purchasing a $5 day pass. Children 12 and under ride free.
Road closures: No vehicle access on Menzies Street (from Kingston to Belleville Street) from 7 p.m. Friday to noon Sunday. Belleville Street will be closed to traffic from 7 p.m. Friday to noon Sunday.
For more information, go to canadadayvictoria.ca/schedule-map
Canada Day in Sidney
Join Peninsula Celebrations Society for the annual Canada Day Parade on Saturday starting at 11:30 am along Beacon Avenue in Sidney. The parade route begins along Resthaven Drive and turns onto Beacon Avenue. It continues to run the length of Beacon Avenue, turning right onto Second Street and ending at Ocean Avenue. Celebrations continue at Iroquois Park. There’s a Sidney Lions Pancake Breakfast, 8-10 a.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave. More at sidneybia.ca
Gorge Canada Day Picnic
The Gorge Tillicum Community Association will host the Gorge Canada Day Picnic along the Gorge Waterway Park on Saturday. It’s the largest community event in Saanich, attracting approximately 10,000 people for activities along 1.7-kilometres of Gorge Road West.
“While there is construction along Gorge Road West, we have been working with the contractor and the District of Saanich to ensure the picnic goes ahead as usual,” said Chris Kask, chair of the Gorge Canada Day Picnic committee. “Hazelwood Construction is working hard to have the road newly and fully paved for July 1.”
A parade along Gorge Road begins at 9 a.m. from the intersection of Tillicum Road and ends at Admirals Road — the location of a pancake breakfast.
Events include a Show and Shine car show, Gorge on Art visual art display, entertainment at three stages (as well as roving entertainers) and tours of the heritage Craigflower School. Up to 65 vendors will ply their wares under trees along Gorge Road.
People can take dragon boat and canoe rides and children can play street hockey or find activities in the Kids Zone. Nobody goes hungry, with 16 multicultural food vendors and strawberry tea from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
People are encouraged to walk, ride their bikes or take transit as parking is extremely limited and all side streets will be closed on the day of the event.
For more information, a full event listing and map, go to gorgecanadaday.ca.
Canada Day in Langford
Enjoy food, music, magic and more as Langford celebrates Canada Day at Starlight Stadium on Saturday.
The Pancake Breakfast (between 9 and 11 a.m.) starts things off. Love hot wings? Be one of the first 10 people who show up to enter the Hot Wings Eating Contest at 1:30 p.m. A pie-baking contest begins at noon.
Rising Circus will perform aerial acrobatics and stilt walking. Other entertainers include Uminari Taiko Japanese drumming group, Island Rhythmic Gymnastics, and magician Jason Verners, who was voted Canadian Magician of the Year.
For a different sort of magic, check out the talents of chalk artist Scott Gillies or enjoy the creative face painters and balloon artists.
You can also attend a cedar weaving workshop with Linda Rabideau or watch the Yellow Wolves and Young Wolves dance groups perform.
Register for the bocce tournament or test yourself on the Langford Fire obstacle course. There are lawn games, crafts and a teen zone with classic video games and pinball machines.
For more information and to sign up for events, go to Langford.ca/CanadaDay
Festivities in Ladysmith
Eat cake, take part in a scavenger hunt or sit back and enjoy the entertainment as the Town of Ladysmith holds its Canada Day festival at Transfer Beach Park on Saturday.
The Ladysmith Kinsmen Club hosts a pancake breakfast by donation from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Live music, featuring Robbie Hancock, Nate Harris and Dennis Atkins, starts at 11:15 a.m., right after the opening ceremony at the amphitheatre at 11 a.m. The Stz’uminus Young Wolves Dancers will perform at 12:45 p.m.
As part of the celebrations, grab a slice of cake from Old Town Bakery or participate in the Celebrate Natural Ladysmith Scavenger Hunt.
For more information, go to ladysmith.ca.
Courtenay celebrations
Close to 15,000 people are expected to enjoy free and fun events at the Courtenay Canada Day celebrations, in and around Lewis Park and downtown Courtenay, today and Saturday.
Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. today with the Night Before Concert, with indie pop/rock band Yukon Blonde as the headliner, with Dolyna Dancers, Laurie Tinkler Dancers, Moonshine Band and Rock Cod, playing a mix of dance-rock and synth pop at Lewis Park.
Saturday events include the 5th Street Mile, a parade down 5th Street, Kids Zone in Lewis Park, Canada Day birthday cake, vendors and the Kids Bike Draw.
Performances start on the Lewis Park Stage at 11 a.m. and continue until around 3 p.m.
In downtown Courtenay, performances start at 9 a.m. and continue until around 5 p.m. The Courtenay Museum has activities starting at 11 a.m. The Tea Dance with Georgia Strait Big Band is at the Native Son’s Hall starting at 2 p.m.
For more information, including a schedule and maps, go to courtenay.ca/canadaday.
Tour a naval ship
Take a tour of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Nanaimo, a maritime coastal defence vessel, which is conducting a namesake city visit to Nanaimo on Saturday and Sunday.
The vessel is back in Canada after participating in Trident Fury — a multinational, joint and combined exercise involving six Royal Canadian Navy ships, Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft, Canadian Army personnel, as well as personnel and assets from the United States, NATO partners and Japan.
The ship will be open for public tours and people can take rigid-hull inflatable boat rides at the same time.
The ship will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the W.E. Mills Landing (breakwater pier formerly known as the Visiting Vessel Pier), Port of Nanaimo, 10 F Wharf St., Nanaimo.
A ballgame and fireworks
Watch the Victoria HarbourCats vs. the Bellingham Bells Friday, game starts at 6:35 p.m.; then enjoy fireworks after the game at Royal Athletic Park, 1014 Caledonia Ave. Details and tickets at harbourcats.com
Canada Day at Fort Rodd Hill
Parks Canada staff and the 5th (B.C.) Regiment of RCA are hosting Canada celebrations at Fort Rodd Hill. Live music and a multitude of special interpretive programs will be offered throughout the site, and heritage-themed ice cream and soda will be served at the Canteen. Plus, a photo opportunity with a giant Canada flag.
On Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd. Details at tourismvictoria.com
Sooke Flats Canada Day
Activities for all ages, local vendors, Kids’ Zone, cupcakes, food trucks and vendors, JR and the Bad Ox Band on stage at 2:30 p.m. plus much more. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Sooke River Campsite, 2259 Phillips Rd., Sooke. Go to sooke.ca for more information.
Performance art
Tides Are Changing: a Visual and Performance Art Experience on Canada Day, featuring art and dance joining forces in support of a sustainable future at Victoria International Marina. A ground-breaking wearable art exhibition and ballet performance paired with light refreshments, live music, and an unparalleled view of the harbour. Tickets are $75 and include a donation to Future Oceans International (NFP), a cocktail, and a sustainable canapé menu. For more information visit vimarina.ca.
Canada Day in Nanaimo
Go to Maffeo Sutton Park for live entertainment, crafts, games, bouncy castles, kayaking, a multi-cultural community stage, face painting, interactive booths, food trucks and more. 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday at 100 Comox Rd., Nanaimo. Details at nanaimo.ca
