This week in Greater Victoria: April 7 to 13 events
Cow paintings, Easter bunny visits, grilled cheeses, Taylor Swift tributes, trivia, Filipino culture, cocktails, and much more!
Monday, Apr 7
Highland Spring Cow Paint Night | Monday, April 7 | 6:30pm
Head to Six Mile Pub for a fun-filled evening of painting a portrait of a Highland spring cow. [$50]
Trivia Monday at 5th Street Bar and Grill | Monday, April 7 | 7:30pm
Test your knowledge and grab a bite. [Free to play]
Tuesday, April 8
Big Band Tuesday | Tuesday, April 8 | 7pm
Experience a journey through classic jazz standards while Stelly’s Jazz Band showcases young talent with a variety of swing, Latin, and rock at The Coda. [$15]
Benji’s Pub Quiz | Tuesday, April 8 | 7:30pm
Join Whistle Buoy Brewing for a unique and popular entertainment piece for those who want to step beyond the typical trivia. [$26]
Wednesday, Apr 9
Cake Decoration Workshop | Wednesday, April 9 | 6:15pm
Visit Flourish BeauTea in Langford for a fun and creative evening learning new techniques, meeting fellow cake enthusiasts, and unleashing your inner artist. [$102]
Easter Bunny visit and photos at Uptown Shopping Centre | April 9-19 | Various times Book your private visit with the Easter Bunny at The Cottage. Guests will get two digital photos sent via email. Option to take family photos, photos with the Easter Bunny, or one of each. [$30]
Trivia Night | Wednesday, April 9 | 7pm
Head to Spinnakers for an evening that will test all the random knowledge your brain has been stockpiling: movies, music, sports, history, geography, and more. [Free to play]
Thursday, Apr 10
Craft and Connect | Thursday, April 10 | 3pm
Drop in every Thurs. to work on your own art project or try something new at Luther Court Society Main Lounge. This spring, experiment with rock painting, leaf printing, card making, and more. All ages are welcome. [Free]
Experience the journey of Taylor Swift's rise to fame on a tribute starring recording artist Charity Eden at McPherson Playhouse. April 10.
Charelli’s Annual National Grilled Cheese Fundraiser:
Join Charelli’s on April 10 for their 10th annual and last grilled cheese fundraiser. Enjoy artisanal grilled cheese sandwiches paired with signature tomato soup and house-made ketchup. All proceeds support the Victoria Chapter of the ALS Society of BC.
The city of Victoria's new official poets host their first readings.
Friday, Apr 11
Che Durena: See the standup comic at the McPherson Playhouse
Lunchtime Concerts at Market Square : Enjoy live music every Friday in April and May at Market Square's lower courtyard, presented by the Victoria Festival Society. Bring your lunch and enjoy local performances.
If Traces Remain : One of the largest exhibitions on the island, showcasing work by 35 emerging artists from UVic’s Visual Arts graduating class. Opening reception Friday, April 11, at 7pm in the Visual Arts building. Exhibition Dates: April 12-20, open to the public daily from 10am to 6pm.
Compañía Rafaela Carrasco | Friday, April 11 and Saturday April 12 | 7:30pm
Internationally renowned flamenco dancer Rafaela Carrasco brings bold choreography and modern elegance to the Royal Theatre. [$34+]
Free Photos with the Easter Bunny | April 11 to 19 | Various times to choose from
Snap a free photo with the Easter Bunny at Westshore Town Centre—just bring your own camera or phone; an attendant will be on hand to snap a family pic. [Free]
Saturday, Apr 12
John Lee plays the Guitar | Saturday, April 12 | 7pm
Multi-instrumentalist John Lee showcases his guitar skills alongside Tony Genge and others. [$25]
Filipino Weekend Market | Sat April 12 & Sun April 13 | 10am-6pm Celebrate Filipino culture at Centennial Square with food vendors, live music, crafts, and family-friendly fun. [Free]
Jumpin’ Into Easter Cookie Class | Saturday, April 12 | 11am Learn to decorate adorable Easter-themed cookies in this beginner-friendly class hosted by Island Cookie Jar at Bilston Creek Farm Shop. [$75]
Sunday, Apr 13
Victoria Cocktail Week: A week-long festival will transform the Garden City into the ultimate cocktail party, April 13-20.
Spring Vases Craft Night | Sunday, April 13 | 1pm
Create your own floral spring vases during this guided craft night at the Bard & Banker. [$55]
David Santana Quartet plays the music of Freddie Hubbard | Sunday, April 13 | 7pm
An evening dedicated to the works of jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. [$25]
Angela Hewitt Plays Mozart | Sunday, April 13 | 2:30pm
World-renowned pianist Angela Hewitt joins the Victoria Symphony to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 at the Royal Theatre. [$39+]
Monday, Apr 14
Trivia Monday at 5th Street Bar and Grill | Monday | 7:30pm
Test your knowledge and grab a bite. [Free to play]
Ongoing Events
Drag Bingo at Vicious Poodle | Wednesdays | 8pm
Have fun with local drag stars and fun prizes at this weekly bingo night. [Free entrance]
Trivia Thursday at Brickyard Pizza | Thursdays | 7:30pm
Test your knowledge and grab a bite. [Free to play]
Lunchtime Concerts at Market Square | Every Friday in April & May
Enjoy live music in the lower courtyard, presented by the Victoria Festival Society. Bring your lunch and enjoy local performances.
Music Bingo at Browns Crafthouse | Saturdays | 8pm Join Browns Crafthouse in Vic West every Saturday for music bingo. Two games, first come, first serve. [Free to play]
Weekly Cloverpoint Parkrun | Saturdays | 9am
Join a fun and friendly 5K run starting at Cloverpoint. [Free]
Moss Street Winter Market | Saturdays | 10am-1pm
Discover local vendors, get farm-fresh produce, and listen to live music at this weekly market. [Free]
Ross Bay Historic Villa Guided Tours | Saturdays | 2pm
See the restored home, built in 1865, and learn about the family who lived there. [$8.50]
Karaoke Sunday | Sundays | 8pm
Visit Friends of Dorothy for a fun night of singing and dancing. [No cover]
Feel Free: Free Gallery Days | First Sunday of the month | 10am-5pm
Explore the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria for free on the first Saturday of each month, featuring exhibitions and interactive experiences. [Free entrance]
On our radar - Upcoming events
Late April
📚 Times Colonist Book Sale | April 19-20| 9am: Join the annual book sale at the Victoria Curling Club featuring thousands of donated books. Money raised through the book sale is matched, in part, by provincial government funds via Decoda Literacy Solutions. The money raised goes to literacy on Vancouver Island.
🐇 Children’s Easter Bunny Hunt at the Butchart Gardens | April 18-20 | 9am-5pm: Explore the gardens in search of hidden bunnies during this self-guided, family-friendly Easter activity. A map with the locations of 10 bunnies hidden throughout the gardens is available for kids aged 17 and under. Completed bunny hunt maps can be turned in for a prize, and kids can also enter a draw to win an Easter basket. [Included with admission]
🩰 Cinderella – Ballet Victoria | April 18-April 26 | 7:30pm and 2pm: Ballet Victoria presents a charming retelling of the classic fairy tale with original choreography, humour, and magic at the McPherson Playhouse. [$55+]
🥐 Easter Brunch at The Empress | April 20: Celebrate Easter Sunday with a decadent brunch buffet at the Crystal Ballroom, featuring food stations including seafood, pastries, and more. Buffet guests can also delight in an Easter scavenger hunt, complete with a special appearance by the Easter Bunny.
🎡 Mayfair Mall Spring Fair | April 24-27: West Coast Amusements fair rides return!
🤣 Jerry Seinfeld | April 26: The legendary comedian and sitcom star will bring his standup to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
May
💬 TED at Royal Roads University : Join thought leaders and innovators at Royal Roads University for a day of inspiring TEDx talks exploring ideas that shape our future, May 2.
💕 Legally Blonde: The Musical : Follow Elle Woods on her journey from California to Harvard Law in this high-energy, feel-good musical, performed by VOS, at the McPherson Playhouse, May 2-11.
💐 Mother's Day Artisan Market & Workshops : Discover unique gifts and participate in creative workshops at The Bay Centre’s Mother's Day artisan market, May 3.
🎵 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 : Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and the 90th of the Victoria Choral Society with a powerful performance at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium, May 3.
🐶 Victoria Pet Expo: Explore pet-related vendors, services, and demos at the Victoria Pet Expo at Pearkes Recreation Centre, May 3-4.
🎪 Quadra Village Day : Neighbourhood street festival with interactive art, crafts, henna and face paint, a dunk tank, obstacle courses, carnival games, and much more. May 10.
🎪⛸️ Cirque du Soleil Crystal: A breakthrough ice experience, where world-class ice skating and unexpected acrobatics fuse to create the first on-ice experience from Cirque du Soleil, coming to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, May 8-18.
🎤 Queen: It's a Kinda Magic: Experience a spectacular tribute to Queen, featuring Dominic Warren as Freddie Mercury, at the Royal Theatre, May 28.
June
🎶 Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival: The 26th annual festival at Ship Point offers five full days of diverse programming with the best in ska, reggae, hip-hop, funk, global roots, bass music, calypso, and more. June 18-22.
🍭 Sweet Street: The one-day food festival celebrating all things sweet is returning for a fourth year to the Westshore Town Centre, June 21.
🦀 BC CrabFest : Celebrate BC’s coastal culture at Ship Point with a fresh Dungeness crab boil, family activities, and an interactive marketplace focused on sustainable seafood, June 29.
July / August
🍻 Phillips Backyard Music Festival: Mark your calendars for the weekend of July 4-6 and August 8-10 for the return of epic music, cold beer, and summer vibes at Phillips.
The 7am habit · free
Tomorrow, wake up already knowing Victoria.
One email at 7am, every weekday. What city hall decided, the place that just opened on Fort Street, the thing the whole Island will be talking about by noon — in a five-minute read, written by people who actually live here.
Independent Victoria news · 50,000 readers · unsubscribe anytime
The newsletter is free. The reporting isn’t.
Members fund the reporters who sat through that council meeting so you didn’t have to — $10/month keeps Victoria’s daily reading independent.
Wednesday deep dive · ad-free audio · early guides
Was this worth your morning?
.jpg)
