Things to do in Victoria this November
This November, Victoria, BC comes alive with cozy charm and creative spirit, inviting you to wander storybook streets, pop into bustling markets, and soak up the buzz of Arts & Culture Month. Whether you’re catching a local show, sipping cider amid friendly faces, or stumbling into a hidden-gem gallery, the city wraps you in warmth and wonder. Keep reading to discover how to make the most of your fall getaway in Victoria.
Arts & Culture Month | Music | Markets | Arts & Theatre | Holidays | Sports
Arts & Culture Month
November is Arts & Culture Month
November is Arts & Culture Month in Greater Victoria and it’s a call to all to explore the vibrant arts scene on display across the city. Life imitates art, so walk down storybook streets admiring historic architecture, stroll along the Inner Harbour which is polka dotted with sculptures and carvings, or take in a show at a local theatre, and find a getaway as inspiring as it is awe inducing. This November, dig deep into the province’s rich history at a range of museums, experience Victoria in full colour at world-class art galleries, find natural beauty in manicured gardens, and marvel at days gone by at one of our many national historic sites. Whether you’re an afficionado or simply someone looking for inspiration, Arts & Culture Month invites you to colour outside the lines this November and find a style that’s all your own.
Music
Victoria Symphony Presents: ET. The Extra Terrestrial in Concert
November is strings season, as the Victoria Symphony fills concert halls around the city with four separate shows. Kicking off the month, the Symphony presents E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in concert for two nights, November 1st & 2nd at the Royal Theatre. Join the Symphony as they explore John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score in sync with director Steven Spielberg’s heart-warming sci-fi masterpiece projected onto a huge HD screen. If you’re looking for recommendations for must-do activities this November in Victoria, all I can say is, I’ll be right here!
Local tip: Enjoy four straight weekends of Symphony magic, with performances from Kluxen & Tam, and Calgary-born conductor, Daniel Bartholomew presenting Appalachian Spring.
Shawn Desman with Guests
Platinum selling, JUNO, MMVA, and SOCAN Award winning recording artist, Shawn Desman, took Canadian pop and R&B to new heights. With a range of #1 radio hits and five platinum certified singles, Desman defined a generation of hit Canadian music. Back with a new top 10 single, “Body”, Shawn Desman hits the stage with supporting act, Jamie Fine, for an unforgettable night of pop hits and infectious vibes at the Royal Theatre, Friday, November 21st.
Sloan: A Tour de Force
Canadian indie rock icons, Sloan, bring their East Coast energy to Victoria, Friday, November 14th. Blowing out speaker sets in Canada for almost 40 years, Sloan, boasting its original lineup, comes hand-in-hand with their arsenal of hits, including “Money City Maniacs”, for a night of music that you won’t forget. This 19+ event packs that legendary maritime kitchen party atmosphere into the Capital Ballroom for one night only, don’t miss out!
Markets
Orchard Market at Junction Cidery
Get your shop on with a splash of cider at Junction Orchard & Cidery’s Orchard Market. Browse hand-made goods from top local makers and find farm-fresh produce from Peninsula farmers while you listen to local music amidst the gorgeous orchard backdrop of Junction. Orchard Markets are family friendly and pet friendly, meaning you can bring the whole gang down for a day of shopping, sipping, and soaking up the fall atmosphere. Running monthly, each Orchard Market brings something new, November’s market features some of the best artisans from around the region. Don’t miss this market, November 9th.
2025 Yuletide Market Series
Bilston Creek Farm’s annual Yuletide Market Series returns, bringing a rotating selection of hand-picked local vendors into the barn for an unforgettable holiday shopping experience. This year, Bilston is back with seven markets in the series, with four falling on weekends in November. While your shopping, indulge in pizza baked in Bilston’s own outdoor cob oven, enjoy lavender infused food and drinks, and celebrate the season with some holiday cheer, as live bands perform in the barn. Admission to the event is just $5, which can be used toward the purchase of a Bilston Creek Farm product at the checkout, or for $10, you can get a Market Pass, which includes admission to five of the markets.
Metchosin Christmas Spirit Market
The holiday season is just around the corner, and as the festive spirit begins to fill the air, Greater Victoria’s best makers have made Christmas shopping a little easier. Come discover the magic of the season at the Metchosin Christmas Spirit Market. This free to attend holiday shopping market brings more than 30 local makers to the Metchosin Community Hall, where you’re sure to find that perfect something for that special someone. With gift bags for the first 30 guests and hourly draw prizes, you’re going to want to make sure that you make the most of this holiday shopping spectacle November 29th & 30th.
Victorian Christmas Craft Fair
One of the largest holiday markets in Victoria, the Victorian Christmas Craft Fair invites you to step back in time and join in on a cherished holiday tradition. With over 80 local artists and makers on hand, you’re certain to find everything you need to fill each stocking above your fireplace. From hand-thrown pottery to jewellery, woodcraft, and more, there’s a selection of holiday treasures that would amaze even Santa himself. Celebrate the warmth of the season, November 15th and 16th, at Commonwealth Place, admission is just $5 and includes the entire weekend.
Arts & Theatre
ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ੇ’ਚ ਤਰੇੜ | sheeshe ‘ch thareṛ | a crack in the mirror
November sees the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria kick off a new feature exhibit. ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ੇ’ਚ ਤਰੇੜ | sheeshe ‘ch thareṛ | a crack in the mirror explores the recent works of Simranpreet Anand. Anand’s impactful artwork draws from concepts and histories of Punjab and its diasporas. Across her works, you will see collaborative pieces with ethnomusicologist, Conner Singh Vanderbeek, as well as pieces that examine the material culture that surrounds contemporary Sikh institutions.
Local tip: Don’t miss Free Gallery Days at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Admission is free on the first Saturday of every month from 10AM-5PM, and every Thursday evening from 5PM-9PM.
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble
Two giants of comedy take centre stage together as Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood pack the Royal Theatre for an evening of unforgettable comedy. Once centrepieces of the late-night comedy scene, starring in “Whose Line is it Anyway?”, Colin and Brad are back to flex their improvisation might, transforming suggestions from the audience into sidesplitting laughs. This completely unscripted show fills the halls of the Royal Theatre with uproarious laughter for one night only, November 20th.
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
As the curtain rises on the holiday season, the Royal Theatre invites you within it’s storied halls for a Christmas performance like no other, one with a proper spot of British humour. O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy combines rich wordplay, slapstick physicality, and interactive elements to deliver an outrageously funny and brilliantly inventive show that draws from the best of British classic comedy such as Monty Python and Mr. Bean. The story begins at a Christmas tea party that takes a turn for the worse, and sees the world flooded with tea. The dynamic duo of James and Jamesy must work together to stay afloat through the holiday season. Grab your seats before they’re gone for this two night show, November 7th & 8th.
Welcome to the Creepshow: A Burlesque and Drag Spectacle
Welcome to the Creepshow, Victoria’s Alix Goolden Hall is throwing open its haunted doors for a rhinestone-studded mashup of burlesque, drag, and classic monsters that promises jaw-dropping glamour and ghoulish camp. Dare to witness the Glam Reaper herself, Bettie Bombshell, alongside Victoria’s wildest performers as they thrill, chill, and seduce for one unforgettable night. Don’t just visit Victoria, come scream, shimmy, and sparkle with us in true monstrous style!
Holidays
43rd Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade presented by Chek Media
Christmas comes early to Victoria as the Santa Claus Parade returns for its 43rd anniversary, November 29th. Mr. & Mrs. Claus have assembled a holly-jolly team of over 3,000 participants to kick off Christmas Westcoast style during Canada’s largest nighttime parade. Grab your milk & cookies, your stockings, and your smile, and cheer on the arrival of Santa himself as Victoria rallies behind him in a stream of dazzling lights, floats, and music. It’s a full day of festive season festivities, with the Bastion Square Christmas festival serving indulgent holiday treats, fun activities, and photo booths to snap that perfect family photo (pets welcome), from 12-5PM, to really get you in that Christmas spirit.
Photo credit: @evocative_panda (Instagram)
Sports
CHAMP 7: WBC USA Bridgerweight Championship
Victoria always punches above its weight, so, it’s no shock to see that world-class boxing is back in the city for the WBC USA Bridgerweight Championship, as Victoria’s own Brandon Colantonio goes toe to toe with Jaye Byard, the reigning CPBC Classic Heavyweight Champion, for a card stacked with Canadian and international talent. The tilt takes place inside a historic venue, the Bay Street Armory, built in 1915, which offers a cathedral-like setting that was once the venue for a Joe Louis fight. Let’s get ready to rumble, Saturday, November 8th.
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