An aerial view of downtown Victoria, BC
May 17-19

Victoria Day Weekend

Celebrated every year on the last Monday before May 25, Victoria Day is a Canadian public holiday in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday. For many, the date also informally marks the beginning of the summer season.

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A performer dressed in purple and gray with a bowler hat rides a high wheel bicycle during the Victoria Day Parade in Victoria, BC

Victoria Day Parade

The Thrifty Foods Victoria Day Parade is the largest parade of the year in Victoria, and there is no better place to spend your Victoria Day holiday! Previous parades have attracted tens of thousands of spectators and featured approximately 150 entries—including Canadian and American marching bands, musical floats, cultural entries and festive clowns. This annual event is free and fun for the whole family.

Bagpipe players wearing red kilts and blue shirts and socks marching during the Victoria Highland Games in Victoria, BC

Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival

The Victoria Day holiday weekend in Victoria is a great time to visit this spectacular city and the Games are one of the premier events to attend! Hope to see you at the Games!

Highlights of the Highland Games weekend included:

• Massed Bands at noon and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday
• Professional Celtic Music Bands
• International Heavy Events Championship
• Simon Fraser University Grade 1 Pipeband
• Canadian Invitational Drum Major Challenge
• Scottish Highland Dance and Irish Dance Feis
• Scottish Clans and Societies
• International HEMA Blade and Stick Fighting Tournament

Download Victoria's Vacation Guide

Destination Greater Victoria is honoured to be based on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.