Annual Events in July
Moss Street Paint-in
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Annual Moss Street Paint-In (a not-for-profit event) features invited professional and emerging artists from Victoria and Region who demonstrate their art to 30,000 visitors walking Moss Street from Fort to Dallas Road. The Paint-In offers visitors an opportunity to meet and discuss the artists' work and methods and to see an enormous variety of professional work at one time.
Sidney Days
June 30 - Jul 3
The annual Sidney Days party kicks off Wednesday night with a community dinner, Canada Day ceremonies (with a cake), entertainment and fireworks.
The main events on July 1 at Tulista Park are the Family Festival and the Children's Festival, which run noon to 5 pm.
On July 4, grab your wallets and head to the heart of Sidney for Sidewalk Day.
Strawberry Festival
- A good old fashioned family picnic at Beaver Lake Park from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Join in on the pancake breakfast and enjoy live entertainment nature displays and activities.
- Children can participate in pony rides, story telling and face painting.
- End the day at 3 p.m. with fresh strawberries and ice cream.
- Admission is free.
Shakespeare Summer Festival
The Victoria Shakespeare Society returns with its sixth consecutive summer festival. This year they are excited to present The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III at the Camosun College Lansdowne Campus.
These long-time favourites are directed by Fran Gebhard and Clayton Jevene. The Victoria Shakespeare Society is sure that you will agree that these two excellent plays and directors will make for an unforgettable summer of Shakespeare.
Five years have past since the Shakespeare in the Summer (SITS) festival changed hands from Theatre Inconnu to the Victoria Shakespeare Society. Since their initial 2003 show in Centennial Square, audiences have increased from 500, to 1628 people per year. All in all, over 5,500 patrons have attended the Society’s main stage productions, making it one of the fastest growing summer events in Victoria.
The Society also takes an active interest in community involvement. They have a long-standing tradition of donating the proceeds of their preview night shows to the Camosun College Foundation. The Foundation maintains a fund that is paid out as an award to a worthy Camosun College English student for exceptional achievement. The Society is always proud to be able to support students of the bard in their quest to master the English language. Who knows where the next Shakespeare will be found?
Come out on a summer evening and see why the Victoria Shakespeare Society expects to be busy for years to come.
For more information about the festival or volunteer opportunities please follow the web link below or contact the Artistic Director Michael Gloverby telephone or email.
Price: Tickets are $16.00 for Students and Seniors; $22.00 for Adults; Children 12 years and under are still FREE, (Must be accompanied by an adult). Tickets for two performances are $26.00 for Students and Seniors; $32.00 for Adults.
Victoria International Buskers Festival
From July 15th to July 24th, 2011, Victoria is presenting one of the world’s most unique festivals. The first Victoria International Buskers Festival features a range of performers from around the world on event stages along our downtown Inner Harbour, and in Bastion Square
Expect to see some pretty strange-looking people on the streets of Victoria. Downtown streets will be transformed into a Fellini-esque movie backdrop of flame throwers, contortionists, jugglers, unicyclists, magicians, circus performers, and comedians. All will be busking for your tips at this otherwise completely FREE festival of family fun.
Once upon a time, long ago, there were no machines to record sound and moving pictures. In order to gain an audience, singers, dancers and other entertainers would perform on street corners for gratuities from passersby. That’s how the tradition of buskers was born.
Festival organizers have invited the best busking acts from near and far including Australia, the UK, major cities in the U.S. and Canada. Performers will set out their tip hats and strut their stuff on event stages along Victoria’s Inner Harbour, in Bastion Square, and daily at noon in the Bay Centre shopping mall. More than 400 performances are planned!
Master jugglers, illusionists, and hula-hoop wisecrackers—this festival has it all.
