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There are only six summer weekends left this year—luckily, there are plenty of events coming up to help you make the most of them, especially this weekend.

Do you like music? Being outside? Eating pickles? Check out our first story to find the perfect way to spend your Saturday.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: ☀ 26 / 13

Tomorrow: ☀ 26 / 15

Day after: ☀️ 20 / 15

7-day forecast

Every now and again, Victoria has a banner summer weekend filled with events and festivals to suit all interests. This weekend happens to be one of them.

From cultural celebrations to foodie favourites, there are plenty of ways to explore new hobbies, hang with your friends and neighbours, and make lasting memories. 

It certainly doesn't hurt that the weather is expected to be a mild 20C for Saturday and Sunday, making for an idyllic weekend in Greater Victoria.

Fibrations Festival | Friday-Sunday | Various times
Celebrating all things textile. Join a workshop to learn new skills, shop vendors, and see expert demonstrations at the Fernwood Community Centre. 

Victoria Picklefest | Saturday | 11am-7pm
Bite into briny treats at this pickled food festival at Phillips Backyard. Check out the 35+ food vendors, hear live music, and enjoy tasty pints from Phillips.

Boomtown Block Party | Saturday | 11am-10pm
This unique block party will feature a skateboarding contest, best-dressed dog contest, all-day BBQ, tattoos, and more at Boomtown on Yates. 

Vegfest | Friday 4-8pm; Saturday 11am-8pm 
Dive into the world of plant-based living with this vegan food festival at Centennial Square. Shop cruelty-free products, enjoy live music, learn from inspiring speakers, and, of course, enjoy delicious vegan bites.

Victoria Renaissance Faire | Saturday | 11am-8pm
Hear ye! This renfaire in Banfield Park will take you back to the Middle Ages. Get dressed up in period costumes, see live performances, and shop multiple vendors.

Soberfest | Saturday | 2:30-9:30pm
See headliners Biff Naked and Fefe Dobson at this alcohol- and drug-free music festival at Starlight Stadium in Langford. Expect good tunes, yummy food, and a local vendor market.

Tour de Victoria | Saturday | Various times
This all-ages, all-abilities cycling event hosts eight races of different distances—from 15 kilometres to 160 kilometres—and fundraises for the BC Cancer Foundation, among other charities. Start times vary; all races begin at the BC Parliament Buildings. 

Soul of Vietnam | Sunday | 11am-8pm
Celebrate Vietnamese culture at this free, family-friendly festival at Ship Point. See traditional and contemporary music and dance performances, try authentic Vietnamese cuisine, and bring your children to the lively Kids Zone.

Tour de Victoria road closures: Menzies, Belleville, Government & Dallas affected. [City of Victoria]

Butchart Gardens fireworks cancelled this Saturday due to provincial state of emergency. Twelve-month passes will be honoured. 

Ins and outs of glass recycling in the CRD.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.

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A project that snarled traffic en route to the airport and ferry terminal on and off for nearly three years has finally wrapped, says the province.

The Keating Cross Road Overpass, designed to remove left turns at the busy intersection, opened to drivers in July 2025. But construction work continued over the past year, bringing its own set of problems. 

In November, multiple vehicles were damaged while driving through the overpass's construction zone due to loose storm grates. Central Saanich residents have long voiced frustration with the project—which was supposed to be completed in spring 2025—as it caused more traffic to be diverted to quiet residential roads.

The province says it prioritized the project because it is one of the busiest transportation corridors on the Island, with roughly 52K vehicles passing through each day. During peak periods, this section of the highway will see more than 4K vehicles per hour. 

Making a left turn at the intersection could be a time-consuming task—and a dangerous one, as multiple crashes occurred at the spot each year. A fatal crash in 2015 occurred when the driver attempted a left turn.

The project cost $76.8M to build—the province covered $57.6M of that, and the federal government contributed $16.7M. The District of Central Saanich, where the overpass is located, provided $2.5M.

Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor says the completion marks a "major milestone" for the small municipality. 

"The new connection improves access to the Keating business district, supports more efficient travel through the community and enhances safety for all road users," Windsor said in a statement. 

"This is an important investment that will benefit residents, businesses and visitors for years to come."

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🐸 Floral naps: See a frog cozied up on a flower at Salmon Point. [Facebook photos]

📚 Review contest: Teens and tweens aged 10 to 18 can win prizes by writing book reviews for Greater Victoria Public Library. [Details]

🎭 Spamalot: See the hit Monty Python musical at the Royal Theatre. Aug. 28-30. [Info]

Sidney council hopeful it will meet housing targets by 2029
Sidney fell short of its provincial housing target in year two, building only 99 net new homes against a required 181 cumulative units. The town was ordered by BC to build 468 net new homes by June 2029 after being flagged for insufficient housing supply. However, Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith says he’s confident Sidney will achieve its five-year target, citing approved projects expected to be completed in coming years. [Victoria Buzz]

Westshore RCMP catch people trying to swap seats to avoid impaired driving charges
After swerving and hitting a median in View Royal, a driver and passenger swapped seats, hoping to avoid an impaired charge, according to Westshore RCMP. Both failed sobriety tests: the man got a 90-day suspension, the woman got a three-day ban, and the car was impounded for 30 days. RCMP says it has removed 108 impaired drivers from the road so far in 2026.

Fernwood residents considering hiring private security amid break-ins
Repeat truck break-ins—costing over $10K—have Fernwood residents talking about pooling funds to hire private security patrols in the area. Neighbours report rising thefts and rifled vehicles; VicPD confirmed there has been a slight uptick in crime. [CHEK]

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🐐 Farm Friends Storytime: Bring the kids to hear a story, see the animals, and get creative with colouring at Beacon Hill Children's Farm today. 10:45-11:15am. [Info]

🕺 Roxy Talent Show Social: See a variety of talents, from music and comedy to magic and more at this 19+ show at the Roxy Theatre tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]

🎼 Music in the Garden: Enjoy live music by Victoria Conservatory of Music students at Abkhazi Garden tomorrow. 1pm. [Info]

🎷 Spirit of Jazz: Hear rich sounds, soulful grooves, and inspired artistry at the Victoria Truth Centre tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎸 The Guess Who: The classic Canadian rockers will be at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Aug. 25. [Info]

Wednesday's headlines: Crystal Pool to close next month; Victoria woman joins 30-day relay swim for environmental conservation. [Aug.12]

22 years of treaty negotiations: Hatley Castle, Victoria waterfront lands among properties proposed for First Nations treaty. [CHEK]

John McKeachie, Hall of Fame Victoria sports broadcaster, dies at 82. [Times Colonist]

Traffic disruptions on Hwy 1: Starting today, expect lane closures and delays on Saanich at Boleskine and Douglas at Highway 1 for the next three weeks. [Saanich]

Looking for love? Netflix's Love is Blind Canada is now casting. 

One of these geese is not like the other: A Greater white-fronted goose appears to have joined a flock of Canada geese. [Facebook photos]

New and notable kids books now available at Greater Victoria Public Libraries. [GVPL]

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