We all had our storylines diverge into different arcs this summer: we had friends who went to Europe for four weeks, others who had summer school, ones who had to buy some business casual clothes for their new nine-to-fives, some who moved back to their hometown, and even ones who graduated!
Which category did I fit into? Well, this was my first summer in Victoria as a Mainland B.C. girl, and I found myself in a limbo state; I had a job, but I was only scheduled once a week. So, here I was with all this free time in this small, slow town. Did I give in and just go insane? Kind of. But amid the insanity, I did a few things in Victoria this summer that helped me get through those long summer days.
The Oak Bay Tea Party
As far as tea goes, I didn’t quite see the correlation. But after some further research, I discovered that this summer community event was created by the Oak Bay Board of Trade to celebrate the centennial incorporation of the city of Victoria. However, if you’re in or near the Oak Bay area, there were a ton of rides, food trucks, and games set up at Willows Beach. While it all seemed to sprout out of nowhere to me, it was for a significant cause, which was raising money for the Kiwanis and the Lions of Victoria. It was a great way for Oak Bay to gather locals and tourists alike to raise money for non-profit projects! In terms of personal experience, the most notable thing that happened was a fully grown man cutting my friend and I in line for none other than mini donuts…the stand isn’t going anywhere, I promise.
New Drinking Spots
If you’re anything like me, you’re a social drinker. Picture this: the weather is nice, and you and your girlfriends’ schedules have all aligned…what should you do? I think the answer is clear: put on a dress and start day drinking! One spot I tried for the first time was Cenote. The shafts were delicious, and the atmosphere had an underground speakeasy vibe (or maybe not; I’ve never been to a speakeasy). I also drank at Craft for the first time, and I can’t believe I’ve never had their sangrias before! It was hands-down the best one I’ve had, and that’s coming from someone who’s dabbled in a few sangrias in their lifetime.
The FIFA World Cup Final
I never imagined I’d be in Victoria, B.C. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, but there I sat on the rooftop of The Canadian Brewhouse getting misted with sprinklers like a vegetable every five minutes in 20-degree weather. The Canadian Brewhouse was just one of the many restaurants that featured the intense final match between Spain and Argentina. Several other watch parties took place in Market Square and Uptown. Crowds of red, yellow and blue-and-white stripes mixed with an anticipatory energy in the air. The vibes were high, especially when Spain won (Vamos España!). It was a fun experience, and I’m curious to see where I’ll end up for the next World Cup final in 2030!
Picklefest 2026
This was definitely my favourite Victoria summer sidequest, although this isn’t a Victoria exclusive. Picklefest took place at six locations in Canada this year, spanning from Vancouver to Toronto. This was my first Picklefest, and I miss it every day. I’m still trying to formulate a plan on how I can obtain an unlimited supply of the pickle beer. Other honourable mentions were the pickle Dr. Pepper, which was equally as life-changing (and I don’t even like Dr. Pepper), as well as the Caesar. Sadly, the dill pickle pizza and the pickle lemonade were both sold out by the time I’d arrived. Side note: don’t ask the bartender to swap out tequila for rum in your pickle margarita…they will make you feel more idiotic than you already do when you ask for a margarita with no tequila in it.
Walks…Lots of Walks
While this activity may seem the most boring out of the list, it’s the most important. A good trick to get out of any funk or boredom is to go on a walk. It can be as long or short, chill or strenuous as you choose. What matters is that you’re moving your body! I did mine with a friend, and we talked as little or as much as we wanted to. Sometimes we had therapy sessions, and others we’d do pointless, convoluted “would you rathers.” We’d run into some regular cats and would go out of our way to seek them out. I tried Parachute Ice Cream for the first time, a place we’d stop by during our walks. Parachute, I have one question for you: where have you been all my life?
All in all, things in Victoria were quite relaxed. I got to enjoy the lack of traffic and crowds, something that doesn’t seem to exist once September rolls around. Some honourable mentions between my Victoria adventures include someone scraping my parked car in a parking garage (they kindly left a note), Sunday Buckets, and Sooke Potholes. Whether you’re a Victoria native, have stayed in Victoria during the summer before, or are planning to, check out some of the excursions so you can plan for next summer!