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Spring Break is here, and Greater Victoria is delivering terrariums for kids, invertebrate celebrations, barn fiddle dancing, and a witches market. St. Patrick's Day kicks things off today with festivities across the region, while libraries offer two weeks of free drop-in programs—from coding robots to flower flipbooks.
There's live music, outdoor markets, and plenty of reasons to leave the house. Plus, in local news bites: a great white shark named Kara visited Vancouver Island waters (likely hunting sea lions, not auditioning for Jaws), and a kayaker was rescued after being mistaken for a barking sea lion for nine hours.
And, as always, our Top 3 Family Fun Picks—especially helpful if you’re navigating Spring Break with kids.
Want the full list of what’s happening this week? [Subscribe for free] and don’t miss the good stuff happening across the 13 municipalities of Greater Victoria.
Active & Outdoors
Saanich: Wildly Diverse (Guided Walk) – All Ages Mar 17 (Tue) Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park 1:30-3pm
Victoria: Saint Patrick’s Day 5K Fun Run Mar 17 (Tue) @100 Harbour Rd 6-9pm
+ Walking Tour: Mapping Power, Place & Belonging Mar 22 (Sun) @Centennial Square 1-2pm
Greater Victoria: Pathfinders Walking Club – Walks this week: Saanich-Cedar Hill Rec (Mar 18), View Royal-Thetis Lake (Mar 21), Oak Bay (Mar 23)
Metchosin: Ugh! A Slug! (Guided Walk) – All Ages Mar 21 (Sat) @Devonian Regional Park 1:30-3pm
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Arts & Entertainment
Sidney: Cleopatra Mar 17-18 (Tue-Wed) @Mary Winspea Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave 7:30pm
Victoria: Celebrating Black Irish Music w/ Louise Rose Mar 17 (Tue) @Hermann’s Jazz Club 7-9pm
+ West Coast Barn (Fiddle) Dance Mar 20 (Fri) @Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St 6:30-9:30pm
+ IMPROV COMEDY Live Mar 20 (Fri) @The Mint, 1414 Douglas St 8pm
+ The Comic Strippers Mar 21 (Sat) @McPherson Playhouse 8pm
+ Catherine O’Hara Tribute “Best in Show” Mar 22 (Sun) @The Vic Theatre
Central Saanich: Europa Super Circus Mar 20-29 @Saanichton Fairgrounds
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Family Fun: Our Top 3 Picks
Three unique family experiences we're excited about this week
Mar 20 (Fri) 9:30-10:30am @VI Plant Shop, 515 Chatham St, Victoria
Kids create their own mini terrarium to take home—selecting plants, arranging them in glass containers, and adding decorative touches. VI Plant Shop's experienced staff guides the process from start to finish. It's a hands-on way for kids to connect with nature, unleash creativity, and leave with something they grew themselves. Adults welcome to join the fun! Perfect for plant-loving kids who want to build their own tiny ecosystem. One hour of creativity, one terrarium to treasure.
Mar 17-28 various times @Multiple library branches across Greater Victoria
FREE drop-in programs at libraries all Spring Break long! Lego building, STEM play with coding robots, flower flipbooks, spring storytime with crafts, postcard scavenger hunts, and even a StoryWalk at Tillicum Park. Programs for toddlers through age 12. No registration needed—just show up! Space is limited, so arrive early for popular sessions. Two weeks of screen-free fun without spending a penny.
Mar 17-21 various times @Swan Lake Nature House, Saanich
Bugs, bees, slugs, and slime—oh my! Invertebrate Week celebrates the 95% of animal species we usually ignore. Daily guest speakers deliver talks and workshops: composting critters, bee biology, bug walks, pond dips, and even bug printmaking for teens. Most programs are drop-in by donation (mason bee house workshop $25). Meet living invertebrates, explore displays, and discover why these tiny creatures matter. From storytime for little ones to evening workshops for adults, there's something for every age and curiosity level.
News Bites
🦈 Great White Shark Visits Vancouver Island Waters
A California-tagged great white shark named Kara made an unusual trip to Vancouver Island last week. Kara pinged offshore near southern Vancouver Island (likely hunting abundant sea lions – and hopefully not auditioning for Jaws) before heading back to Washington. Great whites surface north of California occasionally, but it's rare. Kara follows a two-year migration pattern and will likely return in 2028 after giving birth.
[Full story – Times Colonist]
🦭 Man Calling for Help Mistaken for Barking Sea Lion
A kayaker clung to a navigation piling for nine hours off Comox Marina last week after his kayak fell apart during an evening paddle. The 29-year-old's cries for help were dismissed by nearby residents as sea lion barks—until his voice grew hoarse enough that someone finally called 911. Rescuers found him at 2:22 a.m., cold but able to walk. He's safe now. Remember everyone: bring a whistle with you when going out on the ocean.
[Full story – Times Colonist]
Community & Creative
Victoria: Garden City Grooves Festival Mar 19-21 (Thur-Sat) @White Eagle Polish Hall, 90 Dock St
+ Spring into Vintage Fair & Makers Market Mar 21 (Sat) @Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay St 9am-4pm
+ 2026 Spark Festival Until Mar 23 @Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Ave
Sooke: 2026 Sooke Job Fair Mar 20 (Fri) @6218 Sooke Rd 1-5pm
Esquimalt: Welcome Day Celebration & Newcomer Expo Mar 21 (Sat) 637 Head St 11am-4pm
Saanich: Bloom & Broom Spring Witches Market Mar 21 (Sat) @Prospect Lake Community Hall, 5358 Sparton Rd 10am-4pm
+ Local Folk & Found Spring Fair Mar 22 (Sun) @Prospect Lake Community Hall & Country Garden 11am-4pm
+ Nature-Based Expressive Arts: Connecting with Nature to Promote Natural Creativity Mar 22 (Sun) @the gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Rd 9am-12pm
🌅 On the Horizon
Planning ahead? Here are a few events worth noting:
Victoria: Mr. Crowley’s Ozzy Osbourne Experience Mar 26 @McPherson Playhouse
Oak Bay: Easter Festival April 4 @Willows Beach
Victoria: TC 10K & Thrifty Food Family Run April 26 @click link for map
Have a great week Greater Victoria! 💙
