The City is supporting 41 festivals with $321,200 in Festival Investment Grant funding and up to $129,500 of in-kind contributions to usher in the return to festival season in Victoria.
“Grab your sun hat and festival chair, after the long pandemic hiatus it’s going to be a great summer for arts and culture events in Victoria,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. “I am thrilled to see the exciting line up of culturally-diverse, family-friendly events, from dance and theatre to music and community performances. There is something new to attend every week.”
This year’s Festival Investment Grant recipients include the BC Black History Awareness Society, who in August will present The Function Festival, a new two-day arts festival celebrating Canadian and international BIPOC musicians.
Victoria Pride Week is back in full swing with a week of events, including their full Pride Parade and Festival in MacDonald Park on June 26.
Victoria Symphony also returns with Symphony in the Summer, for a week–long cerebration of music culminating with their grand finale over two days on the Legislative Lawn in July. Then in November, first time recipient to the grant program, the Jewish Community Centre of Victoria is hosting their annual Victoria International Jewish Film Festival, this year focusing on a multicultural program that builds connections among communities through cinema.
The Festival Investment Grant program, now in its 24th year, has seen more than $3 million in grants go to nurture the development and sustainability of high-quality annual festivals and celebrations.
The pursuit of arts, culture and tourism opportunities is a key goal of the City’s Create Victoria Arts and Culture Master Plan.
Watch for the online City Vibe guide, coming in May, for a complete list of upcoming family-friendly events festivals around the city.
Learn more about Festival Investment Grants at victoria.ca/FIG.
Full list of Grant Recipients for 2022:
Africa-ISSAMBA Fest
African Art & Cultural Community Contributor Society
May 28 & 29
$12,000
Caravan Stage Virtual Rogues World Premier
Caravan Stage Society Inc
June 14 – 19
$12,000
East West Mural Fest
Esquimalt Community Arts Hub
August 13 – 27
$2,300
FernFest
Belfry Theatre (in partnership with Fernwood NRG)
June 24 & 25
$11,000
Festival Mexicano (16th Annual)
Mexican Canadian Community Association of Victoria
July 9th & 10th
$3,000
Flamenco Festival
Flamenco de la Isla Society
July 16, July 19 – 23
$8,000
Folktoria
Greater Victoria Folk Festival Society
June 4 & 5
$1,500
Free-B Film Festival
Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival
August
$4,000
Fringe Festival
Intrepid Theatre
Aug 24 – Sept 5
$12,000
Garden City Grooves
Victoria BC Ska & Reggae Society
November 24 – 26
$5,500
Highland Games & Celtic Festival (159th)
Victoria Highland Games Association
May 14 – 22
$15,000
Lights of Wonder
Downtown Victoria Business Association
December 16 – 31
$3,170
Mabuhay! Celebrating Philippine Culture
Victoria Filipino Canadian Association
June 11 & 12
$3,000
One Wave Gathering
Pacific Peoples’ Partnership Association
September 3 – 25
$6,000
Out There Art Festival
Alter Arts Society
September 2 – 5
$3,400
OUTstages Festival
Intrepid Theatre
February 3 -13
$6,000
Pacific Baroque Festival
Victoria Conservatory of Music
March 16 – 20
$1,000
Peek Fest
Impulse Theatre Society
November 1 – 20
$3,500
Pride Festival
Victoria Pride Society
June 24 – Jul 1
$13,000
Rendez-vous Victoria
La Société francophone de Victoria
June to August
$10,000
Selkirk Waterfront Festival
Burnside Gorge Community Association
May 28
$2,000
Ska & Reggae Festival
Victoria BC Ska & Reggae Society
June 22 – 26
$16,500
SKAMpede
Theatre SKAM
July 6 – 10
$15,000
St Patrick’s Day Fleadh
Greater Victoria Festival Society
March 13 – 16
$6,000
Summit Park Pumpkin Festival
Alter Arts Society
Nov 1
$500
Sunset Ceremony – A Musical Celebration Recognizing the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Victoria Military Music Festival Society
May 21 – 22
$2,000
Symphony in the Summer Festival
Victoria Symphony Society
July 25 – August 1
$20,000
TD Art Gallery Paint-In
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
July 23
$13,000
TD Victoria International JazzFest
Victoria Jazz Society
June 24 – July 3
$13,000
The Function Festival
BC Black History Awareness Society
August
$12,000
UNO Fest
Intrepid Theatre
April 26 – May 14
$6,400
Vancouver Island Blues Bash/Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival
Victoria Jazz Society
Aug 25 – 28
$9,500
Victoria Bicycle Music Festival
11680943 Canada Foundation, doing business as The Folk Foundation
August 14
$2,230
Victoria Day Parade (122nd), Santa Light Parade (40th)
Greater Victoria Festival Society
May 21 – 23; November 26
$16,000
Victoria Dragon Boat Festival
Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society
August 12-14
$10,200
Victoria Festival of Authors
Victoria Festival of Authors Society
September 28 -October 2
$6,000
Victoria Film Festival
The Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival
February 4 -13
$12,000
Victoria International Jewish Film Festival
Jewish Community Center of Victoria
November 5 – 8
$8,000
ViVa! Victoria Latin Festival
Here In Canada
August 6
$4,500
Wonderment (7th Edition)
Garden City Electronic Music Society
July 29 – August 1
$8,000
World Accordion and Tango Festival
BC Accordion and Tango Society
Nov 16 – 20
$3,000