9 Things to do in Victoria this January
January here is a blend of cozy, quirky, and all-around awesome.
Picture this: stunning music filling the air, delectable bites at our foodie fest, finding balance on a transformative wellness journey, and the simple joy of a perfect afternoon tea. Whether you’re in it for the culture or just the cozy vibes, Victoria’s ready to welcome you with open arms and plenty of surprises. Why not make this January one to remember?
Dine Around and Stay in Town
Cast aside that holiday apron because January is all about eating out. Victoria’s favourite foodie festival returns for 17-days of mouth watering, memory making, deliciousness. This year, over 50 of Victoria’s top restaurants are serving up three-course menus, as the city’s best chefs flex their culinary prowess with our region’s freshest farmed and foraged ingredients. With set menu prices ranging from $25 to $75 per person, Dine Around is perfect for everything from a casual lunch to a fine dining feast. Can’t decide where to go? The Dine Around Gala on January 23rd, features bites from all the participating restaurants. Make the most of your night out, and pair your plates with a good night’s rest, sleeping off your food coma at one of the participating Stay in Town hotels, who offer special rates for foodie’s during the program.
Dine Around Gala
We know you’re already laying out your Dine Around game plan, and let’s be honest, you’re spoiled for choice. Is it really dining out, without squabbling about where to go? Whether indecisive, or simply wanting to try it all, don’t miss the Dine Around Gala on January 23rd at the Crystal Garden. The Dine Around Gala showcases bites and bevvies from over 50 of Greater Victoria’s best restaurants, bars, wineries, and cideries, backstopped by lively entertainment, socializing, and foodie fun. Don’t miss the party, grab your tickets today!
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Start your year with intention
Breathe-in, breathe-out. Find the time to unwind, unplug, and refresh with intention: a wellness getaway in Victoria. This incredible journey for the mind, body, and spirit, invites you to connect with the things that matter most for you to flourish in the new year. Slow down and quiet the chattering mind with The Power of Intention: Finding Mindfulness Through the Art of Calligraphy with Angie Bailey. Roll-up your sleeves and get your hands dirty with Hands in the Soil, Heart in the Soul: How 5 Minutes of Garden Therapy a Day Can Transform Your Life with Master Gardener, Stephanie Rose. Uncover The Power Plate with Julie Daniluk, Forage For Your Dinner with Chef Tom Kral, or dig into a Six-Course Mushroom Dinner with Mycologist, Richard Winder. Then, develop the habits for an every day positive mindset with The Happiness Equation: Science-Backed Habits to Cultivate a Positive Mindset with Neil Pasricha. Find rejuvenation in a city that’s built for balance. Start the year rested and blend your wellness retreat with a sleep program that ensures you’ll start every morning refreshed. Victoria’s top hotels have paired a relaxing stay with a wellness treat, to ensure evert stay is reinvigorating.
intention: A wellness getaway in Victoria
Chinese New Year
2025 is the year of the Snake! Snakes are seen to be associated with wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation, making Victoria a fitting destination in which to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Head on over to Victoria’s famed Chinatown (the first Chinatown in Canada and second oldest in North America) and join the celebration! While you’re there, be sure to explore Chinese-Canadian owned businesses (some of which have been in operation for over 136 years!), dig into Dim Sum at Don Mee Seafood Restaurant, as well as visiting Fan Tan Alley (Canada’s narrowest street), and diving into the neighbourhood’s rich history at the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society.
Last chance for holiday magic
All good things must come to an end, the holiday season has come and gone, but there’s still one last chance to savour the magic and charm of the season. Don’t miss these festive events where the holidays linger a little longer. Explore a forest of whimsy and wonder at the Festival of Trees lights up the Bay Centre until January 5th, where dozens of beautifully decorated Christmas trees vie for the honour of being named Victoria’s best, all while supporting a great cause. The Gingerbread Showcase, with its fresh-out-the-oven style, continues its run at the Hotel Grand Pacific through January 5th. Each year, professional and home bakers put their spin on the Showcase theme, bringing the holiday season to life in crumbly, sticky-fingered fun – don’t forget to vote for your favourite! One of Canada’s top holiday lights displays illuminates The Butchart Gardens until January 6th, and you don’t want to miss it. Explore this National Historic Site, as the gardens tells the story of the 12 Days of Christmas through a dazzling multi-sensory display of lights and music.
Laugh it up
Canadian comedian, Jeremy Hotz (and his dog Shack) brings his North American standup tour to Victoria for one night only, January 17th. Hotz’s astute and observational show, “Très Misérables!”, packs the McPherson Playhouse with laughs for an evening of side-splitting hilarity. An award-winning comedian, Hotz has appeared on Comedy Central Presents, Just For Laughs, the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and more.
Enjoy the sound of music
The sound of strings fills the air this January, and its music to our ears! January 9th, the University of Victoria’s Emerging Artist Series features the There is Room Duo, a violin and piano chamber duo who share under-represented and non-traditional music with their “Encounters” program. When it comes to live music, Victoria doesn’t play second fiddle. Join David Greenberg and Victoria Baroque for an evening of violin and fiddle, exploring sleep, dreams, and the things that go bump in the night, January 17th at St. John the Devine. Join the Sequentia Ensemble for a night of musical history, as they bring to life the 800-year-old story of Gregorius, the Holy Sinner. This ancient tale of limitless possibility and inextinguishable hope reaches far into the past and is brought to life through voice and Romanesque harps.
International flare
Returning for its 25th anniversary, International Guitar Night takes The Farquhar at the University of Victoria. This year’s ensemble includes three new faces, alongside one of the all-time greats. Lulo Reinhardt, grand-nephew of the legendary, Django Reinhardt, plays Latin Swing (a combination of Gypsy swing with Latin rhythms). Alexndra Whittingham brings her dynamic classic style, highlighting both classical and contemporary composers. Niwel Tsumbu’s hip-swinging Congolese percussive style blurs the boundaries of African, classical, and jazz music. And Sönke Meinen showcases his incredible dexterity and high-speed compositions with his contemporary Fingerstyle play.
Cozy cafes & teahouses
Winter is officially here, and while the season is a little milder in Greater Victoria, that doesn’t mean we don’t like to escape the elements for a short while to cozy up for a tea (or coffee) with friends. Victoria is steeped in the rich tradition of afternoon tea, and there’s no shortage of teahouses in which to grab a cuppa, and of course the accompanying sandwiches, scones and treats. From gardenside delights at The Teahouse at Abkhazi Gardens to seaside serenity at Fairmont Empress, community hubs like White Heather Tea Room to historic settings such as the Pendray Tea House, there’s a tea experience waiting for your distinct tastes. Tea not your thing? No problem, our local coffee shops are amongst the best in the Pacific Northwest. Checkout Fernwood Coffee for locally roasted flavours, or Murchie’s Coffee shop, who have been serving up some of the region’s favourite brews for over 125 years.
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