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Victoria in April: Discover the Spectacular Things to See and Do During Your Visit

If you are planning a trip to Victoria in April, then you’ve probably got questions like:

what’s the weather going to be like
what to pack and what to wear while you are here
what’s happening in Victoria in April
what are some things to do
and what local food is in season

Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

If you’re visiting in April, you'll notice that our city is in full bloom with cherry blossoms still on trees, British Columbia's official flower - the Dogwood - exploding into bloom and spring flowers such as tulips and daffodils everywhere.

White Dogwood blooming in April

On April 3rd, the Norwegian Bliss will arrive in the Port of Victoria as the 2024 cruise season officially begins again here on Canada's west coast. Welcome back! This year, Victoria will welcome 315 cruise ships with an estimated 800,000 passengers. The 2024 cruise ship season will end October 27, when the Norweigan Jewel arrives in port for the evening.

Cruise ship heading to Port of Victoria

Friday, March 29, 2024 is Good Friday and is a statutory holiday in British Columbia. Most businesses will be open, although some will have reduced hours. All banks and government offices will be closed.

Monday, April 1st is celebrated in lieu of Easter Sunday and is known as Easter Monday. Generally only banks, schools and government offices are closed on Easter Monday.

Weather in April

April is a gorgeous month in Victoria. The average high temperature is 13 degrees with lows between 5 and 6. April is a bit wetter than March with average precipitation of 86 mm but the days are longer and brighter and everything just seems more cheerful.

Strolling the beach at Cadboro Bay

Dressing for the Weather

Winter is a distant memory and some of us are thinking it is already time to get out the capris and sandals! With the distinct possibility of getting caught in a shower or two though, most people stick to their closed toe shoes. A waterproof jacket or windbreaker (I love the length of this one) is never a bad idea and on the days it doesn't rain, a fleece sweater like this pretty pink one from Columbia is perfect for these spring days.

View of Mt Baker from Cattle Point

What's in Season

Several of our local restaurants take advantage of local seafood, meats, cheeses, breads, beers, wines and produce. April does have limited fresh fruits and vegetables but what is available is bursting with flavour and food tours are a popular way to sample the goodness! And if you like West Coast cuisine, we know you'll want a copy of this cookbook.

Fruits & Veggies

Kale
Mushrooms
Radishes
Salad Greens
Spinach

Rhubarb

Seafood & Herbs

Clams
Cod: Pacific
Crab
Crab: Dungeness
Flounder/Sole: Pacific
Halibut: Pacific
Herring
Lingcod
Mussels
Oysters: Pacific
Prawns: Jumbo
Sablefish (Black Cod)
Scallops
Shrimp: Side Stripe
Shrimp: West Coast
Spring Dogfish

Bay Leaves
Chives
Chervil
Cilantro
Dill
Fennel
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Savory
Sorrel
Tarragon
Thyme

What's in Bloom at Butchart Gardens in April

Aubretia
Azalea
Barberry Bush
Bleeding Heart
Camellia
Candelabra Primula
Checkered Lily
Cotoneaster
Crown Imperial
Daffodil

English Daisy
Forget-Me-Not
Grape Hyacinth
Hyacinth
Leopard’s Bane
Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub
Lungwort
Milkweed
Painted Daisy
Pansy

Pasque Flower
Rhododendron
Rock Cress
Scilla
Shamrock
Siberian Wallflower
Summer Snowflake
Trout Lily
Tulip

Things to Do in Victoria in April

Locals love to get outside and enjoy nature at this time of year. We have a wonderful network of fairly flat and accessible trails throughout the region suitable for every member of the family. If you're in Victoria in April, you simply can't miss enjoying some outdoor activities. I recommend using scanning Viator to find tours and activities. You'll meet locals like me who love showing visitors our favourite things to see and do.

The main multi-use trail in the region is the Galloping Goose Trail (isn't that an awesome name!) which connects to the Lochside trail heading to Sidney and the E&N trail that goes through View Royal and Esquimalt. The entire network connects Sidney to Sooke.

You'll see families and people of all ages out and about on their scooters and bikes or walking or jogging.

The network of trails goes right through our downtown core and now includes easy access to our dedicated bike lanes and free bike valet downtown.

There are several places to rent bikes or you can join a guided bike tour to make sure you see some of our favourite highlights and historic sites.

Oak Bay Marina

Festivals and Events include:

02-Jan-24 to 01-Apr-24 - Annual Lego Exhibition, Sidney Museum
01-Apr-24 - Easter Monday
07-Apr-24 - Meet the Makers Market, Bay Centre, Victoria
10-Apr-24 to 21-Apr-24 - Incoming Festival, various downtown venues
14-Apr-24 to 27-Oct-24 - Cruise Ship Season, Port of Victoria
22-Apr-24 - Earth Day
26-Apr-24 to 28-Apr-24 - Victoria Outdoor Adventure Show, West Shore Parks & Recreation
27-Apr-24 - Victoria Guitar Show, Victoria Conference Centre
Date TBD - Intuitive Arts Festival - Spring Psychic Fair, The Da Vinci Center

I truly hope you enjoy your visit to Victoria in April.