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

If you are planning a trip to Victoria in March, 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 March
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 March, you'll notice that we can be rather smug about the fact that we are counting flower blooms while the rest of country is counting inches - or even feet - of snow! It's true, in early March each year, the entire region is encouraged to participate in counting flower blooms and recording the count on the Victoria flower count tracker. That's right - our flowers have their own website and in 2022, the region collectively counted over 27.8 billion (with a "b") blossoms!

Hundreds of thousands of those blooms are at Butchart Gardens and it is a wonderful time of year for a visit.

What's in Bloom at Butchart Gardens in March

Aubretia
Camellia
Daffodil
English Daisy
Forget-Me-Not

Grape Hyacinth
Hyacinth
Lily-of-the-Valley Shrub
Pansy
Pasque Flower

Rhododendron
Rock Cress
Scilla
Tulip

Depending on the year, Easter may fall in either March or April. In 2023, Good Friday is in April. There are no statutory holidays in March 2023.

As of 2023, British Columbia still recognizes Daylight Savings Time although our Government has been engaged in public consultation and we may choose to abolish this tradition. For now though, the clocks are set to move ahead one hour on Sunday, March 12, 2023.

A bee in the blossoms

Spring is such a beautiful time here in Victoria. The days are longer and brighter and warmer and drier. People are anxious to get outside and with good reason. The grass is green, the trees are budding and the spring flowers are blooming. Find my favourite spots to see cherry blossoms. (If you love cherry blossoms like I do, you may want to grab one of these beautiful paint by number kits to enjoy the beauty of the blossoms year-round in your own home).

Early spring is the "calm before the storm" as far as visitors to our city. The first cruise ships will arrive in April and the city will be bustling with activity until November. Until then it is fairly quiet and a good time to get outside and enjoy the weather.

Weather in March

Things start warming up nicely in Victoria in March with average highs of 11 degrees and lows between 1 and 2 degrees. It is also considerably drier with average precipitation of 21 mm. The chance of snow in March is extremely remote.

Pine cones opening up in spring.

One of my favourite sounds in Victoria in March is the snap, crackle and pop of the pine cones opening up. I can watch the puff of pollen being released into the air and listen to the delightful sounds from my deck. It is a wonderful reminder of the new season unfolding. If you haven't heard this beautiful spring sound, get yourself to a park - such as Beacon Hill on a warm early spring day and listen to the trees come to life. A favourite way to see Beacon Hill park is a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Dressing for the Weather

Most of us are ready to ditch the winter gear in favour of lighter jackets and sweaters. Those of us who wear a 3-in-1 jacket (I love this one from Columbia) usually separate the layers at this time of the year and either wear the fleece by itself or the waterproof jacket by itself. You do not usually need both layers in March during the day although there is a good chance you may want both when it cools down in the evening.

Not sure what a 3-in-1 jacket is? Refer to Victoria in February for a description.

Mt Baker in March from Mt Tolmie

What's in Season

Several of our local restaurants take advantage of local seafood, meats, cheeses, breads, beers, wines and produce. March is still slim pickings for fresh fruits and vegetables but there is a variety of seafood available. Food tours are always popular with locals and city guests. And if you love our local cuisine, I highly recommend this cookbook.

Fruits & Veggies

Cabbage (savoy and red)
Kale
Leeks
Mushrooms
Onions (red/yellow)

Apples

Seafood & Herbs

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

Bay Leaves
Chervil
Cilantro
Fennel
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Savory
Sorrel
Thyme

Things to Do in Victoria in March

Locals love to get outside and enjoy nature in Victoria in March and we encourage you to as well. Find a great selection of outdoor and sports activities in the area here. We have a wonderful network of fairly flat and accessible trails throughout the region suitable for every member of the family.

The main trail is the Galloping Goose Trail 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.

There are several places to rent bikes if you want to join them or better yet, see the area with a guided bike tour with a local.

Riding the Goose

Festivals and Events include:

01-Dec-22 to 31-Mar-23 - Lego Exhibition, Sidney Museum
09-Mar-23 to 16-Mar-23 - Greater Victoria Flower Count
04-Mar-23 - Victoria Women's Expo, G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre
21-Mar-23 - 55 + Lifestyle Show, G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre
29-Mar-23 - Culinaire Premier Food Tasting Experience, Victoria Conference Centre
12-Mar-23 - Daylight Savings Time begins, clocks go ahead one hour
17-Mar-22 - St Patrick's Day