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Summer is definitely not slowing down yet! This week I’m sharing some lesser-known playgrounds around Greater Victoria that are worth adding to your summer rotation, plus there is a lot happening this weekend, from the opening of a sunflower festival, butterfly talks, a fantasy faire, and more!

I’m also sharing a few ideas for making the most of these last few weeks of summer before September routines kick in. And if you’re already thinking ahead to fall, Fall Crew Mail is now available. 🍂

Hope you find something fun to do this weekend!

Lesser Known Playgrounds

Do you ever get tired of the same playground and park circuit? Summer is the perfect time to explore somewhere new with the family.

I polled a few friends who live in different areas of Greater Victoria to find out their favourite neighbourhood playgrounds, in hopes you might discover a new one too. I’ve put all of their recommendations into a map, but here are a few lesser-known playgrounds we think are worth checking out:

Honeycrisp Ave Playground | Langford: This playground in McCormick Meadows is worth the drive, especially if you have kids of different ages. There are separate play areas for younger and bigger kids, plenty of climbing and balancing features and, best of all, a double zipline.

Rathdown Park | Sidney: Tucked into a residential area of Sidney, Rathdown Park has plenty of green space plus a playground with slides, swings, climbing features and a mini zipline. It’s a great one for mixed ages and feels like a true neighbourhood find rather than a destination everyone already knows about.

Maynard Park | Cadboro Bay: Maynard Park got a completely new playground in 2025, with separate areas for ages 2–5 and 5–12. There are climbing nets, slides, swings and natural play elements, making it a great option for families with a mix of ages.

Redfern Park | Jubilee: Tucked into a residential neighbourhood, Redfern is a sweet little park that can easily fly under the radar. There are play structures and swings for younger and elementary-aged kids, plus grass and big trees that make it a nice spot to hang out for a while. Discovery Coffee is also just a block away in case you needed another reason to visit this park.

If you have specific playground requirements, check out Playground Buddy. There are A LOT of playgrounds out there, but the app lets you search and filter playgrounds by features and amenities, including swings, slides, water play, shade, washrooms, and accessible equipment.

And don’t forget about school playgrounds! They can be some of the best places to explore during the summer, especially when your kids are excited by the novelty of playing at a school that isn’t their own. Just check any posted signage or school district rules before playing.

One of our favourites is Victor School in Jubilee. It has an inclusive playground with lots to climb and explore, although a word of warning: there isn’t much shade, so it can get hot in the middle of a summer day.

Fall Crew Mail

I’m putting together the Fall edition of Little Local Crew and I’m so excited for your kiddos to receive it. 🍂

If you’re new around here, Crew Mail is Little Local’s seasonal snail mail just for kids. It’s a real envelope arriving in their mailbox, filled with a little bit of seasonal fun from around Victoria.

This fall, they’ll get a letter from Alfie the Owl, Nature Notes to help them spot some of the plants and creatures around us, stickers, something to make or try, and a few surprises I’m keeping under wraps. 👀

Designed for kids ages 3–12 on Vancouver Island, especially families in Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island. Crew Mail is purchased one season at a time — no subscription required.

Beach Advisories

It’s worth checking the latest beach advisories before packing the swimsuits. A beach advisory means swimming isn’t recommended right now because of elevated bacteria, blue-green algae or another possible health concern.

The beach may still be open for playing and exploring, but it’s best to keep kids and pets out of the water until the advisory is lifted.

🧀 Ottavio’s: Ottavio is an easy family stop for lunch, a treat or a few things to take home for dinner. Pick up a sandwich or something from the deli, browse the Italian pantry staples, and don’t skip the gelato. Summer Adventure Passport holders can also enjoy a free kids’ gelato 🍨 with their Passport.

🥦 Part & Parcel: Part & Parcel is the kind of place where you can enjoy a really beautiful, thoughtful meal without any pretentiousness. The food is creative, seasonal and seriously tasty, but the atmosphere stays relaxed and welcoming, making it a great spot for a family lunch or a date night dinner in Quadra Village.

This Weekend

🌱 VegFest Victoria
Friday, August 14 | 4–8pm & Saturday, August 15 | 11am–8pm
Head to Centennial Square for plant-based food, live entertainment, local vendors and activities for kids and families. Admission by donation. [Info]

🌿 Park Naturalist Pop-Up & Nature Walk
Friday, August 14 | 9–11am
Meet a Saanich park naturalist at Hyacinth Park for hands-on nature discoveries and a guided family walk through the park. [Info]

🌻 Saanichton Corn Maze Sunflower Festival
Saturday & Sunday | 10am–8pm
Wander through the sunflowers, pick your own blooms, visit the goats and enjoy local berries, ice cream, farm treats and plenty of summery photo spots. After this weekend, the farm will be open Fridays through Sundays for the next few weekends. [Info]

⚔️ Victoria Renaissance Faire
Saturday, August 15 | 10am–8pm
Step into a world of knights and fantasy with sword fighting, wandering performers, a medieval market and a costume contest at Banfield Park. [Info]

🌊 Exploring Indigenous Perspectives at the Beach
Saturday, August 15 | 10–11:30am
Join CRD Indigenous cultural programmer Leslie McGarry for an all-ages beach walk at East Sooke Regional Park, learning about the cultural significance of local plants, animals and the seasons. Be prepared to get your feet wet! [Info]

🌱 Woodside Farm Days
Saturdays through September 26 | 10am–4pm
Spend the day at this historic Sooke farm picking and tasting fresh produce, meeting goats, bunnies and pigs, riding the hay wagon, exploring the apple orchard maze and playing aboard a giant wooden pirate ship. [Info]

🥒 Picklefest Victoria
Saturday, August 15 | 11am–7pm
Phillips Backyard transforms into a celebration of all things pickled and fermented, with more than 35 vendors, live music and plenty of unusual snacks to try. There will be a kids fun zone, and kids 12 and under are free with a ticket-holding adult. [Info]

🍓 Flavour Trails Festival Weekend
Saturday, August 15–Sunday, August 16
Follow a self-guided trail around the Saanich Peninsula for farm visits, tastings, workshops and special experiences celebrating local food and agriculture. [Info]

🦋 Brilliant Butterflies
Sunday, August 16 | 10–11:30am
Join a CRD naturalist at Elk/Beaver Lake for an interactive, all-ages walk exploring butterfly habitats, life cycles and behaviour. The walk is about 1 km and starts at the Beaver Beach Nature Centre. [Info]

🐟 Sea Shirt Sunday
Sunday, August 16 | 1–3pm
Create your own fish-inspired shirt or tote at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea using provided fish molds and fabric paint. Bring a T-shirt, pillowcase or cloth bag (or buy one there), and $2 for paint; the activity is all ages and included with admission. [Info]

🚗 Langford Show & Shine
Sunday, August 16 | 10am–2pm
Goldstream Avenue fills with classic, concept and unusual cars, plus live music, face painting, balloon art, kids’ crafts and more activities at the Langford Station. Free and very family-friendly. [Info]

🇻🇳 Soul of Vietnam
Sunday, August 16 | 11am–8pm
Celebrate Vietnamese culture at Ship Point with live music and dance, authentic food, a waterfront fashion show and a Kids Zone with games and face painting. [Info]

🍎 Orchard Market
Sunday, August 16 | 12–6pm
Spend a relaxed afternoon at Junction Orchard & Cidery browsing local makers, bakers, artisans and food vendors in a family- and pet-friendly setting. [Info]

Upcoming

🏮 Salish Sea Lantern Festival
Saturday, August 22 | 6:30–10pm
Head to Beacon Park in Sidney for lantern displays, live performances, face painting and family activities before an illuminated lantern procession winds along the waterfront after dark. Free and all ages. [Info]

🇬🇷 Victoria Greek Fest
August 28–30 & September 4–7
Head to the Greek Community Centre for Greek food, live music, traditional dancing and cultural performances over two late-summer weekends. [Info]

🏓 Victoria Pickleball Festival
Sunday, August 30 | Kids Zone 10am–4pm
Head to Topaz Park for Canada’s first Pickleball Festival, with tournament action, a local vendor market, food garden and a Kids Zone running from 10am–4pm. [Info]

🎡 Saanich Fair
September 5–7
The annual Labour Day weekend tradition is back with farm animals, midway rides, agricultural displays, competitions, food and live entertainment at the Saanich Fairgrounds. [Info]

Library Summer Drop-Ins

The library has a great lineup of free summer drop-in programs for kids and families, from storytimes and crafts to comics, artifacts, Lego, buttons, and book-themed fun.

Hope you enjoyed this issue of Little Local! Please reply with any feedback and suggestions :)

P.S. Would you like to get your business in front of thousands of local Victoria families? Email us at [email protected].

Final Note: I do my best to keep everything accurate, but I am only human so the odd mistake might sneak in! If you catch one, feel free to let me know.