Little Local - June 25

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School’s out today for our kiddos, and summer is officially here!

Inside this week’s issue, you’ll find everything you need to know about Little Local’s 2026 Summer Adventure Passport, including how to get your copy, unlock this year’s Passport Perks, and enter to win local prize packs.

I hope to see you this Saturday at Uptown for the Passport Pickup Party! I’ll be there rain or shine with freezies! 😉

Your Passport to Summer Fun

I’m so excited to announce the launch of Little Local’s 2026 Summer Adventure Passport! It’s a free, family-friendly summer activity passport designed to help you do more with the kids, support local businesses, and make the most of summer around Greater Victoria.

Inside the Passport, you’ll find simple summer adventure activities for kids and families, plus Passport Perks from participating local businesses. Complete your Passport by the end of the summer and send in a photo for a chance to win one of three local prize packs, including an ice cream party, family passes at local attractions, and restaurant gift certificates.

📍 How to Get the Passport

Passport Pickup Party: Come find me this Saturday, June 27 from 10am-12pm at Uptown Boulevard in front of H&M to grab your free printed Passport, and get ready for a summer of local adventures!

Printed copies will also be available at Victoria City Hall, Moss Street Market at the Info Tent on Saturdays, and Thistle & Wren in Fernwood.

You can also grab a digital version to print at home here 👇🏼

🎁 Passport Perks

The Passport Perks are one of the best parts of the Summer Adventure Passport: special one-time offers from local businesses for Little Local families.

Each perk can be redeemed once per Passport between July 1 and August 31, 2026. Participating businesses will check off the circle beside their name once the offer has been used.

Here’s what’s available exclusively to Passport holders this year:

• Parachute Ice Cream: Free kids scoop with any ice cream purchase

• Flying Squirrel: Buy one pass, get one free

• Swans Pub: 50% off kids meals

• Ferris’ Burger & Oyster Bar: 50% off kids meals

• Ottavio: Free kids scoop of gelato

• 49 Below Ice Cream: 10% off any in-store purchase before tax

• Malahat SkyWalk: 50% off one youth or adult ticket with the purchase of a regular-priced adult ticket

• Big Wheel Burger: Free fries + soda (Pepsi) with the purchase of any regular burger

• Wheely Clean: $50 off mobile teeth whitening for adults

• Thistle & Wren: 10% off one full-priced item, excluding Jellycat

• Uptown: Goodie bag available for pick-up at The Thread Bar in Town Square

Note: You must have your Passport with you to redeem Passport Perks.

🏆 Prizes

Who doesn’t love prizes? And let’s be honest, these are largely for the grown-ups because you’re the ones making the summer magic happen.

Complete 10+ activities in your Summer Adventure Passport and send in a photo by the end of August for a chance to win one of three local prize packs:

🍦 Ice Cream Party for 10 at Parachute Ice Cream
A sweet summer celebration for one lucky family and their friends.

🌸 Part & Parcel Gift Certificate + Butchart Gardens Gift Basket
A beautiful local prize pack with delicious food and a special Butchart Gardens gift.

🌲 Ferris’ Gift Certificate + Malahat Skywalk Family Annual Passes
Great food downtown and 2 Adult and 2 Child/Youth Annual Membership Passes for the Malahat Skywalk.

Winners will be drawn at random and announced in September 3rd’s newsletter.

❤️ Thank you to our sponsors

This project is free for families thanks to the generous support of local businesses and community partners. A huge thank you to this year’s Summer Adventure Passport sponsors:

And thank you to our print sponsor, Better Print, for making this year’s printed Passports look so beautiful!

Please show our sponsors them some love this summer. These are the businesses helping make local family fun more accessible!

Summer Reading Club

The BC Summer Reading Club is back at local libraries now until September 6 for kids ages 0–14. This year’s theme is Under the Sea! Kids can pick up a reading record at any GVPL branch, read or be read to for 20 minutes a day, and collect weekly stickers as they go. At the end of the summer, kids who complete their reading record can bring it back to the library to receive a Summer Reading Club medal.

I remember doing the Summer Reading Club as a kid and it was definitely one of the highlights of my summer. It’s free, and such a fun way to keep kids reading all summer long! Learn more at your local library or online here.

🛍️ Thistle & Wren: Thistle & Wren’s Archive Sale is on now with 50–80% off beautiful kids’ clothing and accessories. Newsletter subscribers get early access June 25–26, with all-access shopping June 27–28. Visit their beautiful store in Fernwood or shop online!

🌱 Sprout Family Health: Sprout’s new Health Report Card is a thoughtful annual check-in for your family’s health, looking at sleep, nutrition, movement, mental health, and illness prevention so you can better understand what’s changing and where small shifts could help. Join Sprout for preventative family care that helps you stay well, not just get care when something’s wrong.

This Weekend

⭐ Passport Pickup Party
Saturday, June 27 | 10am–12pm
Head to the Boulevard at Uptown to find me handing out free Little Local Summer Adventure Passports! Stop by to grab your passport, say hi, and get ready for two months of easy local adventures, perks, and prizes! [Info]

🎷 TD Victoria International JazzFest
Runs until Sunday, June 28
Catch live music around Victoria as JazzFest wraps up its final weekend, including Funk ’n Soul in the Township at Bullen Park in Esquimalt. [Info]

🍓 Moss Street Market
Saturday, June 27 | 10am–2pm
Wander through one of Victoria’s favourite outdoor markets, with local food, produce, flowers, makers, music, and lots to snack on. Sir James Douglas School. [Info]

🛍️ Bastion Square Market
Thursday–Sunday until October 11am–5pm
Stroll through Bastion Square for local artisans, handmade goods, treats, and a downtown wander. Weather permitting. [Info]

⚽ Canada vs. South Africa at Langford Station
Sunday, June 28 | 12pm
Watch Canada’s Round of 32 match against South Africa on the big outdoor screen at The Langford Station. There will be food trucks, a beer garden, family fun, and lots of soccer energy! [Info]

🍝 Victoria Italian Day
Sunday, June 28 | 12–5pm
Celebrate Italian culture with live music, food, gelato, classic cars and family fun at the Leonardo Da Vinci Italian Cultural Centre. Free. [Info]

☕ Sunday Circle: Art + Play
Sunday, June 28 | 9–11 am
A new monthly family gathering with coffee, connection, expert-led learning, and open-ended play for kids 0-7. This first session held at Memorial Park in Esquimalt, features art therapist Erin Robinson sharing how creativity supports children’s development and wellbeing. [Register]

Upcoming

🇨🇦 Canada Day in Victoria
Wednesday, July 1 | 11am until late
Celebrate Canada Day downtown with live music, food, family-friendly activities, and a fireworks finale around the Inner Harbour and Legislature lawns. [Info]

🍓 Saanich Strawberry Festival
Sunday, July 5 | 11am–4pm
Enjoy live music, kids’ activities, crafts and strawberries and ice cream at Beaver Lake Regional Park. Admission is free. [Info]

🎶 Victoria Folk Music Festival
Saturday, July 4
Spend the day enjoying live folk music, local food, an artisan market and a children’s area at Royal Athletic Park. [Info]

🦀 BC CrabFest
Saturday, July 18 | 11am–10pm
A new harbour celebration at Ship Point with food, music, and ocean stories. A fun downtown outing for families who love seafood, music, and the waterfront. [Info]

✈️ Canadian Forces Snowbirds Over Victoria
Tuesday, August 4 | 5pm
The Snowbirds are coming to Victoria for an aerobatic performance over Dallas Road Park. Arrive early to grab a spot, enjoy the waterfront, and pick up dinner from the food trucks. [Info]

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.