Author: Swikriti Dandotia
Victoria residents and visitors should prepare for a busy Sunday on city roads, with two large public events expected to create major traffic delays across downtown, James Bay, Fairfield and Burnside.
The Times Colonist 10K race and the Khalsa Day Parade are both taking place on Sunday, April 26, bringing thousands of people into Victoria during overlapping hours. Between runners, spectators, festival visitors and community participants, more than 18,000 people are expected to be involved in the two events.
The TC10K will begin shortly after 8 a.m., drawing close to 11,000 runners. The annual race is expected to be larger than last year, when roughly 9,000 people took part. The route will affect several high-traffic areas, including James Bay, Fairfield, Dallas Road and streets near the legislature.
Road closures for the race are not limited to Sunday morning. Some restrictions began on Saturday, with Belleville Street between Government and Menzies closing from noon, followed by Menzies Street between Quebec and Belleville from 3 p.m. Those closures are expected to remain in place until about 5 p.m. Sunday.
On Sunday, additional closures begin as early as 4 a.m. in parts of downtown and James Bay. Full race-route closures are expected from around 7:30 a.m. until noon, though some streets may reopen earlier if conditions allow.
Drivers can expect disruptions along Menzies Street, Dallas Road, Douglas Street, Belleville Street and surrounding roads. The route follows much of the waterfront along Dallas Road before finishing near the legislature, meaning traffic pressure will be especially high around the Inner Harbour and nearby access routes.
For official route and closure updates, residents can check the TC10K road closure information from RunSport.
Khalsa Day celebrations to bring crowds to Burnside
While the TC10K is underway, Victoria’s Burnside neighbourhood will also be preparing for the Khalsa Day Parade and Vaisakhi celebrations. Around 7,000 people are expected to attend the community event hosted by Gurdwara Singh Sabha at 470 Cecelia Road.
The celebration begins in the morning and is expected to continue into the afternoon, with activities running from about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Nagar Kirtan procession is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and continue until around 2 p.m.
The parade route includes Cecelia Road, Burnside Road, Alpha Street, Douglas Street, Finlayson Street and Jutland Road. Drivers should also be aware of a planned performance stop on Finlayson Street between Douglas and Burnside, which is expected to last about 20 minutes and could add to delays in the area.
Khalsa Day is one of the most meaningful celebrations in the Sikh calendar. It marks the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 and is widely observed with prayer, music, community meals and public processions. In Victoria, the celebration has grown into a major community gathering, with food tents, cultural displays, children’s activities and Gatka martial arts demonstrations planned around the gurdwara.
Organizers are expected to set up dozens of tents near the temple, offering traditional food and displays on Sikh history. The event is open to the wider public and is designed as both a religious observance and a community celebration.
Police warn of delays across the city
Because the two events overlap, traffic delays may spread beyond the immediate race and parade routes. The busiest period is expected from early morning through early afternoon, especially between 8 a.m. and noon, when the TC10K is active and Khalsa Day crowds are arriving in Burnside.
Police are advising drivers to avoid affected areas if possible, use alternate routes and allow extra time for travel. Anyone heading to ferries, seaplane terminals, downtown hotels, the Inner Harbour or Victoria International Airport should leave earlier than usual.
Officers from Victoria Police, Saanich Police and Central Saanich Police are expected to help manage traffic and public safety throughout the day. Traffic-control personnel will be positioned along event routes, and drivers are being asked to follow instructions on site rather than relying only on regular navigation apps.
Transit users may also experience delays where bus routes intersect with temporary closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should watch for barriers, detours and crowd-control points near both event areas.
Additional safety measures are also being used for the Khalsa Day event. Organizers have worked with city officials and police on precautions such as parade marshals and physical barriers to secure public gathering areas.
Victoria police have also said temporary CCTV cameras and a drone may be used to support crowd safety during the events. Police say recordings are not kept unless they are needed for an investigation.
For residents, the practical advice is simple: avoid downtown, James Bay, Fairfield and Burnside during peak event hours unless the trip is necessary. Those attending either event should arrive early, expect limited parking and prepare for slow movement in surrounding streets.
Despite the road closures, both events are expected to bring a strong community atmosphere to Victoria. The TC10K remains one of the region’s best-known spring races, while Khalsa Day offers a major cultural celebration for the Sikh community and the wider public.
More local updates and community coverage can be found on Swikblog.
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