A mobile dance floor will roll through downtown Victoria this weekend – and all you need to join in is a set of wheels and a love of music.
The Victoria Bike Rave returns Saturday, June 7, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. at the Johnson Street Bridge.
Riders of all ages are invited to bring their bikes for a guided cruise through city streets – all to the beat of live DJ sets bumping from a custom-built mobile soundstage.
“It’s a party on wheels,” co-organizer Mike Stulberg said. “There’s music, lights, stops along the way to dance and hang out – and it’s just a really inclusive, stress-free, community vibe.”
The brainchild of Stulberg and fellow “captain” Alex Kalicki, the bike rave was born out of a shared love for cycling and electronic dance music (EDM).
Stulberg first experienced a similar event years ago while living in Seoul, South Korea.
After moving to Victoria, he realized the city’s bike-friendly streets and vibrant music scene made it a perfect fit for a local version.
He floated the idea in an online EDM group. Kalicki raised his hand. And the two got to work.
Three events later, the response has been bigger than they imagined.
“We started small, just a couple of speakers playing DJ mixes from a trailer,” Kalicki said. “Then I had this idea to build a proper mobile DJ booth. I welded it all together myself.”
The revamped trailer, equipped with lighting and room for a live DJ, made its debut later that summer. Since then, turnout has held steady at 200 to 300 riders per event, with word spreading through social media and word of mouth.
Kalicki says the bike rave appeals to a wide range of people – from seasoned ravers to curious families with young kids.
“We had one little guy, maybe six or seven years old, ride up to us during the last event and say it was the best day of his life,” Kalicki said. “You don’t forget that.”
Each event features a new route with multiple scenic stops, though this Saturday’s exact path was still being finalized as of early this week. Riders can expect the journey to last around two to three hours, wrapping up by 10 p.m. at a final stop where the party tends to linger a little longer.
“It’s different every time, which keeps it fresh,” Stulberg said. “Planning the route is probably the trickiest part – you need good stop points and space for the trailer – but otherwise it’s all pretty smooth. The community is amazing. People help push the trailer up hills. Everyone looks out for each other.”
The event is free to attend and open to all ages. Organizers encourage participants to decorate their rides with lights or glow-in-the-dark accessories to add to the visual spectacle once the sun goes down.
This weekend’s rave won’t be the last.
The team is already working with Esquimalt Recreation on a June 20 LGBTQ2S+ bike ride, where they’ll supply the soundtrack. A summer event in Langford is also in the works, along with possible returns in July and August.
For now, the duo is focused on making Saturday’s ride another unforgettable night.
“We’re not trying to build a brand or anything – we just want to keep the good vibes rolling,” Kalicki said. “Every time, more DJs want to get involved, more people show up, and the energy just grows. It’s something new and fun and easy to join. That’s what makes it special.”
