What a way to kick off December! Here are 9 things to do in and around Victora this weekend, December 1st-2nd.
20th Annual IEOA Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive
Get ready to have your streets lit up by roughly 80 brilliantly-decorated trucks for the 20th year in a row!
The convoy is a procession of local commercial trucks decorated in hundreds of Christmas lights that also helps line the shelves of the Mustard Seed Street Church & Food Bank – what’s not to love?!
If you can’t make it to the beautiful live event, you can still have a great view of the evening: Victoria Buzz will be live broadcasting from Oak Bay Village on our Facebook page thanks to Sitka Law Group and West Shore Towing.
- When: Saturday, December 1st, 5:45 PM – 8:30 PM
- Where: See route map
- Admission: Free; donate your non-perishable food items at the locations listed above
Threshold Housing’s Winter Carnival
Santa Claus is coming to town… on Saturday!
He’ll be bringing joy to Bastion Square for Threshold Housing Society’s Winter Carnival, along with live music, hot chocolate, a tree lighting, and many more fun activities for the whole family.
- When: Saturday, December 1st, 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Where: Bastion Square, 575 Yates St, Victoria
3rd Annual Christmas Craft Beer Show
Grab yourself a pint or two of fresh holiday cheer. For the past two years, this highly anticipated kick-off to the holidays gave beer enthusiasts a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their barley-based beverages by trying as many brews as they can physically handle.
- When: Friday, November 30th – Saturday, December 1st, 5 p.m.
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- Admission: Tickets start at $40. Click here to purchase.
*Note: This event is 19+.
Fresh Herring Sale with Finest at Sea & Fishermen Helping Kids
For the 8th year in a row the Finest at Sea and ‘Fishermen Helping Kids with Cancer’ are hosting a fundraiser for kids battling cancer.
But this isn’t just any fundraiser, it’s a fresh herring sale, and it’s put together purely by the passion of volunteers who know that 100% of the proceeds go directly to kids with cancer. Last year’s sale raised $106,598!
- When: Saturday, December 1st, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or until they sell out!
- Where: 27 Erie Street, across from Fisherman’s Wharf
12th Annual Langford Light Up & Truck Parade
The Langford Light Up takes place on at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Langford.
There will be lots of fun activities for the family including; the Goldstream Station Christmas Market, Entertainment by the West Shore Community Concert Band, plus Kydo the Clown, the Ablaze Singers Choir & Clarks Martial Arts. Volunteers from the Langford Fire Hall & Rotary Club of West Shore (Victoria, BC) will be serving Free Hot Dogs & Hot Chocolate (while supplies last), West Shore Parks & Recreation will have crafts for the kids and there will even be a visit from Santa!
Stick around after the Lightup and watch the IEOA Truck Parade!
- When: Saturday, December 1st 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Where: Veteran’s Memorial Park in Langford
The Butchart Gardens Christmas Light-up
One of Victoria’s most iconic attractions is kicking off the Christmas season in style!
Butchart Gardens will throw the switch to kick off their “Magic of Christmas Season” with an official “light up” in front of the Rose Carousel at 5 p.m.
- When: Saturday December 2nd 5 p.m.
- Where: Butchart Gardens – 800 Benvenuto Avenue
Festival of Trees at the Bay Centre
The 27th Annual Festival of Trees at the Bay Centre has begun! See the Bay Centre transformed into a glowing forest of hand-decorated trees. Share in the spirit by voting for your favourite (like ours 
), with all proceeds supporting the most urgent health care needs of kids in BC.
Trees will be on display at the Bay Centre starting November 15, 2018, through January 7, 2019.
- When: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (during shopping centre hours)
- Where: The Bay Centre
Story Time with Santa
For the first time ever, Victoria Buzz along with the Bay Centre is hosting a ‘Story Time with Santa‘ on Sunday afternoon in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The half-hour event is perfect for kids, and will include a Christmas tale read by Santa Claus and a community sing-along with the Victoria Children’s Choir.
If you can’t make it down there in person, don’t worry! Victoria Buzz will be live streaming the event on our Facebook page and your kids can ask Santa some questions in the interactive comments section of the video.
When: Sunday, December 2nd, 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: The Bay Centre, Centre Court – 1150 Douglas Street
Sidney Sparkles Christmas Parade
The Sidney Sparkle Parade is this Sunday December 2nd at 5 p.m.. This annual treat is one every Saanich Peninsula dweller and visitor looks forward to!
If you can’t make it out there, don’t worry, Victoria Buzz will be live streaming the event on Facebook – marking the first time this Christmas tradition has been broadcasted live.
The livestream will utilize multiple high definition cameras to bring you a crystal clear view of downtown Sidney as it buzzes with excitement.
- When: Sunday, December 2nd at 5 p.m. Our live stream will go live shortly after the parade begins.
- Where: Beacon Avenue in Sidney
