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Get in the Holiday Spirit – Christmas in Victoria is the most wonderful time of the year as the tree-lined streets of downtown and around town become adorned in lights and other festive displays.
Keep checking back on this list, we will be adding more. Have something to add to this? info@victoriabuzz.com
7th Annual Centennial Square Light-Up
Lighting the trees in Centennial Square, with musical entertainment, roving entertainers, the DVBA Ferris wheel and free treats from Downtown Restaurants!
When: Saturday, November 29th from 4:00-5:30 p.m. (lights go on at 5 p.m. and Ferris wheel operation will continue until 9 p.m.)
Who: Everyone is invited to this free public event coordinated by the DVBA and the City of Victoria (rain or shine). Afterward, head over to Government Street and take in the Island Farms Santa Light Parade!
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Island Farms Santa Light Parade
November 29, 2014 (5:45 PM – 7:00 PM)
Government Street (from Belleville to Chatham Streets)
Bring the family to this festive, annual parade to celebrate the holiday season. Enjoy an array of dazzling floats and marching bands that travel along the magically lit Government Street from Victoria’s Inner Harbour to Chatham Street. Meet up at the Capital Iron parking lot for delicious free treats courtesy of Island Farms.
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The 2014 IEOA Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 – Trucks leave the parking lot at Ogden Point at 5:45PM .
This event supports the Mustard Seed Food Bank, Westshore Christmas Hamper Fund Society and the Sidney Lions Food Bank.
Full details and route map: http://ieoa.ca/?q=2011convoy#route
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Ferris Wheel in Centennial Square
The DVBA Ferris wheel is back in Centennial Square for 4 weekends this holiday season!! Enjoy a ride 20m above the sparkling lights of the Square. While you’re there enjoy live music and pop-up vendors, and don’t forget to take a photo at the Ferris wheel backdrop.
Where: Centennial Square, beside the McPherson Playhouse
Who: Rides are $2 per person. Riders must be over 2 years old and at least 36 inches to ride.
For times: http://downtownvictoria.ca/christmas#DVBA-Ferris-Wheel
Skating at The Fairmont Empress
The annual winter wonderland at The Fairmont Empress is expanding this year with the addition of a skating rink on the hotel’s iconic front lawn overlooking the festively lit Victoria Harbour. The cost is $10 per person, $5 for children aged 10 and under and rentals are available at $5 per pair.
Monday, November 24th, 2014 – Wednesday, December 24th, 2014 5pm – 9pm weekdays and 1pm to 9pm weekends.
For more details, visit: http://www.fairmont.com/empress-victoria/promotions/skating/
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Bear Wear
Bear Wear is a beloved holiday tradition — a festive display of cuddly teddy bears dressed up in fabulous costumes by local sponsors, businesses, organizations, and individuals. Since its inception in 2001, Bear Wear has raised over $350,000 for kids with special needs on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands!
The event is open to the public seven days a week. Pick up a hot chocolate and walk through the luxurious lobby of the Hotel Grand Pacific, elegantly decorated for the holiday season, and behold 40 bears in masquerade.
When: November 25, 2014 through January 4, 2015
Where: Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC
For more info, visti: http://childrenshealthvi.org/events/bear-wear
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BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Festival of Trees
November 19, 2014 – January 6, 2015 – The Fairmont Empress – 721 Government St. Victoria, BC
Every year, Victoria Festival of Trees transforms The Fairmont Empress into a lush forest of beautifully decorated trees to raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Sponsors, local businesses, organizations and individuals of this event come together and decorate trees – in a sometimes wacky, often irreverent and always beautiful fashion.
The event is open to the public seven days a week until 11:00pm every night from the end of November to the beginning of January.
See more at: http://www.bcchf.ca/events/event-calendar/festival-of-trees/victoria/#sthash.CkBlKTko.dpuf
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The Magic of Christmas: Light-Up
Butchart Gardens Magic of Christmas Season starts on Monday, December 1st with their Light-Up Ceremony at 5pm at the Rose Carousel when the switch will be thrown to light up The Gardens. Experience Traditional Carollers and Festive Brass, all day free rides on The Rose Carousel, and of course our light displays – don’t forget your camera! And kids (12 and under), remember to bring your hand-crafted snowflake and trade it at the coffee shop for a free hot chocolate!Starting at 5pm on December 1st – Carousel rides are free for the night and there are Christmas carolers nightly for the season.
From December 1st until Twelfth Night on January 6th, thousands of lights twinkle and glow throughout The Gardens. Started in 1987, the display is so large that our lighting crew is busy for a full two months installing it, and the accompanying massive amount of festive decorations.
Throughout the festive season the ice skating rink in Waterwheel Square, adds an extra experience to the lighting extravaganza. Each evening the Festive Brass and traditional carollers perform in the crisp night air. Hot chocolate and other Christmas treats are near at hand from the cosy, fire place warmed Coffee Shop and even nearer to the music in the Blue Poppy Restaurant. More formal dining is offered in The Dining Room Restaurant with a special Magic of Christmas Menu, with thoroughly Christmas atmosphere.
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Sidney Sparkles Christmas Parade and Sailpast
Get into the festive season and start your holidays with Sidney Sparkles. With events such as Breakfast with Santa, Santa’s Parade and the ever popular SailPast.
This year’s parade is scheduled for November 29. It’s a two-for-one treat in Sidney Nov. 29!
First, grab a hot chocolate or your favourite warm beverage, then line up along Beacon Avenue and Second Street to get a terrific view of the annual Sidney Sparkles Christmas Parade starting at 5 p.m. Keep your eyes out for the Jolly Old Elf – Santa himself riding atop the Sidney Fire Department truck.
Then immediately following, head to the waterfront to view the parade of lighted in boats in the annual Sailpast of Lighted Boats that lights up the coastline from Port Sidney to Tulista Park!
More Details: http://www.peninsulacelebrations.ca/events/sidney-sparkles/
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6th Annual Canada’s National Gingerbread Showcase
Feast your eyes and nose on creative inspirations constructed from gingerbread. More than just houses, they are detailed sculptures and unique works of art created by professional and amateur chefs. Vote for your favorite, and make a donation to Habitat for Humanity Victoria. A spirit rousing experience, the gingerbread houses will leave your mouth watering, and your eyes wanting more.
When: Monday, November 24th, 2014 – Sunday, January 4th, 2015 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Where: Inn at Laurel Point (650 Montreal Street)
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4th Annual Classy Brassy Christmas With the Pinnacle Brass Quintet
The sound of brass is the sound of the season! Get into the holiday spirit at the Pinnacle Brass Quintet’s 4th Annual Christmas Concert. Featuring members of the Victoria Symphony, the UVic School of Music and the Naden Band. Proceeds to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund.
For more information visit: www.pinnaclebrassquintet.com or phone: 250.686.9252
When: Dec 2 2014 – 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM
Where: Church of St. John the Divine
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8th Annual Official Langford Light Up
Join us for the 8th Annual Official Langford Light Up event on Saturday, December 6th at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Langford.
For more details, visit: https://www.victoriabuzz.com/events-calendar/8th-annual-official-langford-light/
When: Dec 6 2014 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Veteran’s Memorial Park in Langford
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9th Annual Celebration of Lights in Esquimalt
When: Celebration of Lights Parade starts at 6pm – Visit with Santa, meet Happy the Penguin, Hot Food & Refreshments courtesy of Esquimalt Lions Club, Live Music performance by the Jason Buie Band, and so much more… Festive Family Fun with Live Music and Entertainment – 6-8pm – Archie Browning Sports Centre
When: Dec 7 2014 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
For More Details : https://www.victoriabuzz.com/events-calendar/celebration-lights/
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Esquimalt’s Live Christmas Tree Village
The Esquimalt Recreation Centre will be transformed December 1st to 31st into a Live Christmas Tree Village. Public are invited to experience the holiday magic and vote for their favourite throughout the month. Draw prizes for all who vote as well as a $500 Esquimalt Recreation Grand Prize Package for the winning tree as selected by “People’s Choice” will be awarded.
Where: Esquimalt Recreation Centre, 527 Fraser Street
When: December 1st to 31st, 2014
Cost: FREE
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CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH WIND – Christmas Drive-in Movie Friday November 28th: Nightmare Before Christmas
Come and check out our huge outdoor theatre and celebrate the holiday season with us at our Christmas Drive-in Movies! Sound will be accessed through an FM transmitter. Don’t have a car? That’s okay! An area will be set up for those brave souls at the front without a vehicle. A concession will be available. This event is weather permitting: in the event of heavy rain, snow or strong winds, the event will be cancelled.
Where: Archie Browning Sports Centre, rear parking lot, 1151 Esquimalt Road
When: Friday November 28th, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Rainbow Kitchen.
Winspear Festival of Trees
Christmas in Old Town
Miracle on Broad Street
Drop by CFAX Santas Anonymous Society’s signature event, a 12-hour radiothon to raise funds for the Christmas Program. There’ll be lots of fun activities, local celebrities and entertainment.
When: December 12 | 6 am to 6 pm
Where: 1420 Broad St.
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Christmas Entertainment at Craigdarroch Castle
December 13 and 14, 11 am to 4 pm
Tour the festively decorated Craigdarroch Castle and enjoy entertainment from classical guitar to the Dance Hall Players and festive story time.
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Caroling in the Village
The 16th Annual Caroling in the Village presented by the Cadboro Bay Village Business Association is Sunday Dec 7th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. This year’s musical line up includes: The Mount Douglas Secondary School Jazz Band and Choir, Louise Rose & the Open Door Choir, and local opera singer Julia Morgan, Mezzo Soprano. All your favourite holiday treats will be available by donation with proceeds going to support local music programs and the Our Place Society. Raffle tickets for gift baskets from the village shops or the Pepper’s Foods Turkey draw will be $2 each or 6 for $10.
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See more Christmas Events happening around town: https://www.victoriabuzz.com/events-calendar/categories/christmas/
Have something to add to this? info@victoriabuzz.com
