This is the penultimate weekend before Christmas, which means the holiday havoc is starting to ramp up.
There are markets galore, Christmas concerts aplenty, and even a few Drag shows to check out. All that to say — this weekend is going to be fun!
Here are 21 things in and around Victoria this weekend, December 14th and 15th.
Tuba Christmas
Victoria’s holiday celebrations are getting down to brass tacks with the 41st annual Tuba Christmas taking place this Saturday, December 14th!
Embouchure enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike venturing down to Market Square at 1:00 p.m. can expect a great turnout. Last year, a record 120 musicians performed!
- When: December 14th, 1:00 p.m.
- Where: Market Square, 560 Johnson Street
Moss Street Holiday Market
The Moss Street Market is a Victoria staple, and a bit of cold weather won’t stop it operating! Whether it’s raining or shining or (fingers crossed) snowing, vendors will be in the Fairfield Gonzales Community Centre main building and portable, GOR, and Sir James Douglas School gym.
There is hot cider available all day, and over 80 vendors selling bath products, cards, clothing, jewellery, pottery, glassworks, art, toys, preserves, baked goods, winter vegetables, chocolates, meats, fish, hot food, beer, wine, cider, and so much more!
- When: December 14th and 15th, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Moss Street Market, 1330 Fairfield Road
Langford Horse & Carriage Tours
Cuddle up with your loved ones and enjoy a traditional tour of Langford’s festively decorated downtown! $40 per carriage, seats up to 6 people, reservations required – call 250-857-0118 to book, as the tours are limited.
- When: December 14th & 15th – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Aldwynd Road
Live Ice Carving
Indulge in the ultimate show of craftsmanship! Watch an ice carving demonstration by an ice-carving artist – using just a chainsaw.
- When: December 14th & 15th – 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Aldwynd Road
Rockin’ Christmas Sing-A-Long
Enjoy modern holiday music while taking in the all of the Christmas-themed various activities being held at the Park!
- When: December 14th & 15th – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m
- Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Aldwynd Road
Mini Workshops – Learn the Basics of Sugar Cookie Decorating
Learn how to decorate sugar cookies with royal icing – all by donation! First come, first served.
- When: December 14th & 15th – 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
- Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Aldwynd Road
Crafternoons Wreath Making Sessions
Create your own beautiful and festive holiday wreath with expert instruction! Workshops are by donation, first come, first served.
When: December 14th & 15th – 2 p.m. & 3:15 p.m.
Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Aldwynd Road
Holiday Drag – The Showdown
As we move closer to the holidays, it’s time to celebrate with the age-old tradition of Drag. Ten of the city’s top Queens and Kings take to the stage in a glitter-fueled, death-drop laden, extravaganza.
There are $300 up for grabs to the winner, so the stakes are high and the drama even higher!
- When: December 15th, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Where: Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad Street
Commodore 64 at Cavity Curiosity
CAVITY Curiosity Shop are hosting an 8-BIT holiday party with their old friend, the Commodore 64! The shop will have the latest games and classics set up all over the shops for you to play, with a video projector set up for four-player, big-screen action!
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own hardware to set up, and they can partake in the store’s massive collection of floppies with tons of classics. Dig in and explore!
- When: December 15th, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Where: CAVITY Curiosity Shop, 2514 Douglas Street
Etsy Artisans Market
Time to bring your Christmas shopping from the internet into real life, with the Etsy Artisans Market. Featuring the same amount of diversity and craftsmanship you can expect from perusing Etsy online, this market is a great way to support local this holiday season.
- When: Saturday, December 14th, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 15th, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Where: Tillicum Shopping Centre, 3170 Tillicum Road
Wintertide Hand-Made Holiday Market
Wintertide is the lovechild of two Victoria artists who bring together a curated community of designers and crafters for stellar small-batch shopping events. At Wintertide Hand-made Holiday Market 2019, 35 artisans are offering their finest goods for an excellent shopping experience.
“The vision is to bring our community of crafters together, and for customers to meet the artists behind every gift they pick up,” the market says.
- When: Saturday December 14th, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Oak Bay United Church, 1355 Mitchell Street
Magic of the Holidays with the Victoria Symphony
You can join the Victoria Symphony and Vox Humana Chamber Choir for Magic of the Holidays, December 14th and 15th at the Royal Theatre, and celebrate the season with both holly jolly music and sentimental music including favorites like O’ Holy Night, the Nutcracker Suite, and Music from Harry Potter.
Handel’s Messiah, Canadian Brass and A Viennese New Year round out the Victoria Symphony’s holiday programs, which are sure to enchant audiences on both evenings.
- When: Saturday December 14th and Sunday December 15th, both from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
Luminescence
Victoria’s premier women’s choir brings light into the darkness this Christmas season with Luminescence. Audience members can join the choir on a magical journey through light and beauty, with songs to celebrate the magic and glimmer of winter.
With sparkling pieces such as Rise Up by Jake Runested, Reel a Bouche by Malcolm Daglish, a Finnish set by Anna-Mari Karaha, and Eatenen Vuelie by Frode Fjellheim, listeners should be prepared to be enchanted with sweeping harmonies and stunning arrangements — a perfect winter treat.
- When: Saturday December 14th, Doors at 2:00 p.m., performance from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Where: Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue
Festival of Trees Victoria
The Festival of Trees is back at the Bay Centre! A community tradition that has become the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season in Victoria.
Head down to the Bay Centre, grab your favourite holiday beverage, and tour the trees that have been beautifully decorated.
Support BC Children’s Hospital by making a donation and voting for your favourite tree. Funds raised through this event help meet the most critical health needs of kids in BC.
- When: Trees are on display until January 6 during opening hours
- Where: The Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas Street
11th annual Gingerbread Showcase
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Parkside Hotel! The showcase brings people of all skill levels together to compete against each other in a gingerbread house-making competition.
- When: On now until Sunday, January 5th, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m
- Where: Atrium of the Parkside Hotel, 810 Humboldt Street
Christmas at Craigdarroch Castle
Holiday lovers, rejoice – Christmas lasts the whole month of December at Craigdarroch Castle! Starting the first day of December, the Castle promises to bring holiday-themed theatre, music, movies and more for the entire family – all at one of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks.
Kicking off at Craigdarroch’s Museum Store on Sunday, December 1st, a special promotion offers shoppers from around the globe the chance to support local and start the busy holiday shopping season right.
‘Museum Store Sunday’ involves 1,200 retailers worldwide for the first time ever, and The Castle Shop will offer samples as well as special promotions and prizes throughout the day.
- When: All December long! See the full schedule of events online
- Where: Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent
Royal BC Museum Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises exhibition
A rare artifact crucial to determining hitherto unknown facts about the ancient Mayan civilization has just made its way to Victoria.
- When: On now until December 31, 2019
- Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street
Pancakes in Pyjamas
‘Tis the season to be cozy, so why not stay in your pyjamas and join Santa for brunch at Hotel Grand Pacific with the whole family? Proceeds from the event will go to the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, too, so participants are getting comfy for a good cause. Bring your best PJs and a big appetite!
- When: Sunday, December 15th, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Where: Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville Street
Brunch at the Victoria Public Market
All your favourite Public Market vendors are open and serving a wide range of amazing brunch foods, including breakfast bagels from Shatterbox, vegan chicken and waffles from Very Good Butchers, and brunch carbonara from La Pasta. Honestly, we’re getting hungry just writing about this.
- When: Every Saturday and Sunday from now until Sunday, December 29th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Where: The Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas Street
Layten Kramer with LUKA and Elan Noon
Head to Vinyl Envy for their last concert of 2019 and you’ll see some of Canada’s best indie artists. Layten Kramer, a local psychedelic guitarist & songwriter with ethereal and mesmerizing guitar tones, LUKA, a Toronto-based musician and nylon string poet-crooner, and Elan Noon, a local singer-songwriter who weaves folk, jazz, and classical music together, all play together.
- When: December 14th, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Where: Vinyl Envy, 1717 Quadra Street
Winter Wonderland at the Bay Centre
Meet up with friends, family and colleagues at the Bay Centre this holiday season and take a walk through the Bay Centre Winter Wonderland in Centre Court.
You’ll experience the biggest indoor living tree display in downtown Victoria, featuring an interactive light tunnel – the place to be for your holiday pics!
- When: On now until December 30, 2019
- Where: The Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas Street
