A curated list of ongoing events, markets, craft fairs, auditions and submissions around Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island. See more events here
EVENTS
Government House Holiday Open House and Carolling. Join the Lieutenant Governor in singing seasonal favourites and Christmas classics in the ballroom, with refreshments and a chance to have a look around Government House, decked out in festive splendour. Friday, 5-7 p.m. at 1401 Rockland Ave. Free; donations for The Mustard Seed are gratefully accepted.
Art Battle Victoria: Holiday Edition with candy canes, ugly sweaters and live art:
12 painters battle the clock and each other with audience vote determining the winner. Friday, 7-11 p.m. at The Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St.; artbattle.com
The Christmas Express at the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre, 2892 Drinkwater Rd., Duncan. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 19-23, 4:30-8:30 p.m., trains depart every 20 minutes. Tickets at the gift shop; more at bcforestdiscoverycentre.com
Santa, Superhero and Princess Breakfast. Enjoy a pancake breakfast with Santa put on by Help Fill A Dream and Country Grocer. Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-noon at the Archie Browning Sport Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Rd. Tickets: $10, proceeds help benefit Help Fill A Dream Foundation. Don’t forget your costume! More at superheroesofvictoria.org
Holiday Family Fun Fest with crafts, games, face-painting, balloon twisting, story-time, exhibitors, music and more. Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Studio at the YMCA-YWCA at Eagle Creek Village, 110-25 Helmcken Rd. By donation of non-perishable food to support the Goldstream Food Bank; go to eaglecreekvlg.ca
Kids’ Christmas at the Castle with champagne and canapés for Mom and Dad and Christmas activities and a candy buffet for the kids. Saturday, noon-3 p.m. at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, 721 Government St. Tickets: $75 at fairmont.com
Free Cookie Decorating at the Market. Saturday, 12-3 p.m. at the Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas St. Accepting donations to CFAX Santas Anonymous.
Photos with Santa at Hotel Grand Pacific. Enjoy listening to carollers and pick up a colouring sheet for the children’s colouring contest. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. at 463 Belleville St. Also enjoy cookies and cocoa, daily to Dec. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. By donation to the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island; islandkidsfirst.com
Crafty Christmas in the Square with festive wreath-making, gingerbread cookie decorating and a range of craft activities for children. Also enjoy a mix of folk, bluegrass, Celtic and traditional holiday music performed by Coastline, Oliver Swain Trio, Eryn Sharpe Trio and Adam Bay. Saturday and Sunday, 12-4 p.m. under the archway in Centennial Square.
Christmas Carollers. Listen for your holiday favourites in downtown Victoria as carollers roam the streets bringing tidings of good cheer. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
Traditional Carol Singers on the Avenue sharing their heart-warming renditions of seasonal favourites. Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 22 and 23, 1-4 p.m. on Beacon Avenue in Sidney.
Visit Father Christmas in Old Town, trimmed with seasonal finery, and marvel at the sights and sounds of Christmas long ago. Saturday and Sunday at the Royal B.C. Museum, 675 Belleville St. Included with admission. Learn more at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
Lights on the Gorge. Celebrate light in a season of darkness with lantern-making, singing, storytelling and Mummers’ Play by Quicksbottom Morris. Sunday, 1:30-5:30 p.m. at the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club, 355 Gorge Rd. West. Free, complete schedule at gorgetillicum.ca.
Pancakes in pyjamas with Santa. Stay in your jammies and join Santa for brunch at the Hotel Grand Pacific on Sunday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Tickets: $45/$25 at eventbrite.ca, all proceeds support Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.
Ice Sculpture Demonstrations in Centennial Square. Watch Cool as Ice transform blocks of ice into creative, holiday sculptures. Sunday and Dec. 23, 1:30-3 p.m. Free.
December at Point Ellice House. Enjoy our winter- and Christmas-themed displays and experience Point Ellice House decorated with lights and holly inside and out. Sunday, 1-5 p.m. at 2616 Pleasant St.
Holiday Hoedown Fundraiser Party with food, drinks, DJs, film projections from local artists, live music and dancing with Slim Sandy and the Hillbilly Boppers. Thursday, 7-11 p.m. at MediaNet, 821 Fort St. By donation; details at medianetvictoria.org
Annual Festival of Trees. See the Bay Centre transformed into a lush forest of hand-decorated trees. Share in the spirit by voting for your favourite, with all proceeds supporting the most urgent health care needs of kids in B.C. Daily through Jan. 7, 2019 at 1150 Douglas St. More at bcchf.ca; free.
Gingerbread Showcase. Habitat for Humanity, Victoria’s premier fundraising event brings together professional and amateur bakers while raising funds to build homes for local families. Daily to Jan. 6 at the Parkside Hotel and Spa, 810 Humboldt St. Free; more at habitatvictoria.com
The Magic of Christmas at The Butchart Gardens. Enjoy the colourful lights, carollers, ice skating, festive fare and stroll through the Twelve Days of Christmas display. Also featuring traditional carollers and festive brass. To Jan. 6, go to butchartgardens.com to learn more.
The Winspear Festival of Trees with more than 20 beautiful and unique Christmas trees for you to cast your vote. To Jan. 2 at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney.
Toys ’n’ Teddy Bears of Christmas Past Exhibit, with a focus on toys from the 1970’s to 1990’s. On display at the Sidney Museum, 2423 Beacon Ave., Sidney to Dec. 31. More at sidneymuseum.ca
Pack-a-box at Esquimalt Christmas Tree Village. See the Operation Christmas Child Pack-a-Box tree at the Esquimalt Christmas Tree Village at Esquimalt Recreation Centre, 527 Fraser St. and vote for your favourite tree to Jan. 7. Learn more at packabox.samaritanspurse.ca
Christmas Tree Fundraiser: Scouts Canada will be selling Christmas trees at the View Royal Canadian Tire. Daily to Dec. 23; Mon.-Fri.: 4-8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; campbarnard.ca
CRAFT FAIRS
Christmas Night Market. Every Friday, 4-8 p.m. to Dec. 21at the Victoria Public Market, 1701 Douglas St. More at Facebook
Moss Street Winter Markets. Every Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon through April in the Garry Oak Room at Fairfield Community Centre, 1335 Thurlow Rd.
Victoria Flea Market. Vintage recycled and handmade. Sundays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Royal Canadian Legion, 411 Gorge Rd. E. Admission: $2; 250-281-5033.
Duncan Farmers’ Market. Saturdays year round, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Downtown Duncan in City Square and on adjacent streets; duncanfarmersmarket.ca
Victoria Public Market. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday and holidays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 6-1701 Douglas St.; victoriapublicmarket.com
Campbell River Indoor Market. Saturday, Dec. 15, 12-4 p.m. at 301-11th Ave., Campbell River; facebook.com/CRIndoorMarket
