Are you visiting Vancouver Island this holiday season? From extravagant lights displays and hand-made artisan goods to delicious festive treats and captivating shows, here’s some of the best Vancouver Island holiday activities and events happening around Victoria to Nanaimo.

The holiday season kicks off with the Festival of Trees happening at the Bay Center in Victoria, BC. Stroll through over 70 one-of-a-kind festively decorated trees in support of BC Children’s Hospital. This year’s display is raising funds for diabetes – BC Children’s Hospital is on the cusp of a cure! Your generous support will help ensure that the 2,500 children in BC living with diabetes experience better health outcomes, which have the power to impact their entire lives.

• When: November 17, 2022 – January 3, 2023
• Where: The Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas Street, Victoria
• Admission: Free

One of the most popular holiday events in Victoria, The Magic of Christmas at the Butchart Gardens features a spectacular display of lights, including scenes depicting The Twelve Days of Christmas, traditional carollers and a festive brass band, and hot chocolate and gingerbread by the fire.

• When: December 1, 2022 – January 6, 2023
• Where: 800 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay
• Admission: Purchase tickets here

The 44th Annual TubaChristmas returns to Market Square in downtown Victoria. Enjoy the euphonious tones of massed, low-brass instruments when more than 100 tuba and euphonium players from across the region unite for one of Victoria’s favourite holiday traditions.

• When: Saturday, December 10th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
• Where: 560 Johnson Street, Victoria
• Admission: By donation

Do you have your shopping list ready? One of Victoria’s oldest and best-loved Winter Craft Fairs returns for the 41st year. From candles to pet accessories, explore and shop an amazing variety of affordable handmade and homemade products from Vancouver Island and Gulf Island artisans.

• When: Saturday, December 3rd, 10 am to 4:30 pm
• Where: James Bay Community Centre, 140 Oswego Street
• Admission: $3.00 // Free for Children under 12 (accompanied by an Adult)

All aboard! Ride the Christmas Express as it travels through thousands of twinkling lights that adorn the 100-acre enchanted woods of the BC Forest Discovery Centre. Enjoy activities like holiday crafts, fire pits, indoor entertainment, a miniature Christmas Village, and concession goodies.

• When: December 2 to 5, December 9-12, December 15-18, & December 20-23
• Where: 2892 Drinkwater Road, Duncan
• Admission: Purchase tickets here

Taking on Dicken’s host of characters, a small ensemble of actors embraces simple theatrical magic and storytelling imagination in this holiday classic. Built from the five staves of the original story, this adaptation centres on the joy of connecting and Scrooge moving from self-imposed isolation to community and good cheer.

• When: December 2, 2022, to December 23, 2022
• Where: Chemainus Theatre
• Admission: Purchase tickets here

Fun for the whole family, check out wares from local handcrafted artisans and authors, along with a concession, food, toy drive, and kid craft area.

• When: Saturday, December 10th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Where: Ladysmith Primary School
• Admission: Free

Join the Young Professionals of Nanaimo for a fun night celebrating the Holidays! This year’s theme is Silver Bells.

• When: Thursday, December 8th, 7:00 pm
• Where: Black Rabbit Kitchen, 321 Selby Street, Nanaimo
• Admission: Purchase tickets here

Now in its 14th season, the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular is a celebration of music, dance, lights and decorations. This year’s singing and dancing extravaganza includes musical medley’s of songs by Queen, Stevie Wonder and Simon & Garfunkle, a musical tribute to the 80’s movie Flashdance, Gabriel’s Oboe on Violin, a fiddle Jam, songs from Dr Seuss’ The Grinch for the kids, Bing Crosby’s class White Christmas as well as other classical hits and Christmas favorites.

• When: Tuesday, December 13th, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Where: The Port Theatre, 125 Front St, Nanaimo
• Admission: Purchase tickets here

Celebrate the holidays with Tenor Ken Lavigne’s Snowballs & Mistletoe. Ken will lift your spirits and take you down memory lane with his favourite Christmas songs and stories of the holiday season, both past and present. This concert is sure to fill hearts with holiday joy!

• When: Friday, December 9th, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
• Where: The Port Theatre, 125 Front St, Nanaimo
• Admission: Purchase tickets here

Praised by the CBC as “Pure magic” and the Globe and Mail as “Powerful, surprising and moving,” acclaimed theatrical imagineers the WONDERHEADS present their delightfully captivating reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with giant masks, whimsical puppets, and wondrous theatrical invention.

• When: Friday, December 23, 3:30 pm–5:00 pm
• Where: The Port Theatre, 125 Front St, Nanaimo
• Admission: Purchase tickets here

Presented by Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, bundle up and take a wagon ride to the farm from Morningstar Golf Course and enjoy a range of kid’s activities, live music, photo booth, hot chocolate, an on-site poutine truck, games, farm animals, and much more.

• When: Saturday, December 10th, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Where: Black Rabbit Kitchen, 321 Selby Street, Nanaimo
• Admission: Adults: $5.00 // 2 & Under: Free

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