Author: Royal Scot

If the clouds clear look up to see the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. They will be at their closest this evening in our sky, a occurrence that hasn’t occurred in 800 years! This has been called the Christmas Star or The Star of Bethlehem.

Dates: December until the New Year
Location: Throughout Greater Victoria and beyond
Websites:  https://www.timescolonist.com/life/christmas-lights-map

The Greater Victoria Festival Society and IEOA present the first Light Up the City campaign to get everyone in the holiday spirit! The campaign is open to businesses, houses, apartments, organizations or First Nations communities.

View them all and vote for your favourite 3 displays for your chance to win a prize: https://timescolonist.secondstreetapp.com/Light-Up-The-City-Contest/.

Dates: December 16^th @ 11:00am to 11:30am
Location: Online w/Zoom
Websites:  https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/calendar/event/110188/rbcmhome-kids-father-christmas

For 30 minutes Santa Claus will be taking time out of his busy preparations to visit with kids and tell great Christmas stories.

Anyone who didn’t make it onto the 500 capacity zoom spacing you can view the session live on the Royal BC Museums Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalBCMuseum.

Those lucky 500 kids who did get onto the zoom call will have an invitation to have a picture with Santa Claus at the end of the session.

Afterwards, go with your bubble to visit the museums Christmas in Old town to really get you into the festive spirit!

Dates: December 10^th to 23^rd various times and dates
Location: Kirk Hall at 680 Courtney St.
Websites:  https://www.balletvictoria.ca/the-nutcracker-2020/

With a reduced audience and performers and other health protocols put into place the annual ballet will proceed!

Experience the Christmas magic with this traditional story brought to life on the ballet stage.

Visit the website to pre-book your tickets and get more information.

Dates: November 21st to January 3^rd 
Location: Various locations or view online
Websites:  https://www.habitatvictoria.com/gingerbread2020.html

A little different process this year but still the same wonderful results.

This year thirty three bakers have made beautiful creations, through hours of work, to benefit Habitat for Humanity Victoria. Either follow the map posted on the website and view the displays in person or view each of them listed online. You can donate and vote for your favourite house either in person or online.

Dates: November 19^th to January 5^th
Location: The Bay Centre at 1150 Douglas St.
Websites:  https://www.bcchf.ca/event/festival-of-trees/

Starting November 19^th the Bay Centre will have beautifully decorated trees throughout the common areas to raise funds for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Donate and vote for your favourite tree!

Dates: November 12^th until December 12^th
Location: Online
Websites:  https://fairtrade.videa.ca/

For over 20 years this collective of local Fair Trade vendors have showcased their beautiful high quality goods to the community. This year the same great vendors have taken the fair online for a longer period of time. 

12 vendors are participating this year:

• African Fair Trade Society
• Aldea Maya
• Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan
• Dandarah
• Artisans’ Collective Indi Arts,
• Level Ground trading
• Lotusland Imports
• Marigold Collective
• World Pilgrim Global Education
• Mondo Trading Company
• Mosqoy, Simzi Crafts
• Global Village Store and Victoria Grandmothers for Africa