Planning your weekends? Here’s the 2026 holiday season in Victoria and nearby, weekend by weekend. Events marked (TBC) haven’t confirmed 2026 dates yet. We update this page as details come in.
Weekend of November 13 to 15
- Atomic Christmas Vintage Fair & Makers Market, Da Vinci Centre (Fri 5 to 9 PM, Sat 9 AM to 4 PM)
- Calico Christmas Market (Sat)
- Yuletide Market Series at Bilston Creek Farm (Fri to Sun, all season)
- Bastion Square Christmas Village (from November 12)
Weekend of November 20 to 22
- Festival of Trees at the Bay Centre (from Nov 18)
- Gingerbread Showcase opens at the Hotel Grand Pacific (Nov 20)
- Festive Afternoon Tea at the Empress begins (Nov 20)
- Outdoor skating opens at City Centre Park, Langford (Nov 20). See skating
- Magic of Christmas Artisan Market (Fri), Owl Designer Fair and Handmade Village Craft Market (Sat)
- Up-Island: Jingle Into Christmas and the Tofino Winter Market (Nov 20 and 21)
Weekend of November 26 to 29: The Big Kickoff
- Thu: Ladysmith Light Up
- Fri to Sun: Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Royal Theatre
- Fri: Nanaimo Christmas Village opens
- Sat: Santa Claus Parade, 5:30 PM
- Sat and Sun: Bastion Square Christmas Village market weekend (1 to 6 PM) and Esquimalt’s Winter Bazaar
- Sun: Oak Bay Light Up (TBC), plus the Christmas Market on Oak Bay Avenue and the Metchosin Christmas Spirit Market
Weekend of December 4 to 6
- Butchart Gardens Magic of Christmas is on (from Dec 1)
- Fri: Hanukkah begins at sundown
- Sat: IEOA Truck Light Parade (expected, TBC)
- Sat: Dickens Christmas Fair (James Bay) and Krampus Market (Fernwood). See markets
- Sat and Sun: Christmas Pops with Steven Page
- Sun: Sleigh Boat Rides start on the Inner Harbour
- Community parades and light-ups (TBC): Sidney Sparkles, Esquimalt Celebration of Lights, Sooke Santa Parade and Langford Light Up
- Up-Island: Sea of Lights in Tofino and the Coombs Christmas Market (Sat)
Weekend of December 11 to 13
- Fri to Sun: Messiah by Candlelight at Christ Church Cathedral
- Sat: Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular, McPherson Playhouse
- Craigdarroch Castle holiday season (TBC)
- Up-Island: Milner Christmas Magic (TBC)
Weekend of December 18 to 20
- Fri: Candlelight: Christmas Classics at Alix Goolden Hall
- Fri and Sat: A Very Mary Christmas! at Langham Court Theatre
- Sat and Sun: Home Alone in Concert, Royal Theatre
- Sun: last Bilston Creek Yuletide market; Christmas Lessons and Carols usually falls this weekend. See church services
- Last-minute shopping downtown and at the malls
Christmas Week: December 24 to 27
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining. See Christmas dinner
- Dec 25: Butchart Gardens is closed. See What’s open on Christmas Day
- Dec 26: Boxing Day sales, and Butchart reopens
- Dec 27 (and 28 to 29): Ballet Victoria’s The Gift of the Nutcracker
New Year’s Weekend: December 31 to January 3
- New Year’s Eve parties and dinners
- Jan 1: polar bear swims
- Last chance: Gingerbread Showcase (to Jan 3) and Butchart Gardens (to Jan 6)
Part of: Victoria Christmas Guide 2026
