2026 details not all confirmed yet. Community light-ups usually announce dates in November. Where 2026 dates are not confirmed, we show last year’s. We’ll update this page as 2026 details are announced.
Light-up nights are some of the best free Christmas events around Victoria: a countdown, Santa on a fire truck, hot chocolate, and a whole street or park bursting into light. Here’s every major one in Greater Victoria and nearby.
Light-Ups at a Glance
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Bay Light Up | Late November Sunday (Nov 30 in 2025) | Oak Bay Avenue |
| Ladysmith Light Up | Thursday, Nov 26, 2026 | First Avenue, Ladysmith |
| Butchart Gardens official light-up | Tuesday, Dec 1, 2026, 6:00 PM | Brentwood Bay |
| Langford Light Up | Early December Saturday (Dec 6 in 2025) | Langford Station and Veterans Memorial Park |
| Merridale tree lighting | Mid-November (Nov 15 in 2025) | Cobble Hill |
| Christmas at Filberg kick-off | Late November (Nov 22 in 2025) | Comox |
Oak Bay Light Up
One of the region’s favourite community nights. Oak Bay Avenue closes to traffic for an afternoon of crafts, street food, roasted chestnuts, a letters-to-Santa station and a small Christmas market. At 5:00 PM the lights on the village’s lamp posts, trees and shops switch on, and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on an Oak Bay fire truck. In 2025 the 25th annual Light Up was on Sunday, November 30, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. The avenue stays lit until January 6.
Langford Light Up
Langford’s Winter Festival kicks off with its Light Up across two sites, The Langford Station (720 Station Avenue) and Veterans Memorial Park. In 2025 it was Saturday, December 6, from 3:00 to 8:00 PM, with live music, food trucks, a winter market, a holiday carousel, and visits from Santa and the Grinch. Parking fills up, so use the free lots at The Langford Station and Claude Road, or walk.
Butchart Gardens Official Light-Up
The Magic of Christmas begins with an official light-up on December 1 at 6:00 PM. You need a garden ticket.
Sidney: Christmas by the Sea
Downtown Sidney lights up from mid-November into early January with festive displays and live holiday music on weekends. The Sidney Sparkles Parade follows in early December.
Up-Island Light-Ups
- Ladysmith Light Up: the Island’s biggest, on Thursday, November 26.
- Merridale: a tree lighting at dusk to open the season.
- Christmas at Filberg in Comox and Jingle Into Christmas in Tofino on November 20.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Oak Bay Light Up in 2026?
The 2026 date has not been confirmed. It is usually on the last Sunday of November, which would be November 29, 2026.
Is there a Christmas tree lighting in downtown Victoria?
With Lights of Wonder cancelled for 2026, the Downtown Victoria Business Association has said it will run smaller holiday experiences around downtown instead. We will add details when they are announced.
Related: Christmas lights in Victoria, Free Christmas events in Victoria.
Part of: Victoria Christmas Guide 2026
