Stay Connected to Victoria: Seasonal Activities, Spotlights & More!

Featured

Seasonal favourites & standout opportunities to get out and about in the community.

Pumpkins lay around the gate that is the entrance to a corn maze in fall weather.

Tis' the holiday season!

Get in the spirit with these Christmas events - it's never too early to get your presents in order!

42nd Annual Santa Claus Parade

You know it's officially the holiday season when you see the Santa Claus Parade downtown! Starting at Government x Belleville and moving north along Government St., the parade includes lit up buses, sleighs, and Santa pictures afterwards!
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November 30th | 5:00pm | Government St. | Free

Breakfast with Santa

Get in the holiday spirit with a delicious pancake breakfast - and you have options to choose from! One at Vic West Community Centre on the 14th, another at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel on December 3rd, 10th, and 23rd. Nothing says it's holiday season the way a pancake breakfast does, plus you'll get to meet Santa there!
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Vic West Community Centre: December 14th | 9:00 & 10:30am | $9 per seat

Oak Bay Beach Hotel: December 3rd @ 10am, December 10th & 23rd @ 10:00am & 1:30pm | $99 for adults, $59 for children (incl. four frame photo print & digital images)

Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens is always worth the visit - but during the holidays, it becomes especially beautiful. Thousands of Christmas lights illuminate the gardens, making it the best spot for a cozy holiday stroll with your friends & family.
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December 1st - January 6th | $37 for adults, $19 for youth, and $5 for children.

Gingerbread Showcase

Not only a huge fundraiser for a great local organization (Habitat for Humanity), but a wonderful work of art, too! It's insanely impressive the creations that people make out of gingerbread & the event is always really cozy. Over 20K people visited the Showcase last year!
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November 22nd - January 5th | Hotel Grand Pacific | Free, but donations are encouraged!

A little girl in a witch costume holds up a candy to a vendor at a Halloween market.

Cozy winter activities around Victoria

The weather has cooled off, but that's no reason to hibernate! Here's some cozy activities around Vic:

Head for a cozy ocean stroll and admire the stormy season hitting the shores

When the winds pick up, the waves follow suit. On these days, there's no better activity than to bundle up (emphasis on this part, or it won't be very fun!), grab a coffee downtown, and head for a stroll along Dallas Rd. to watch the waves crash up against the seawalls.

Looking for something even more adventurous? Tofino or Mystic Beach are also great spots to do some storm watching and the vibe is always pretty cool on a grey & miserable day.

Enjoy the best Downtown Vic has to offer

Get out of the cold and enjoy some of Downtown Vic's coziest spots. Enjoy drinks at Clive's Cocktail Lounge, a butterbeer and friendly competition at Interactivity Board Game Cafe, or head to Peacock Billiards for a round or two (of pool or drinks!).

All of these spots provide a cozy atmosphere and an opportunity to while away the time before summer rays hit Victoria again.

Get toasty & treat your body at HAVN

If you're anything like me, you start to forget what warmth feels like somewhere around mid-November. It's around that time that I head to HAVN Saunas, an amazing park-like environment nestled on a repurposed barge.

Complete with hot tubs, hand-built saunas, and cold pools so you don't get overwhelmed by the heat, this is a treat for the body & mind alike. Pure relaxation! ‍

Enjoy a day of history & local culture

They may not be your go-to destinations when the sun is shining and the summer days are practically begging you to go outside, but when the weather gets chillier, Victoria has lots of options for you.

Head to the Royal BC Museum for one of their rotating displays, get a glimpse of the life of a wealthy 1800's family by touring through Craigdarroch Castle, or see the creepy crawlies at the Victoria Bug Zoo (a personal favourite of ours here at LampPost)!

Victoria spotlight

Shining the light on local artists, organizations, and businesses that are contributing to the community.

Band cover photo for Peanut Butter Telephone.

November
Band spotlight

Silverware

A dreamy indie rock band, it's no coincidence that you'll find Silverware cookin' at all the hottest live shows around Victoria. Every show features heartfelt lyrics, catchy guitar riffs with lots of effects, and silly antics between sets!

Find Silverware's next show

November
Artist spotlight

Liten Fisk Ceramics

Talk about the best of both worlds - get locally made ceramics and support breast cancer research at the same time! With 10% of all purchases donated towards research & small batches of unique creations, this is a local artist you can feel good supporting.

See Liten Fisk's next market

November business
spotlight

Pinhalla Pinball & Pizzeria

Pinhalla's pizzas alone are worthy of a spotlight. A mouth-watering crust and amazing cheese selections, the pizzas are only half the experience; enjoy classic pinball machines, regular events, and a ton of fun with every visit, too!

Check Pinhalla's upcoming events

November
Non-profit spotlight

Victoria Contra Dance

Whether you're a beginner or pro contra dancer, this is the organization for you! Committed to spreading the good word on contra dancing and building the dance community. Plus, November features their big anniversary event!

Contra's Anniversary event

October
Band spotlight

Peanut butter telephone

LampPost is a huge fan of Peanut Butter Telephone - and you should be too! One of Victoria's top indie psych-rock bands, the vibes & energy at their shows are always top notch - this is an up-and-comin' band you don't want to miss.

Check out PBT's music

October
Non-profit spotlight

Victoria Latin Dance Association

A newer non-profit in Victoria, VLDA is all about promoting Salsa, Bachata, & other Latin dances! Dance is a wonderful way to connect with others & build community. VLDA is making that easier than ever through classes, events, and social dances.

Get your hips movin'

Whimsical art goodies

October
Artist Spotlight

Granola Fairy

Artwork & accessories from one of Victoria's newest local artists. Stickers, textiles, bags, earrings, and goodie bags - all in Granola Fairy's signature whimsical style! If cool art wasn't enough to convince you, purchases support pet care costs for their fur child!

October
Business spotlight

KWENCH Culture Club

A co-working space designed to create a sense of belonging for members & visitors, KWENCH is way more than just a sweet vibe. The business also hosts a range of awesome events and is a big supporter of the local arts & culture scene!