HappeningsHoliday

Ways to Make Merry This Holiday Season...

All aboard The Christmas Express at the BC Forest Discovery Centre. The Christmas Express runs Dec 7-9, and Dec 14-23 from 4-9pm (train leaves every 20 minutes from 4:30-8:30). Ride behind Samson, the museum’s 1910 steam train, through festive light displays and exhibits in the forest and on the trestle. Visit with Santa Claus, dance to live Christmas music, make a Christmas tree craft in the schoolhouse, watch the model train display, and warm up with hot chocolate or a snack in Train Station Treats. In Duncan at 2892 Drinkwater Road. Visit www.discoveryforest.com or phone 250-715-1113.

12th Annual Bear Wear in the lobby of the Hotel Grand Pacific. Visit the best dressed bears in town at this annual fundraiser, helping children and youth in need and their families on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. All funds raised go to support the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island (formerly the Queen Alexandra Foundation). Vote for your favourite bear as many times as you like—the more times you vote, the better your chances at winning that bear in the raffle! For more information, phone 250-519-6935.

Butchart Gardens presents the 26th annual Magic of Christmas from Dec 1-Jan 6. The Gardens sparkle with tens of thousands of coloured lights and seasonal deco-rations. Miles of fresh evergreen swags and wreaths, holly, ivy and winter berries adorn the walkways and lamp posts. See the Twelve Days of Christmas displays tucked into the landscape. Get into the Christmas mood with traditional carollers

FOR ALL KIDS IN VICTORIA AGES 5-14

WINTER HOLIDAY

PROGRAMS

Passion Sports Basketball Christmas Slam CampUp your game over the holidays while everyone else is taking a break.

Baking for the HolidaysGet busy in the kitchen making some delicious treats from around the world.

Carnival CrazyAn indoor carnival is just what the weather ordered.

Visit our website for information on these and other programs: www.smus.ca/winter, or call the Education Extension offi ce at 250-370-6120

DECEMBER 17TH - JANUARY 7TH

smus.ca

and festive brass music from 5-9pm. Take a whirl around the 465 sq. m. outdoor ice skating rink (50 per cent bigger than it was last year!). Skate times run on the hour dur-ing admission hours and last for 40 minutes. Skate rentals available, children’s helmets on loan. Garden hours from Dec 1-Jan 6, 9am-9pm, except Christmas Day when the hours are 1-9pm. Kids can bring a paper snowflake from home to the visitor info centre to exchange for a hot chocolate coupon. Visit www.butchartgardens.com or phone 250-652-4422.

Christmas in Old Town at Royal BC Museum from Nov 15-Jan 7, 2013. Take in the sights and sounds of Christmas long ago. Marvel at the 4.5-metre Christmas tree, visit the cobblestone streets laced with festive garlands, see the shops deco-rated with Christmas finery, and have your picture taken with Father Christmas (Dec 7-23, Fridays-Sundays only, from 11am-4:30pm). Visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.

Christmas in the Village at the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society on Dec 7, 8, 9 and Dec 14, 15, 16 is put on by the Vancouver Island Model Engineers. Ride the train, visit Santa, vote for your favourite display, and enjoy entertainment, storytime and refreshments. From 5-8pm. Admission is $10 per car load. 7321 Lochside Drive. Phone 250-652-5522.

Christmas Starlight Cinema at Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa. Bundle up and bring your family down to the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe to enjoy one of Victo-ria’s great Christmas traditions—Christmas movies under the stars on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 6pm in December. The line-up: Dec 4 - Miracle on 34th Street; Dec 5 - White Christmas; Dec 11 - Jim Carrey, The Grinch; Dec 12 - Home Alone; Dec 18 - A Christmas Carol; Dec 19 - It’s a Wonder-ful Life. Movies are free, but donations to Santas Anonymous are appreciated. Bring a lawn chair and extra blankets, the hotel will supply heaters. Phone 250-360-2999.

Craigdarroch Castle is decorated for the Christmas season through the month of December. The rooms are presented in traditional Victorian fashion with original period toys peeking out from under the Christmas trees. The decorations are on display throughout the month and there will be a selection of music and children’s per-

formances. Performance times vary and are part of the self-guided tour. The Christmas performance calendar comes out in early December. Visit www.craigdarrochcastle.com or call 250-592-5323.

Every year the Festival of Trees transforms the Fairmont Empress Hotel into a lush forest of beautifully decorated trees to raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital. As sponsors of this event, local businesses, organizations and individuals decorate the trees—in a sometimes wacky, often irreverent and always beautiful fashion. This season, up to 75 trees are on display throughout the Empress until Jan 4. Come browse through a holiday wonderland and cast a ballot for your favourite tree.Port Alberni and Sooke are hosting their fourth annual Festival of Trees, in Port

Alberni at the Best Western Barclay Hotel, and in Sooke at the Prestige Oceanfront Re-

sort Sooke and SEAPARC Leisure Complex. Trees will

be displayed until Jan 4, 2013.

4th Annual Gingerbread Show-case at the Inn at Laurel Point. Feast your eyes and nose on creative inspirations contructed

out of gingerbread. More than houses, they are sculptures and unique works of art created by professional and amateur chefs. Vote for your favourite and make a donation for the Habitat for Humanity Victoria. A spirit-rousing experience, the gingerbread houses will leave a lasting impression and your mouth watering. Visit www.laurelpoint.com.

Helmcken House Old-Fashioned Christmas at Royal BC Museum from Dec 22-31, noon-4pm. Helmcken House comes alive with the spirit of an early Christmas in Victoria. Visitors will discover the Christmas tradi-tions of early Victorians through activities and crafts. Admission is by donation. For information, visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.

Free Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides. Enjoy a classic downtown tradition with your family this holiday season. Starting November 24 and running every weekend until Decem-ber 23, horse-drawn trolleys will circulate throughout downtown, making it easy to take in all of the sights and sounds of the Christmas celebrations. The trolleys are free of charge, compliments of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. Two free trolleys will circulate on a pre-set route

throughout the downtown with four stops at: Store St. and Chatham St. (in front of Ocean River Sports); Johnson St. near Wharf St. (in front of Willie’s Bakery); Langley St. at Bastion Square (across from Rebar); and Government St. at Fisgard St. (in front of CDR Plaza). Free trolley rides run until Dec 23 on Saturdays 11am-3pm, and Sundays 12-4pm. For more information on enter-tainment in the downtown area, visit www.downtownvictoria.ca.

Live Nativity Scene. The First Christmas, an outdoor Nativity pageant, features Wise Men from the east, the Angel Gabriel, shep-herds with flocks, an innkeeper, King Harrod with his soldiers, townspeople, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. This outdoor depiction of the Christmas story runs four times nightly on Dec 21, 22 and 23 at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8pm at Topaz Park, between Quadra and Blanshard. Parking is available at S.J. Willis school and the park’s lot off Quadra. Free. christmasnativity.ca.

Milner Christmas Magic at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach. Walk through twinkling trees glowing with dazzling lights, listen to live music and visit Santa. Storytelling and refreshments onsite; this is a perfect winter outing for families. Nov 30-Dec 2, 9am-11pm, and Dec 7-9, Dec 14-19, 5-8:30pm. Admission is by donation. For more information or the entertainment schedule, visit www.milnergardens.org or call 250-752-6153.

Enjoy a PerformanceDance Victoria presents The Nutcracker with the Victoria Symphony. At the Royal Theatre on Nov 30 at 7:30pm, Dec 1 at 2pm & 7:30pm, and Dec 2 at 2pm. www.rmts.bc.ca.

The Naden Band Christmas Concert supports the annual Salvation Army Toy Drive. At the Royal Theatre on Dec 10, 11 & 12 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 or $7, plus an unwrapped toy at the door. Details at www.rmts.bc.ca.

Vic Operatic Society presents The Sound of Music at the McPherson Playhouse on Dec 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 at 8pm, and on Dec 9 & 16 at 2pm. www.rmts.ca.

Victoria Symphony presents A Sentimental Christmas at the Royal Theatre, Dec 7 & 8 at 8pm and Dec 9 at 2pm; Handel’s Mes-siah at UVic Centre on Dec 14 at 8pm and Dec 16 at 2pm. www.victoriasymphony.ca.

Check out the performances at the Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Avenue in Sidney. This year’s seasonal fare includes The Peninsula Singers’ concert A Christmas to Remember, Dec 7 & 8 at 7:30pm, Dec 9 at 2pm; A Winter’s Night, seasonal music performed by the Greater Victoria Concert Band and Parklands Secondary School Senior Concert Band, on Dec 14 at 7pm; and the Peninsula Players production of Cinderella, traditional fun for all ages with humour, music and audience participation, on Dec 26-28 at 7:30pm, and Dec 29-31 at

2pm. Visit www.marywinspear.ca. Cinderella also plays at other venues on other dates. Find out more at peninsu-laplayers.bc.ca.

Chemainus Theatre’s The Gifts of the Magi is a heart-

warming Christmas musical portraying the timeless holiday

love story about a down-on-their-luck couple who go to great

lengths to find a perfect gift for each other. Nov 30-Dec 30. Visit www.

chemainustheatrefestival.ca or call 1-800-565-7738.

The Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular is an extravaganza of music, dance, lights and decorations. This year’s show includes Neil Diamond hits, a Marilyn Monroe tribute, Tom Jones and friends hits, a “Christmas Around the World” set, medleys from Singing in the Rain and Les Miserables and other classical hits and Christmas favourites. 7pm shows on Dec 6-9, Dec 13-16, and Dec 19-22, and 2pm shows on Dec 7-9, 14-16 and 21-22 at the Cedar Community Hall, 2388 Cedar Road. For tickets, phone 250-754-8550.

The Port Theatre features a number of Christ-mas performances and concerts, including Kirkwood Academy’s The Nutcracker on Nov 30 at 7pm and Dec 1 at 2pm & 7pm; Christmas Eve in Scotland & Ireland by the Brigadoon Dancers on Dec 9 at 2:30pm; and the Vancouver Island Symphony with guest choir Musica Intima performing Intimate Christmas on Dec 15 at 7:30pm. For details visit www.porttheatre.com, for tickets phone 1-800-710-7081. www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca

Christmas on the Precinct

Join us for these exciting events.

Christmas in Old Town*

The sights and sounds of Christmas long ago.

Nov 15 to Jan 7, 10 am – 5 pm

Father Christmas Photos*

See Father Christmas in Old Town and get your photo taken.

Dec 7 to Dec 23, 11 am – 4:30 pmFri, Sat, Sun only (Photos by donation)

Old Fashioned Christmas Helmcken House comes alive with the spirit of Christmas in Victoria.

Dec 22 to 31, 12 – 4 pm By donation or admission

* Free with admission or membership

A Day With Santa Breakfast With SantaSaturday, December 15

9:00am - 11:30amSaanich Commonwealth Place

Sunday, December 29:00am - 2:30pm

Pearkes Rec Centre

A day of free family orientated holiday activities.

Meet and greet with Santa, crafts and a pancake breakfast.

www.saanich.ca

Kick off your holiday season with a festive lights display, Children’s Christmas Concerts, photos with Santa, horse and

carriage rides, arts & crafts, and seasonal entertainment.

Deck the HallDeck the HallWinter Lights FestivalWinter Lights FestivalWinter Lights FestivalSaturday December 1, 2012

5:00-8:30pm ~ Free Admission

SAANICHSAANICHSAANICH