Things to Do on Christmas & Boxing Day in Victoria

The Butchart Gardens

Looking for fun ideas on Christmas & Boxing Day in Victoria? Here is a list of things to do on December 25 and 26 in Victoria.

Wear masks and maintain social distancing at all times. Provincial guidelines for gatherings must be observed.

Visit the Butchart Gardens

No matter what time of the year you visit, the Butchart Gardens never fails to delight. The holiday season is the time when the Garden is lit up with Christmas magic from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with viewing until 10:00 pm. Though closed on Christmas Day, the garden will be open on Boxing Day.

Enjoy a festive dining experience at the Gardens’ Dining Room Restaurant or Blue Poppy Restaurant.

Admire Christmas lights

Go on a Christmas Lights Tour of Victoria! See individual houses that are decorated to the hilt or visit downtown to see the Lights of Wonder. Entertainment will be previded by The Ukulelians – Friends of Music Society ( 5 – 5:30 pm) and The Islander Hot Club (6 – 7:30 pm) on December 26th. No information is currently available for December 25th.

The Legislature Building is a another place to enjoy the lights of winter.

Tour a lush forest of one-of-a-kind decorated trees at the Bay Centre. The Bay Centre’s Festival of Trees will be closed on December 25th but will reopen on December 26th from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.

Teeming with twinkling lights and delightful decorations, the Recreation Centre Atrium and Archie Browning Sports Centre into a holiday wonderland. Come and see this Christmas Tree Village until January 4th.

See the Merridale courtyard comes alive with thousands of twinkling lights and holiday displays. Closed on December 25, open on December 26 from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm.

Sidney will be transformed into a twinkling wonderland as it welcomes the community to celebrate the holiday season with festive displays all throughout the town!

Do a Christmas Day Bird Count

Do a Christmas bird count on Christmas Day! Visit any of the birding areas near Victoria and see how many birds you can find! Though not an organised/official day for counting, you can always do one on your own and enjoy a crisp morning walk!

If you don’t want to venture outside, do an unofficial count of the birds that visit your bird feeder.

Alice in Pantoland

Get your tickets to the play by Peninsula Players on December 26th at 2 pm. Alice meets the White Rabbit in her garden and is intrigued when he disappears down a hole in the ground. She decides to follow him and finds herself in Pantoland, the town where pantomime characters live in the off-season. Details

Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022

Explore the awe-inspiring wonders of the natural world captured through the lenses of award-winning photographers. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition showcases a global selection of photojournalism, from glimpses into amazing animal behaviours to extraordinary natural landscapes. The museum will be closed on December 25th but will reopen on December 26th from 10 am to 6 pm.

Go on a sleigh ride

Celebrate a holiday tradition with family, friends, and loved-ones! Cozy up under the blankets and enjoy the magical sound of jingle bells in your horse-drawn sleigh.

Christmas Brunch/Dinner

Support local restaurants this holiday season and order your holiday meal.

A few options:

Geocaching

Find hidden treasures and discover the many geocaches located throughout the region. This family-friendly activity uses a mobile app or a GPS device. This is also a fun way to interact with nature while getting mild exercise and explore new areas.

Enjoy a Walk/Picnic

Enjoy a family walk in the green spaces in Victoria. Pack a picnic and plan to spend an afternoon outside playing games with your loved ones. Explore the trails and pathways at regional and local parks.

25 Outdoor Activities & Adventures In and Around Victoria

Oak Bay Xmas Cup

The OB Xmas Cup is a Charity Hockey Tournament held every Boxing Day. 4 Teams will compete for the chance to hoist the Cup while raising money for a good cause! December 26th.

A Mini World

Step into a mini world with displays of fairy tales, “Gulliver’s travels”, a Swiss Family Robinson treehouse, a circus, historic battlefields, nursery rhymes, and others. The miniature world will be closed on December 25th but will be open on December 26th from 10 am to 5 pm.

Christmas at Haunted Manor

If you are looking to do something unique try the Haunted Manor. This is an immersive twist on the game of mini-golf. You’ll putt your way through a 15-hole course set in a haunted manor with a ghoul story to tell. Open on December 26 with time slots 3:30 pm to 10:15 pm.

Explore a Vibrant Jungle

See thousands of tropical butterflies fly in a lush garden of tropical flowers, and plants at the Bufferfly Gardens. Open on December 26 from 10 am to 3 pm (open to explore until 4 pm).