CALENDAR: Nutcraker, truck light convoy, Rent, Tchaikovsky
SATURDAY, DEC. 1
Nutcracker, performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet with the Victoria Symphony at the Royal Theatre. Tonight and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. with matinées today and Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca or tel. 250-386-6121.
The IEOA Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive. Starting at Odgen Point at 5:45 p.m. and traveling to Western Speedway, arriving at 8:30 p.m. For details and the convoy route map, go to ieoa.ca.
Cook Street Village Light Up. Head to the village before or after the Truck Parade, and enjoy photos with Santa, mulled cider, hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies (pups, too), poinsettias and more. Bring your non perishable item to donate to the Annual Truck Light Convey and Food Drive. 4-8 p.m. along Cook Street Village; ieoa.ca. The third Annual Christmas Craft Beer Show. A taste of winter ales from Western Canadian microbreweries. 1-5 p.m. at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Tickets at selectyourtickets. com or tel. 250-220-7777.
Rent the musical, presented by Victoria Operatic Society at McPherson Playhouse, 8 p.m. Tickets at rmts.bc.ca or tel. 250-386-6121.
Deck the Hall Winter Lights Festival. Kick off your holiday season at Saanich Municipal Hall with a festive lights display and a variety of seasonal activities. Children’s Christmas Concerts, photos with Santa, arts and crafts station and seasonal games. 5-8:30 p.m. at 770 Vernon Ave.; saanich.ca.
The Magic of Christmas Light Up at The Butchart Gardens. Join us today at 5 p.m. in front of the Rose Carousel, the light-up switch is flipped and thousands of Christmas lights come on to mark the start of the Magic of Christmas display; butchartgardens.com.
The Lonely. Tribute to the music of Roy Orbison, The Traveling Wilburys and the Everley Brothers at Elements Casino, 1708 Island Hwy., 7:30 p.m. Tickets at ticketmaster.ca.
Christmas Pudding II with South Island Harmony performing traditional holiday favourites at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at marywinspear.ca.
Reach! The Benefit Concert in recognition of the International Day of Persons With Disabilities. 7 p.m. at First Metropolitan United Church, 932 Balmoral Rd. Tickets at eventbrite.ca and at the door.
Music Inside Out: Tchaikovsky with the Emily Carr String Quartet, 10:30 a.m. at the Chief and Petty Officers’ Mess CFB Esquimalt, 1575 Lyall St. Tickets at Ivy’s Bookshop, rmts.bc.ca, tel. 250-386-6121 or at the door; emilyarrstringquartet.com.
Peninsula Celebrations Society’s annual Breakfast with Santa. 8:30 a.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. Santa arriving at 9 a.m., face-painting and photos with Santa by donation as well as breakfast served by the Sidney Lion’s Club; marywinspear.ca.
The Sooke Philharmonic Society presents Handel’s Messiah, 7:30 p.m. at Royal Bay Secondary School, 3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way. Tickets at viachoralis.ca.
Threshold Housing’s Winter Carnival with live music, hot chocolate, Santa Claus, a tree lighting and Christmas themed activities. 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Bastion Square; thresholdhousing.ca. Home! Ken Lavigne’s Home for Christmas with Nadya Blanchette at the Port Theatre, 125 Front St., Nanaimo, 7:30 p.m. Tickets at porttheatre.com.
SUNDAY, DEC. 2
Annual Sidney Sparkles Christmas Parade. Starting at 5 p.m. along Resthaven Drive, Beacon Avenue, Second Street and Ocean Avenue. After parade, go to Beacon and Bevan wharves and the Sidney waterfront to see the Lighted Boat Parade, which starts at least 15 minutes after the Sidney Sparkles Christmas Parade; peninsulacelebrations.ca.
Esquimalt Celebration of Lights Parade as well as Christmas Carols with Maureen Washington and visits with Santa. 5-7 p.m. Esquimalt Road from Canteen Road to Archie Browning Centre; esquimaltlights.ca.