Lighting up for the season
Victoria lights up for the season with gaily-strung lights adorning homes, tourist attractions, museums and even boats. • While many flowers sleep, the gardeners haven’t been idle at Butchart Gardens as they deck the boughs of holly and other greenery with lights for a Magic of Christmas display. Fanciful displays depict the Twelve Days of Christmas among the pathways of the world-famous garden.
Traditional carollers and festive brass players provide an audio accompaniment for visitors wandering the grounds.
“We say we have five seasons at the gardens, as Christmas has become a season all its own,” says Dale Ryan, director of public relations for Butchart Gardens.
Each year, the tourist attraction also creates a 465-squaremetre outdoor skating rink under strings of twinkling lights. Bring your own skates or rent them from the facility for $3. Helmets and wrist guards supplied at no charge. Skating costs $5 for adults, $3 for kids.
The annual light-up takes place at 5 p.m. on Saturday in front of the Rose Carousel. Christmas admission rates apply. The facility is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily between Dec. 1 and Jan. 6 except for Christmas Day, when it is open from 1 to 9 p.m. at 800 Benvenuto Ave. For more information and details on admission fees, go to butchartgardens.com. • Join the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority for a free cup of hot chocolate at the annual Marina Light-up, Friday in the Inner Harbour. The authority has provided free Christmas lights to boaters and float-home owners to ensure lights will be glowing on vessels throughout the holiday season in the Inner Harbour, Fisherman’s Wharf and the Wharf Street marina. Lights will be up until Dec. 31. The light-up event is free to watch.
It runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday on the Causeway Marina docks (in front of the Empress Hotel) in the Inner Harbour. For more information, go to gvha.ca/events. • Other light-up events are planned this weekend, including in Saanich, Esquimalt and Cook Street Village.
For more information, see the Go Calendar on page C11.