Sooke invites you to brighten up Sunday festivities

The Sooke Santa Parade starts at 5 p.m. Sunday, leaving on a route that takes it from Sooke Elementary School on Sooke Road and ending at Townsend Road.

Members of the public are encouraged to bring along lights and glow sticks to brighten the occasion.

The parade is hosted by the

Sooke Lions Club.

The Sidney Sparkles Christmas Parade, presented by the Peninsula Celebrations Society, also makes its annual appearance Sunday at 5 p.m. The parade begins on Resthaven Drive and turns onto Beacon Avenue. It travels the length of Beacon before making a right turn onto Second Street and finishing at Ocean Avenue.

About 15 minutes after it is over, the Lighted Boat Parade begins. The public is encouraged to move to the Beacon and Bevan wharves, and to the waterfront around Beacon Park, to view the event.

Participating boats will be tied up at Port Sidney Marina’s main dock and will be lit at dusk. In the event of bad weather, the boats will stay at the dock but will be available for viewing.

On Dec. 6, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club’s annual Sea of Lights hits the water, with boats leaving the Ripon Road club at 6:45 p.m. and passing Cattle Point about 7 p.m. There will be good viewing at Willows Beach about 7:15 p.m., with the Kiwanis Club offering hot chocolate by donation at the Willows Beach pavilion.

The boats turn around and sail past Cadboro Bay’s Gyro Park about 7:45 p.m.

Hot chocolate and coffee donated by Cadboro Bay businesses will be served.