Enjoy the magic of the season across the country
Christmas lights that would make the Griswold family green with envy. Hot chocolate and mulled wine on a snowy winter’s night. Not to mention ugly sweater contests and murder mysteries. The next few weeks will be some of the most magical of the year across Canada. Here is a look at some great places and ways to celebrate the holiday season.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Butchart Gardens in Victoria does Christmas proud with a vivid display featuring thousands of lights in every colour of the rainbow — and then some. They also have a brass band and carollers belting out holiday tunes. butchartgardens.com/blog/magic-christmas-light
One new feature in Vancouver this year is the Winter Wonderland Festival, which runs Dec. 11-20 at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds. They say it is the largest indoor Christmas festival around with a threestorey high, walk-through snow globe. vancouverwinterwonderland.com/home
Grouse Mountain has a Peak of Christmas event from late November to Jan. 4, 2016, where you can meet Santa and his reindeer and, new this year, take a lighted walk in the woods around a mountaintop lake. Talk about romantic. grousemountain.com/.
ALBERTA
The best place for winter in Canada has a pretty good lock on Christmas-time activities and events. Banff is, naturally, a great spot to celebrate, with The Santa Claus Parade of Lights being one of the top events. banfflakelouise.com.
The iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has an annual Christmas in the Castle program with lovely displays right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. christmasatthecastle.ca
SASKATCHEWAN
In Saskatoon, the entertaining and fun Western Development Museum has an exhibit focusing on the famous Christmas windows of Eaton’s stores across Canada that runs until Jan. 8, 2016. www.wdm.ca.
MANITOBA
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is one of the best you will find and their production of The Nutcracker is a special treat. Look for sumptuous costumes and the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky in this annual winter show. rwb.org/whats-on/show/nutcracker-2015.
ONTARIO
The Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District is on until Dec. 20 and takes place in one of the prettiest parts of the city, with old buildings and lots of character. Look for folk dancing, holiday wreath-making and more. Looking for something a bit different? Mariposa Cruises does a tour on Lake Ontario with great views of the Toronto skyline and an ugly sweater contest with complimentary photo booth.
Niagara Falls always turns up the power this time of year with plenty of Christmas lights. This year, Niagara Parks presents Aura: Let It Glow, a 5 kilometre outdoor illumination display in association with the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights.
QUEBEC
This is another province that knows a thing or two about winter. Things kicked off Dec. 3 with Merry Montreal in Old Montreal and the Old Port. Activities include Cool Yoga, outdoor holiday movies and a dedicated telephone line that goes straight to Pere Noel himself. tourisme-montreal.org.
One lesser-known event for some Canadians is the annual German market in Quebec City, in which North America’s most European city sets up temporary wooden stands with all sorts of Christmas goodies, including bratwurst, mulled wine, gingerbread and choral singing.
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Leave it to the wonderful folks of Newfoundland & Labrador to put a nice twist on the holiday season. You will find the usual array of lovely lights and Christmas wreaths, sure.
But it is also time for the Mummers Festival, with tons of crazy costumes, leading to the Dec. 19 Mummers Parade. It’s wild fun. mummersfestival.ca/
NOVA SCOTIA
Fortress Louisbourg, the centuries-old French fort on Cape Breton, puts on Chantons Tous Noel each year. The fortress chapel is lit by candlelight and there is a special performance by the North Honour Choir. fortressoflouisbourg.ca/Holiday-Concert
Symphony Nova Scotia’s The Nutcracker runs through Dec. 13 in Halifax. symphonynovascotia.ca
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
The Confederation Centre of the Arts has a new production called Aladdin: Another Fairy Tall Tale, set on the snowy streets of Charlottetown at Christmastime.
They are promising a “highflying adventure jam-packed with villains you’ll love to boo, ridiculous Island references, and a pop and musical playlist that will keep you fired up all winter long.”
Runs until Dec. 19. confederationcentre.com.