Little Local - Dec 25

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Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! 🎄

We’re keeping things short this week, but we’ve rounded up a few easy ideas for a memorable at-home New Year’s Eve, plus our usual list of family-friendly events happening around town.

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve with kids is often an at-home celebration with earlier bedtimes, fewer fireworks, and a lot more snacks. Here are a few simple ideas to make New Year’s Eve fun and memorable.

Try a Noon Year’s Eve party. Celebrate early with a countdown at noon, sparkling cider or juice, and maybe a few sparklers.

Dance it out. Create a family playlist, clear the living room, and host a mini dance party.

Keep it cozy. Build a fort for a family movie night with popcorn and hot chocolate, or pull out board games like Uno, Jenga, or Charades for games night. For dinner? Try a snack plate!

Make a memory jar. Write down favourite moments from the year and read them together, or save them to open next New Year’s Eve.

Dress up and toast. Fancy outfits, fun photos, and a kid-friendly toast with sparkling juice can turn even a simple night at home into a celebration.

Quick Links

20 Fun Holiday Things to Do with Kids – There are still plenty of festive attractions and activities to enjoy around Victoria, even after Christmas.

Downtown BINGO – Use our Downtown Guide and Festive BINGO card to inspire a downtown adventure. Complete a row and enter to win a gift basket of local goodies plus a downtown gift card from the City of Victoria.

Holiday Lights Map – Many of these homes will keep their lights and decorations up through the New Year. And many, like the house on Hutchinson, are an outing on their own.

Indoor Play Spaces – You know what they say about bad weather (it’s just bad clothes), but sometimes you need a warm spot to take the kids and burn some energy.

This Weekend

🎭 Pinocchio the Panto
Dec 26, 27, 28
A fun, musical twist on Pinocchio where actors sing, dance, and playfully interact with the audience in a lively holiday theatre tradition at Mary Winspear Centre. [Info]

🌿 Kids’ Terrarium Workshop
Saturday, Dec 27 | 9:30–10:30am
A hands-on workshop at VI Plant Shop downtown, where kids create their own mini terrarium to take home, learning about plants, soil, and ecosystems along the way. Get your ticket online. [Info]

⛸️ Icefest
Saturday, Dec 27 | 9:30–10:45am & 11:15am–12:30pm
A fun, family-friendly ice event at G.R. Pearkes Rec Centre with themed skate sessions and plenty of wintery fun for kids of all ages. [Info]

Upcoming & New Year’s

🩰 The Gift of the Nutcracker
Dec 28-30 | Various showtimes
A heartwarming holiday tradition featuring Ballet Victoria’s dancers and the Victoria Symphony. This timeless classic returns with beautiful choreography, festive music, and charming new elements for this year. [Info]

🎉 Early Bird Noon-Year’s Eve Bash at Birdhouse Creative
Wednesday, Dec 31 | 11-12:30pm
Kick off the new year early with a playful, kid-friendly countdown at Birdhouse Creative Studio. Enjoy festive crafts, music, and lots of sparkly celebration vibes, all wrapped up well before bedtime. All ages welcome; parent participation required. [Info]

🎆 Activities & Social at Oak Bay Rec
Thursday, Jan 1 | 12–4:30pm
Ring in the new year with free activities and a community social at Oak Bay Recreation Centre. Enjoy swims, skating, fitness centre access, kids’ fun swim, and a New Year’s Day social with Mayor & Council. Suggested donation to KidSport. [Info]

⛸️ Free Family Skate
Thursday, Jan 1 | 9:45am
Kick off the new year with a free family skate at Langford Lanes, hosted by Remax. A great way to get moving and burn off some holiday energy together. [Info]

Ongoing

🚂 Festive Bricks of Giving
Now – Dec 28
The atrium at The Parkside Hotel & Spa has been transformed into a holiday LEGO wonderland. Families can explore interactive LEGO play stations, check out student builds, and take home a LEGO ornament by donation in support of Rainbow Kitchen’s school meal programs. [Info]

✨ Lights of Wonder
Now – Dec 31 | Centennial Square
Downtown Victoria’s biggest light display returns! Wander through sparkling tunnels, snap a few photos, and enjoy live entertainment and food vendors on select nights. Free and festive fun for the whole family. [Info]

🎄 Festival of Trees Downtown
Now – Dec 31 | Bay Centre
Step into a forest of beautifully decorated trees at the Bay Centre! Each tree is uniquely designed by local businesses and organizations, with proceeds supporting BC Children’s Hospital. [Info]

🏠 Habitat Victoria Gingerbread Showcase
Now – Jan 4 | 9am–9pm
Stroll through imaginative gingerbread creations and vote for your favourite in support of Habitat Victoria. [Info]

🎄 Festival of Trees SEAPARC
Now – Dec 26 | All day
Walk through a forest of decorated trees at SEAPARC Recreation Centre and support BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. [Info]

✨ Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens
Now – Jan 6 | 3–9pm
Thousands of lights, carolers, warm drinks, and the full Twelve Days of Christmas display. Kids 12 and under can bring a homemade paper snowflake (8.5”×11”) to trade for a free hot chocolate. There’s also ice skating this year! [Info]

Hope you enjoyed this issue of Little Local! Please reply with any feedback and suggestions :)

P.S. Would you like to get your business in front of thousands of local Victoria families? Email us at [email protected].

Final Note: I do my best to keep everything accurate, but I am only human so the odd mistake might sneak in! If you catch one, feel free to let me know.