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Christmas in Victoria BC: 7 Best Kid-Friendly Festivities to Try This Holiday

Christmas in Victoria BC: 7 Best Kid-Friendly Festivities to Try This Holiday

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Looking for a magical Christmas vacation spot? Find out all the best things to do during Christmas in Victoria BC with kids during the holiday season. Scroll for all the best events and activities!
This Christmas in Victoria, BC post was written by PNW travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

My family lives in Washington State, and we love doing all the fun Christmas events in Seattle. From epic light shows and Santa breakfasts to the infamous Teddy Bear Suite, Seattle knows how to bring in the holiday spirit.

In the past, we’ve also done Christmas activities in Vancouver, British Columbia. They have a fabulous Christmas Market, a little train through Stanley Park, and unbelievable holiday lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

However, there has been one place on my Christmas season bucket list for a while: Victoria, British Columbia.

Located on the tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria feels like a tiny European city on water with gorgeous architecture, stunning gardens, and adorable boats.

It’s also one of the best places to experience Christmas in Canada! There are so many Christmas events in the area and lots of great places to go Christmas shopping.

Scroll down to find out some of the top Christmas events in Victoria, British Columbia, and how to plan a winter weekend getaway this holiday season.

Don’t have time to read a bunch of Victoria blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Victoria with kids this Christmas season.

Popular Victoria Tours/Activities

Kid-Friendly Victoria Hotels

Are you spending Christmas in Victoria BC? Here are 7 best kid-friendly festivities to try this holiday that your kids would surely enjoy!

Best Ways to Spend Christmas in Victoria BC

THE BUTCHART GARDENS

One of the main reasons we wanted to go to Victoria, British Columbia, for the holiday season was to experience The Magic of Christmas at The Butchart Gardens.

The theme is the 12 Days of Christmas, and each year, they add more and more lights for a truly spectacular experience.

We headed straight for the cafe to get hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies as soon as we arrived. We also picked up a scavenger hunt form so we could check off everything we experienced.

Our first stop was checking out the beautiful train window. We were surprised to spot Spider-Man, Minions, the Incredibles, and other characters sprinkled through the display!

Then, we headed into the gardens to wander through the lights and discover each day of Christmas. Our favorites included the two calling birds (who were on their cell phones) and the ten lords-a-leaping (which were frogs jumping up and down behind a hedge.)

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Kids posing in Santa's Sleigh at the Magic of Christmas event at The Butchart Gardens in Victoria BC
Of course, I had to stop at this photo op! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

I was completely impressed that they have tons of buckets of clear umbrellas set up all over the gardens in case it rains, and families can use them as long as they want and then put them back when they are done.

We also took a few moments to ride on their indoor historic carousel. It’s absolutely beautiful, and the kids could have ridden it all night long!

Also, they have a skating rink set up where you can bring your own skates or rent them.

At the end of the night, we turned in our completed scavenger hunt forms, and the kids received candy canes. It was a day well spent, and we felt the Christmas spirit of the place.

Get your discounted tickets and transportation for The Butchart Gardens.

SANTA BRUNCH AT THE INN AT LAUREL POINT

Meeting Santa is always at the top of our list when we travel in December. The Inn at Laurel Point hosts a fantastic Santa Brunch on Sundays and on Christmas Day.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Pastel multicolored iced gingerbread house
This is one of the prettiest gingerbread houses I’ve seen! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

We went to the 11 a.m. seating, and I was impressed with the amount of top-notch food available, including a massive dessert table with some of the most beautiful holiday treats.

There’s even a separate room for kids to grab their own breakfast items, decorate Christmas cookies, and watch holiday movies.

However, the main event is meeting Santa!

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Two boys wearing Christmas plaid shirts sitting on Santa's lap for a photo at the Santa Brunch in Victoria, BC
I love this photo of my boys with Santa!

After your family is done eating, kids are invited to gather and shout for Santa to arrive. That’s when he makes his grand entrance and spends time chatting and hugging kids before making his way to his chair for photos.

What I really appreciated about the Santa photos is that you just add your name to the list, and then you can come back to take the photos. We were lucky enough to be second in line!

Learn more about the Santa Brunch at the Inn at Laurel Point.

SLEIGH RIDE

There’s something so magical about riding around town in a horse-drawn carriage. We did a carriage ride in Stanley Park in Vancouver a few years ago, and that was pretty cool, but this one takes the cake!

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Horse Drawn carriage with people inside and the carriage is meant to look like a sleigh
How adorable is this horse-drawn sleigh? Photo credit: Tally-Ho Carriage Tours

First of all, the carriage is outfitted to look like a real sleigh! And the seats are plush and super comfy. They even have thick, waterproof blankets to keep passengers toasty warm.

Our tour guide was fantastic! She told my boys all about her horse Apollo and answered their questions.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Mom and two boys sitting inside a luxurious carriage ready to explore Victoria, BC
The inside of the sleigh was so comfy! Photo credit: Tally-Ho Carriage Tours

Then, she toured us around Beacon Hill Park (where we saw tons of peacocks!) and showed us the house where Emily Carr (famous Canadian painter) lived.

She also told the boys about how Emily Carr used to make paint out of monkey poo, which ended up being my 5-year-old’s favorite part of the entire trip!

We went on the 4 p.m. tour, which I highly recommend. It’s right at dusk, so you’ll be able to see the sites for the first half of the tour, and then you’ll be wowed by the Christmas lights at the legislative building and on the boats for the last part of the tour.

Find out how to reserve horse-drawn carriage rides in Victoria, BC.

TRUCK PARADE

Something that is pretty unique to Victoria is its annual Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive. Basically, it’s a bunch of trucks that are all decorated and lit up, and they drive around Victoria for a few hours collecting food for local food banks.

It’s so popular that even the Customs guy at the Clipper told us all about it as soon as we docked in Victoria!

We saw a bunch of trucks driving to the starting point as we were walking back to our hotel from our sleigh ride. If my 3-year-old wasn’t falling asleep, we would have found a spot to sit and watch the full parade.

Read more about the IEOA Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive.

MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS AT THE ROYAL BC MUSEUM

My family loves meeting Santa multiple times each holiday season. We visit him at Christmas events at department stores and wave to him in parades.

But this was our first time meeting Father Christmas!

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: A mom and two boys in Christmas sweaters post with Father Christmas in a Victorian Christmas photo
Fun photo with Father Christmas at the Royal BC Museum. Photo credit: Royal BC Museum

On select dates/times, the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, BC, hosts Father Christmas in their Old Town exhibit area (which is all decorated for Christmas.) Staff members will take free photos and email them to you.

You’ll want to set aside some time to explore the rest of the museum, too. I was surprised by how much my young kids enjoyed it.

Their favorite areas were panning for gold, touching the hands-on displays in the Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises exhibit, and walking through the big ship.

They also have an awesome IMAX theatre there. If we had more time, we would have stayed and watched one of their films.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES AT PARKSIDE HOTEL & SPA

If you enjoy looking at innovative gingerbread creations while supporting Habitat for Humanity, you’ll want to head to the Parkside Hotel & Spa.

It’s an easy walk, just a few blocks up from the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

They have an entire lobby area set up with rows of gingerbread houses created by local businesses and community members.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Amateur gingerbread creation witha lighthouse and sea creature
We saw some creative gingerbread concoctions! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

As soon as you enter, you’ll be given a ballot where you can vote for your favorite gingerbread houses, as well as an envelope for your donation to Habitat for Humanity.

The theme changes every year. For 2019, the theme is Building a Diverse Community, and we saw some of the coolest creations representing different cultures and places around Victoria.

Parents will want to keep a close eye on their kids because there is an awesome koi pond you’ll have to cross to get to the other side of the gingerbread houses, and your kids will want to stop. However, it’s a tiny walkway that needs to stay clear, so you’ll need to keep moving.

FESTIVAL OF TREES AT THE BAY CENTRE

While I wouldn’t normally recommend visiting a shopping center in December, The Bay is definitely worth a stop.

It’s completely decked out in Christmas decorations, and they host an annual Festival of Trees, which supports BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Each tree has a different theme and is decorated by a local business. Shoppers can vote for their favorite trees by donating money.

They also have some pretty photo ops set up. Plus, the Bay Centre is one of the best places to pick up Victoria souvenirs and gifts or do last-minute holiday shopping for families!

Sadly, we ran out of time to experience this first-hand, but I’ve been drooling over the photos on Instagram.

Christmas Photos in Victoria, British Columbia

Because Victoria is such a beautiful city, you might consider taking photos of your Christmas card here. There are many outdoor decorations on buildings, and many businesses have festive window displays.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Kids sitting in a giant polar bear statue in Victoria, BC
The kids got to be silly with a giant polar bear! Photo credit: Stephanie from Flytograher

We hired Stephanie from Flytographer to do a 60-minute photo shoot around the Fairmont Empress and downtown Victoria. She is AWESOME!

Book a Family Photo Shoot

Whenever we travel, we almost always book a family photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy, affordable, AND guarantee that I’ll be in some photos. You can get $25 off if you book through this link or use the code HAWAIITRAVEL.

I admit, I felt like a hot mess mom when I arrived with my two boys. She put me at ease right away (even handing me a cloth to clean my glasses) and helped keep an eye on the kids as we walked all over downtown Victoria, stopping quickly to snap a few pics.

She knew exactly where to go and how to get the boys to crack a smile.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Boy getting a piggy back ride from his mom on the sidewalk in Victoria BC
I love this sweet photo Stephanie took of me giving my 3yo a piggyback ride! Photo credit: Stephanie from Flytographer

Flytographer is headquartered in Victoria, BC, but they have locations all over the world. We’ve used them in Paris, Maui, London, and New York City. It’s easy to select your photographer, route, and your photo package on their website.

Save $25 on your Flytographer photoshoot

How to Get to Victoria, BC

CLIPPER VACATIONS FROM SEATTLE

The most popular way to Victoria from Seattle is by taking the Clipper. This passenger-only boat is docked by the cruise ship terminals. Guests can park in a nearby garage for a discounted rate.

In December, they only offer one sailing per day. You’ll depart Seattle at 8 a.m. and arrive in Victoria at 10:45 a.m. Coming back, you’ll leave Victoria at 5 p.m. and arrive in Seattle at 7:45 p.m. You’ll go through customs right at the ferry terminal.

On Clipper Vacations, you’ll choose from several sailing classes:

Economy

Roundtrip fares:

  • $120 advanced booking for adults ages 12+ ($160 standard)
  • $60 advanced booking for kids ages 1-11 ($80 standard)
  • Kids under one year old are free but don’t get a seat

Vista

For an additional $10 per way, you can upgrade to Vista class and enjoy spacious leather seating, extra legroom for window seats, locally sourced food and beverage items for purchase, and table/group seating for families.

Roundtrip fares:

  • $140 advanced booking for adults ages 12+ ($180 standard)
  • $80 advanced booking for kids ages 1-11 ($100 standard)
  • Kids under one year old are free but don’t get a seat

Comfort

For an additional $25 per way, you can upgrade to Comfort class and enjoy priority boarding, leather seating, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, and locally sourced food and beverage items for purchase.

Roundtrip fares:

  • $170 advanced booking for adults ages 12+ ($210 standard)
  • $110 advanced booking for kids ages 1-11 ($130 standard)
  • Kids under one year old are free but don’t get a seat

My family sat at a 4-top table in Vista class on the upper deck, and it was quite comfortable.

It’s a 2-hour-and-45-minute ride from Downtown Seattle to Victoria Harbour, and sometimes you can see orcas from the boat!

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Two boys in matching Christmas sweaters sit on the Clipper Ferry boat
My boys are pretending to be a 2-headed monster as they wait for the Clipper to depart Seattle. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

They have a few places to charge electronics on the Clipper, and they also have a decent menu of food and beverages. They even have baked goods from Macrina Bakery in Seattle!

On the boat ride home, they offered in-seat service where staff took your food/drink order and delivered it to your seat. This was immensely helpful when traveling alone with small children.

It’s free to carry on bags (they even have luggage racks on the lower level), or you pay $15 each way to check your bag.

Find out how to book your ride on Clipper Vacations.

SEAPLANE

The fastest way to Victoria from Seattle is by seaplane. It’s a 45-minute scenic flight to Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

Kenmore Air offers a few flights per day. The airfare changes, but I saw some for about $320 roundtrip. You are also limited to 25 lbs of luggage per person.

Find out more about Kenmore Air Seaplanes.

COHO FERRY FROM PORT ANGELES

When my husband and I visited Victoria, BC, a few years ago, we drove to Port Angeles, WA, and took the ferry to Victoria.

This is a great option if you are already on the Olympic Peninsula or the surrounding area. Otherwise, you’ll probably need to catch a ferry to get to Port Angeles, which can add a lot of time during peak hours.

With the ferry, you can drive your car over to Victoria, or you can park your car in Port Angeles and walk on as a passenger.

On winter weekends, the ferry leaves Port Angeles in the early morning and early afternoon and leaves Victoria in the late morning and late afternoon. The ride is 90 minutes long and fairly smooth.

Roundtrip Fares

  • 1 Vehicle (18 feet or under) + driver = $133
  • 1 Additional adult passengers (ages 12+) = $38
  • 1 Child passengers (ages 5-11) – $19
  • 1 Child passengers (ages 0-4) = Free

You’ll definitely need to make your ferry reservation ahead of time.

Find out more about the Coho Ferry.

BC FERRY FROM VANCOUVER

If you are already in Vancouver, BC, your best option is to take BC Ferries. They have multiple sailings throughout the day, and the ride is 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Find out more about BC Ferries.

Where to Stay During Christmas in Victoria BC, with Kids

INN AT LAUREL POINT

We were lucky to be hosted at the Inn at Laurel Point, just minutes from the Clipper terminal.

The Inn at Laurel Point is an independent boutique hotel run by a board of directors. Because they aren’t chain hotels, they have a lot of freedom to improve their hotel when they see fit.

They are the province’s first carbon-neutral hotel and a social enterprise committed to reducing waste as much as possible.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Two boys wearing little white hotel bathrobes standing in the bathroom at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria, BC
Is there anything cuter than mini hotel bathrobes?!? Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

We stayed in their newly renovated tower, and the kids loved our spacious hotel room so much that we decided to lounge around (in their adorable kid-sized robes) one morning. Our room faced the water, and we could see the boats coming in and out, as well as lots of beautiful buildings on the other side of the bay.

Their restaurant Aura also was renovated, and the food is outstanding. We enjoyed breakfast there one morning, and I’m still thinking about that granola and coconut yogurt parfait. And they had the flakiest croissants!

On our last night, we ordered room service and ate dinner in bed, looking out on Victoria Harbour. We were living the good life!

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Hotel room overlooking Victoria Harbour in Victoria, BC
Studio room in the updated Erickson Wing. Photo credit: Inn at Laurel Point

The Inn at Laurel Point staff really go above and beyond to make sure guests feel taken care of. And it wasn’t just because we were being hosted. I lingered in the lobby a bit and heard them greet several guests by name and give them the same amazing level of service we received.

When you are traveling with kids (especially solo), staying somewhere with excellent service is a priority. They helped me with my bags, called me taxis, held my coat and luggage, and consistently checked in to see if we needed anything.

During the holiday season, it’s also home to the Santa Brunch. And they have decorated Christmas trees on every floor. It’s quite festive!

FAIRMONT EMPRESS

My husband and I stayed at the Fairmont Empress on our babymoon a few years ago, and it was lovely. This hotel had a $60 million renovation a few years ago and is one of the most famous hotels in Victoria.

They have an indoor heated pool, kids’ activities, kid-size robes, and lots of other family amenities.

During December, guests enjoy the elaborate Christmas decorations inside as well as sparkly lights on the outside of the building.

They also host several Christmas events, including a holiday twist on their popular Afternoon Tea.

Where to Eat During Christmas in Victoria BC, with Kids

FLOYD’S DINER

We had the BEST time at Floyd’s Diner. I cannot stress enough how friendly the staff is and how tasty our food was.

It’s a bright pink building with cool exterior paintings of people like Charlie Chaplin. Inside, you’ll see lots of kitschy memorabilia.

They offer an array of classic American dishes, and they have an extensive drink menu (their London Fog was delish!)

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Cobb Salad from Floyd's Diner in Victoria, BC
I love any place with tasty food for both adults and kids! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

But the real draw is their kid-friendly menu (which is absolutely hilarious to read!) My kids ordered chicken fingers and grilled cheese and loved it so much that they asked for a to-go box (which never happens!) And they proceeded to finish eating their leftovers an hour later!

The kids have already asked when we can head back to Floyd’s Diner, so I think it’s going to be one of our family traditions when we visit Victoria, BC! It’s no wonder why it’s one of the top breakfast places in Victoria!

REBAR

For some super fresh fruit juice and smoothies, head to Rebar. It’s a vegetarian restaurant with some of the best beverage selections in Victoria.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Freshly squeeze tropical juices at Rebar restaurant in Victoria, BC
I love getting fresh juice in December! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

The kids couldn’t get enough of their little smoothie, and my Maui Honeymoon juice gave me a much-needed vitamin boost during cold and flu season.

The restaurant is also super adorable. They have brightly colored tablecloths, and their corner location provides a great spot for people-watching.

DUTCH BAKERY

If you are looking for an awesome bakery with yummy treats, plan a stop at The Dutch Bakery. It’s an old-school bakery that started in 1956, and it feels very nostalgic inside.

Christmas in Victoria BC: the Best Kid Friendly Festivities featured by top US family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland: Gingerbread man with candies
The Dutch Bakery has super cute gingerbread cookies! Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

We stopped here to grab gingerbread cookies to eat on our sleigh ride but ended up ordering some fancy macarons, speckaloos cookies, and more treats to eat back at our hotel.

What Else to Do in Victoria, BC, with Kids in the Winter

If you have extra time in Victoria, you might want to take a Hop-on, Hop-off tour on one of the red double-decker buses. They have indoor seating on the main level, or you can bundle up and go on the open-air top deck. It’s a great way to see the city with small kids.

Plus, there’s also the Victoria Butterfly Garden, the oldest Chinatown in Canada, Miniature World, and the Victoria Bug Zoo.

One of the most iconic things to do in Victoria is High Tea, and it’s a must-try, especially if you’re staying in the Hotel Grand Pacific.

In addition to the Hotel Grand Pacific, it is offered at the Fairmont Empress Hotel (including a special kid’s version), Abkhazi Garden, and several other spots around town.

Tourism Victoria, Clipper Vacations, Inn at Laurel Point, The Butchart Gardens, Floyd’s Diner, and Re-Bar hosted my family on this press trip. All opinions are my own.


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