One of Christmas's most beautiful experiences is available to most Canadians for the price of a short car trip. The traditional family Christmas light tour usually includes trips through favourite residential areas, but most Canadian cities have festive hotspots where residents and/or commercial districts go the extra mile for a memorable light display.
2004 Christmas Lights across Canada
If you live in a provincial capital, don't miss the Christmas Lights Across Canada program sponsored by Canada Post. In effect since 1985, this program officially kicks off the holiday season with each provincial and territorial capital hosting its own lighting ceremony. A total of more than a million lights will link capitals across the nation from early December 2004 until January 2005.
Click here for more information on the Christmas Lights Across Canada program.
Victoria
Thousands of Christmas lights and decorations greet visitors to Victoria's famous Butchart Gardens from December 1 - January 6, when Butchart offers Christmas entertainment, shopping and dining on top of a brilliant Christmas display. This year caps the annual Twelve Days of Christmas display with a spectacular Twelve Drummers Drumming -- possibly Victoria's highlight Christmas display. For details, visit the Butchart Gardens web site.
Victoria's Oak Bay Avenue -- the so-called Tweed Curtain neighbourhood of English expats -- trips the light fantastic beginning November 28 with fabulous light displays and family friendly events as part of its Victorian Christmas. Visit the Victorian Christmas web site for more information.
Calgary
A Calgarian Christmas should include the interactive light show Zoo Lights, at the Calgary Zoo. This event runs from December 3 - January 2, 2005, from 6 pm to 9 pm. Details are at the Calgary Zoo web site.
The Calgary Downtown Association holds a lights display on 8th Avenue from November 18 -December 31. All along this Christmas Trail storefronts are decorated and special seasonal events run. For a comprehensive listing see the Calgary downtown web site.
