Lets get festive! The UsedCrew is excited for another holiday season just around the corner. We’re whipping out our best ugly sweaters and eggnog in preparation for a cheer-filled holidays. Here’s what the UsedCrew has on-the-go over the holiday season:

 

Festival of Trees – November 15, 2018 – January 7, 2019

On average, 22 kids from Vancouver Island are treated at BC Children’s Hospital everyday – that is almost one every hour.

The Festival of Trees is a community tradition and has become the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season in Victoria. The event provides tree sponsors with the opportunity to showcase their community spirit and transform The Bay Centre into a lush forest of beautifully decorated trees.

Trees are on display from November 15, 2018 until January 7, 2019. Support BC Children’s Hospital by making a donation and voting for your favorite tree. Funds raised through this event help meet the most critical health needs of kids in our community.

Visit www.bcchf.ca/fotyyj for more information.

 

 

Gingerbread Showcase – November 17 to January 6, 2019

The Gingerbread Showcase is Habitat Victoria’s premier fundraising event. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, this event is presented by the Victoria Real Estate Board and hosted at the elegant Parkside Hotel & Spa. The Showcase brings together professional and amateur bakers from Vancouver Island and highlights their creativity, while supporting the work of Habitat Victoria.

​Last year more than $51,000 was raised thanks to the generosity of more than 25,000 visitors who made a visit to the Showcase as part of their holiday tradition. All donations go directly to helping bring strength, stability and independence to families living in need of decent, affordable housing.

Location:

Parkside Hotel and Spa

810 Humboldt St

Schedule:

9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily

​from Nov 17 to Jan 6

 

 

Presenting the 29th Last Chance Christmas Craft Show

On December 8th and 9th, more than 80 artists and artisans are coming together on the Saanich Peninsula for the Last Chance Christmas Craft Show. This is the perfect place to find everything you’re looking for – the unique, the original and the organic – all under one roof!

This family friendly craft show will include artist demonstrations, live music, food vendors, hourly giveaways, and a $200 vendor shopping spree. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping and find unique, authentic, perfect gifts for your loved ones this holiday season.

 

Where: Mary Winspear Centre | 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney

When: Saturday Dec 8th, 10am-5pm and Sunday Dec 9th, 10am-4pm

Details:  $4 Weekend Pass | Kids Under 12 FREE | Wheelchair Accessible | ATMs Onsite

Parking:  Free Parking | Overflow Parking With Free Shuttle Service Available

More Info: www.firstandlastchance.ca

Come take part in this memorable holiday extravaganza!

 

Pancakes in Pajamas with Santa

December 16

10 am – 12 pm

Hotel Grand Pacific

$25 for kids under 12; $45 for 12 and up

‘Tis the season to be cozy, so why not stay in your pajamas and join Santa for brunch at Hotel Grand Pacific with the whole family? Be sure to leave time for decorating cookies and making holiday crafts too! There will be a raffle for a chance to win WestJet tickets or a one-night stay package at Hotel Grand Pacific. All proceeds from the event support Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

Learn more at islandkidsfirst.com/holiday-2018/ or buy tickets at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pancakes-in-pajamas-with-santa-tickets-50978608390

 

 

Photos with Santa at Hotel Grand Pacific

December 1, 8, and 15

1 pm – 4 pm

Hotel Grand Pacific

By donation

Bring the whole family downtown to have your photo taken with Santa by donation! While you’re there, get into the holiday spirit by listening to carollers and treating yourself to hot chocolate and cookies in the hotel lobby. And don’t leave without picking up a colouring sheet! A holiday colouring contest for kids runs December 1 to 25. All proceeds support Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

Learn more by visiting islandkidsfirst.com/holiday-2018/

 

Cookies and Cocoa

December 1 to 27

10 am – 5 pm

Hotel Grand Pacific

By donation

Get in the holiday spirit this season at Hotel Grand Pacific! Each day during the holiday season, festive cookies and hot chocolate will be available by donation in the Pacific Dining Room and Lounge. In the hotel lobby, enter the raffle for a chance to win WestJet tickets or a two-night stay package at Hotel Grand Pacific. There’s festive fun for the kids in the hotel lobby too. Find colouring sheets for the holiday colouring contest for kids, which runs December 1 to 25. All proceeds support Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

Learn more by visiting islandkidsfirst.com/holiday-2018/

 

Kaleidoscope presents Pippi Longstocking: the Family Musical

Kaleidoscope presents a community musical extravaganza: Pippi Longstocking: the Family Musical, based on the Novel by Astrid Lindgren and adapted for the stage by Sebastian and Staffan Götestam.

No school, no parents, no bedtime or rules: with her mom in the clouds and her dad at sea, Pippi’s on her own to live as she pleases. A girl of indomitable strength and fierce independence, Pippi quickly befriends neighbour kids and delights in playing games that confound authorities. Anything can, and will, be put to rhythm and rhyme as she bucks the system and dances away any blues. She takes centre stage in the circus, wrestles the strongman, outwits burglars and dodges the orphanage. While friends Tommy and Annika love Pippi and her outlandish existence, the local adults want her to conform to their rules.

Pippi Longstocking runs from December 28th to 30th at the McPherson Playhouse.

 

Ballet Victoria presents The Gift

 

Ballet Victoria presents “The Gift”, a young girl’s Christmas adventure with magical dolls, a snow queen, fairies, flowers and a white dragon! Immerseyourself and your whole family in a fun-filled winter wonderland with Tchaikovsky’s enchanting Nutcracker score performed by the incredible Victoria Symphony.

 

December 28 at 7:30pm and December 29 & 30 at 2:00pm, the Royal Theatre will be filled with music, dance, and joy. Book your tickets now for this magical performance that is sure to delight and inspire the wonder of the holiday season.  Details can be found on-line at: www.balletvictoria.ca.

 

Celebrate A Life with Victoria Hospice – December 2018

Celebrate A Life offers a unique opportunity for you to remember a loved one this holiday season — a difficult time of year for many who have experienced a loss. Victoria Hospice invites you to come Celebrate A Life by hanging a personalized tribute ornament in memory of a loved on one of our festive trees.

Stop by our display at Tillicum Centre between December 10-16 and help fill our trees with memories! Volunteers will be on hand to help with this holiday tradition. You can also hang a tribute on our tree at Victoria Hospice or on our virtual tree anytime at www.celebratealifevictoria.ca.

 

 

 

The Mustard Seed’s New Market

The Holidays are not always a joyful time of year for families who struggle to put food on the table. The Mustard Seed’s new Market is a place where guests are able to come and experience the food bank in a new way. The Market allows our community to have the dignity of choice, selecting the food they wish to take home, and feed to their families. It’s look and feel is similar to that of your everyday grocery store. Our hope is that anyone who walks through our doors this Christmas Season feels welcome, comfortable and accepted. For more information on how you can sponsor a family this Christmas, please visit mustardseed.ca/donate.

 

Forza Promotions presents: The Forza New Year’s Eve Bash

Venue: The Leonardo Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street

Hosted by: CTV’s Joe Perkins

Featuring: Complimentary post event shuttle service, live music from local band OK Charlie, complimentary appetizers and midnight champagne, local craft beer from Red Arrow Brewery, creative cocktails from Twist of Fate Cocktails, drink specials all night, large dance floor, chance to win a $500 gift certificate to Max Furniture and special appearance by award winning magician Jason Verners.

Shuttle Service:

Forza Promotions is proud to provide complimentary shuttle service courtesy of Wilson’s Transportation. Shuttle service is for event ticket buyers only, and will provide transportation to three separate drop off locations: Westshore, Sidney/Peninsula, Midtown/Downtown.

For questions please email shaun@forzapromotions.ca