Christmas 2011 (Santa Light Parade)

The celebration of Christmas offically began one month before Christmas. In the afternoon, I had coffee with Yanmin in the Cornerstone Cafe. Victoria's Fernwood Square has been voted into the Top 100 Public Spaces in Canada. As one of Victoria's oldest and most historic districts Fernwood has become a popular destination for visitors and residents alike.

Before the parade, Centennial Square is the place to be for the 4th annual Christmas Tree Light-Up. This event traditionally kicks off the holiday season in Downtown Victoria, they transform the giant Sequoia tree into Victoria’s biggest Christmas tree (along with decorations on the other trees too).

The air was magical with the harmonies of the School District 61 Choir and the Victoria Children’s Choir punctuated by blasts from the historical steam fire engine. Eight vendors provided “A Taste of Victoria” treats and beverages. The highlight of the evening was when Mayor Dean Fortin and DVBA Chair Scott Hoadley threw the switch to light up the trees in Centennial Square in sequence, finishing with the lighting of the giant sequoia for a total illumination of 25,000 LEDs.

Santa Claus make a grand entrance in the annual Santa Light Parade. The parade starts at 5:45 pm at the Legislative Buildings and travels north along Government Street to the parking lot at Capital Iron, where a family festival follows the parade.

Met with the Fernwood Square again at night- The ginger bread with the Belfry Theatre located at a nineteenth-century church designed by Thomas Hooper. It's the Great Gingerbread Showcase the Inn At Laurel Point. We ended our day with a glass of local wine and funny young people.