Find your holiday cheer in Val-d'Or with our ultimate guide. For Val-d'Or residents and newcomers, our guide is your key to the festive season.
Popular events like the German Christmas Market invite you to explore charming stalls filled with handcrafted goods and festive treats. The event features an array of traditional decorations and lively entertainment. Look out for Christmas Magic at The Butchart Gardens, where stunning light displays transform the gardens into a winter wonderland. And definitely don't forget Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village, where twinkling lights adorn historic buildings, creating a picturesque holiday atmosphere. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Val-d'Or
- German Christmas Market (Québec City)
- Christmas Magic at The Butchart Gardens (Victoria)
- Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village (Morrisburg)
- Ottawa Christmas Market (Ottawa)
- WinterFest at the Royal BC Museum (Victoria)
- Festival of Trees (Victoria)
- A Christmas Carol at Fairmont Banff Springs (Banff)
- Christmas at Craigdarroch Castle (Victoria)
- Hot Chocolate Trail (Banff)
- Banff Christmas Market (Banff)
See these and even more events listed below!
Val-d'Or Holiday Light Displays
Christmas Magic at The Butchart Gardens
What to Expect:
Thousands of twinkling lights and traditional carolers.
Description:
The Butchart Gardens transforms into a vibrant holiday spectacle with over 300,000 lights, festive greenery, and traditional carolers. Stroll through the Twelve Days of Christmas displays, enjoy seasonal beverages, and savor festive dining options.
Where: Victoria | More Info: Christmas Magic at The Butchart Gardens
Centennial Lights of Wonder
What to Expect:
Interactive light tunnels and live performances.
Description:
Centennial Lights of Wonder transforms Centennial Square into a vibrant holiday display featuring themed light exhibits, interactive tunnels, and a 40-foot festive tree. The event offers live entertainment, warm treats, and magical light displays for all ages.
Where: Victoria | More Info: Centennial Lights of Wonder
Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village
What to Expect:
One million lights transform historic village into a holiday spectacle.
Description:
Over one million lights adorn heritage buildings, trees, and fences at Upper Canada Village, creating a picture-perfect setting for an evening stroll. This event is perfect for families, couples, and friends alike, with a life-sized, colorfully lit toy train and Pommier Horse Drawn Carriage Rides available.
Where: Morrisburg | More Info: Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village
In Search of Christmas Spirit
What to Expect:
Live Christmas story told by illuminated sculptures and sound effects.
Description:
In Search of Christmas Spirit is an outdoor Christmas experience in Banff National Park, featuring a live story told by illuminated sculptures and sound effects. The event follows an enchanted trail through the Cascade of Time Garden, showcasing the wildlife's appreciation for their safe space.
Where: Banff | More Info: In Search of Christmas Spirit
Val-d'Or Holiday Markets and Shopping
WinterFest at the Royal BC Museum
What to Expect:
Multicultural performances and local artisan market.
Description:
WinterFest at the Royal BC Museum is a free outdoor multicultural holiday market celebrating arts, culture, and community. It features music, dance, food, and a market with local artisans and sellers.
Where: Victoria | More Info: WinterFest at the Royal BC Museum
German Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Traditional German market with local artisanal products and festive atmosphere.
Description:
The German Christmas Market in Quebec City features over 90 stands, 5 beautifully illuminated sites, and a variety of family-friendly activities, gourmet treats, and unique gift ideas. Enjoy traditional German specialties, mulled wine, and local artisanal products in the heart of Old Quebec.
Where: Québec City | More Info: German Christmas Market
Marché du Noël d'Antan de Cap-Santé
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday market with local artisans.
Description:
The Marché du Noël d'Antan de Cap-Santé is a traditional Christmas market featuring over 70 artisans offering their beautiful creations in a historic village setting.
Where: Cap-Santé | More Info: Marché du Noël d'Antan de Cap-Santé
Ottawa Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Unique shopping experience with local vendors and festive activities.
Description:
The Ottawa Christmas Market is a vibrant holiday event featuring over 50 local vendors offering unique gifts, traditional Christmas items, and local flavors. Enjoy festive lights, live entertainment, and activities like Santa's Workshop and Silent Disco.
Where: Ottawa | More Info: Ottawa Christmas Market
Carp Farmers’ Market Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Local holiday shopping with international food and live music.
Description:
The Carp Farmers' Market Christmas Market is a 2-day event featuring 60 local vendors, an international food court, Santa visits, and a food drive for the West Carleton Food Access Centre. Enjoy live music, free parking, and free admission while shopping for local products and produce.
Where: Carp | More Info: Carp Farmers’ Market Christmas Market
Banff Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Traditional European-style market with live music and artisanal vendors.
Description:
The Banff Christmas Market is a traditional European-style market featuring over 150 artisanal vendors, live music, an outdoor fire lounge, Santa's House and Workshop, and a variety of Christmas treats and warm drinks. It is a family-friendly event that offers something for everyone.
Where: Banff | More Info: Banff Christmas Market
Val-d'Or Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas at Craigdarroch Castle
What to Expect:
Victorian-era holiday decorations and live Celtic music.
Description:
Explore authentic Victorian traditions at Craigdarroch Castle, featuring self-guided tours with vintage toys and decorations, live Celtic music, and a Dickensian Christmas Carol performance.
Where: Victoria | More Info: Christmas at Craigdarroch Castle
A Christmas Carol at Fairmont Banff Springs
What to Expect:
Heartwarming adaptation of Dickens' classic with puppets and soundscape.
Description:
A timeless tale of redemption, where a man named Scrooge is visited by three ghosts, learning the true meaning of Christmas through puppets and an incredible soundscape.
Where: Banff | More Info: A Christmas Carol at Fairmont Banff Springs
Val-d'Or Other Holiday Activities
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Community-driven tree decorating for pediatric care.
Description:
The Festival of Trees is a community event where local businesses and organizations decorate trees to raise funds for BC Children's Hospital. The public is encouraged to explore and vote for their favorite tree, supporting pediatric care and research.
Where: Victoria | More Info: Festival of Trees
Haunted Manor Mini Golf
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted mini-golf with interactive challenges.
Description:
Haunted Manor Mini Golf offers an immersive and interactive 18-hole mini-golf experience set in a haunted Victorian manor. Each hole features unique challenges and a ghoulish story to tell. The attraction also includes a private ping pong lounge where you can enjoy a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Where: Victoria | More Info: Haunted Manor Mini Golf
A Victorian Christmas
What to Expect:
Guided tour of a meticulously restored Victorian home with old-fashioned hot drinks.
Description:
Explore the Victorian home of Sir George-Étienne Cartier, adorned with vintage ornaments, and learn about the origins and traditions of a 19th-century bourgeois Christmas through a guided tour and service of old-fashioned hot drinks.
Where: Montréal | More Info: A Victorian Christmas
Hot Chocolate Trail
What to Expect:
Sampling unique, limited-time festive-themed hot chocolates at multiple locations.
Description:
Embark on a flavorful adventure through Banff and Lake Louise, sampling an array of hot chocolates that range from traditional classics to creatively spirited concoctions at over 20 participating restaurants and cafes.
Where: Banff | More Info: Hot Chocolate Trail
Criterium de la Premiere Neige
What to Expect:
High-level Alpine skiing competitions on iconic French slopes.
Description:
The Criterium de la Première Neige is a prestigious Alpine Skiing World Cup event held annually in Val d'Isère, France. It features high-level competitions in disciplines such as slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and downhill, showcasing the world's best skiers on legendary slopes like Face de Bellevarde and Oreiller Killy.