A free attraction at Victoria’s Centennial Square, Lights of Wonder is a Christmas event with beautiful illuminations and live entertainment.
Downtown Victoria’s Lights of Wonder
A recent addition to the holiday season, Lights of Wonder made its first appearance in 2019. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the pandemic, but the event returned in 2021 and 2022. It’s back again in 2023. This year, it runs from December 1st until the 31st.
Lights of Wonder takes place at Centennial Square. The plaza is located at 1 Centennial Square downtown, right near both City Hall and Chinatown. Around 500,000 lights are used to create the displays which brighten the area with bedazzling trees as well various artistic creations.
It’s estimated that up to around 75,000 people visit Lights of Wonder in a good year. Admission is free for everyone!
The 2023 Event
Lights of Wonder runs from December 1st to 31st in 2023. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s open from 4:00 to 10:00 pm and on other days of the week it closes at 9:00 pm. As mentioned above, there’s no admission fee or ticket required to check out the event.
The lights are up to admire throughout the month. However, from December 1st to 21st, live entertainment only runs on Friday and Saturday evenings. The final night on New Year’s Eve is extended so the event closes after midnight rather than the usual time. This means visitors can ring in 2024 while amongst all the lights.
When visiting Lights of Wonder, the main attraction is the numerous displays of coloured lights around the square. There are typically trees covered in lights, artificial displays like an electric blue orca, a lit-up archway to walk through, and more.
There are also a couple vendors that sell hot chocolate and snacks, as well as a donation booth. The donation booth has a recipient each night that all donations go to. In past years the different organizations taking part included The Soup Kitchen, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Women In Need and more.
Lights of Wonder Video
For an idea of what the Lights of Wonder looks like, check out the following video. It shows scenes of the attraction from 2021.
Other Information
For more information about the event, visit the Lights of Wonder website.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Light Up the City
- Victoria Santa Light Parade
- Butchart Gardens at Christmas
- Victoria Festivals and Events
