The donkey is being stubborn this year but overall, the First Christmas Nativity Pageant, a live pageant with more than 100 cast and crew (including the four-legged players), is ready to bring the message of peace on Earth to Victorians today, Friday and Saturday at Topaz Park.
Presented by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the pageant celebrates its 31st year by re-telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ according to the New Testament.
The live pageant, with four shows a night, typically attracts an estimated 5,000 visitors over three days. This year, the cast includes three babies who will take turns portraying the newborn Jesus.
鈥淪ome of the people now playing Joseph had, at one time, been cast in the role of baby Jesus,鈥� said Lyanne Sanderson, who, along with her husband, Graham, has been organizing the annual celebration for the past 26 years. 鈥淭heir newborns are now, in turn, playing the infant Jesus Christ.鈥�
Other well-known characters in the play include Joseph and Mary, King Herod, the angel Gabriel, the three kings, soldiers and shepherds 鈥� all dressed in era-authentic clothing. The outdoor set recreates a stable in Jerusalem.
A menagerie of live animals such as sheep, llamas and donkeys, as well as stage equipment, is loaned by community partners and suppliers.
Seating includes uncovered bleachers and chairs set around an improvised stage. Best to dress for the weather, as the pageant plays rain or shine.
The show is a gift to the community by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who do not ask for donations or charge admission.
They suggest people make a donation to their favourite charity or food bank instead.
There are four 30-minute performances at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. tonight through Saturdray at the south end of Topaz Park on Topaz Avenue. Visitors are asked to enter from Quadra Street. Parking is free at the park or the adjacent S.J. Willis Alternative School. The venue is wheelchair-friendly and public toilets are located at north end of the park.
For information, go to christmasnativity.ca.
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Kids get to roam around at Christingle service
Bring the whole family to the child-friendly Christingle Carol Service at St. Luke鈥檚 Church on Christmas Eve.
This is the ninth year of the special service, which is popular with families because children can move around during the service. During the hour-long service, children are kept occupied by helping add figures to the empty cr猫che.
Younger children receive Christingle oranges.
During the service, people of all ages sing carols of thanksgiving and are reminded to carry the light of Christ (Christingle) into the world.
The service starts at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke鈥檚 Church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.
Other Christmas Eve services will take place at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
For more information, call 250-477-6741 or go to stlukesvictoria.ca.
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CRD walk is last of the year
Join a CRD Parks naturalist for a solstice stroll, the final guided walk of the year at Witty鈥檚 Lagoon Regional Park today.
As the shortest day of the year approaches enjoy the quiet of the forest and discover the plants and animals that call the park home at this time of the year.
This hour and a half walk is recommended for adults 18 and older.
The walk is free to join. It runs 10 to 11:30 a.m. today at Witty鈥檚 Lagoon Regional Park in Metchosin. Please meet at the nature centre off Metchosin Road.
Parking is available, but the park is also served by sa国际传媒 Transit routes No. 54 or 55.
Try to arrive 10 minutes before the start of the program. Please leave pets at home. For more information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.
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Celebrate solstice with music
Celebrate the season at Winter Solstice, a celebration of music and joy by the Sooke Harbour House, in partnership with the Sooke Philharmonic, on Friday evening.
This is the seventh year of the annual concert, which features vocalists Cari Burdett and Sara Marreiros, with Adrian Dolan on piano, accordion and mandolin and Adam Dobres on piano. They will be joined by award-winning teen violinist Quin Etheridge-Pedden and bassist Nick Mintenko.
This year the concert will be multi-genre, with a fusion of a 12th-century secular canon, a popular French Canadian fiddle tune, a Portuguese duet, folk songs, gospel and pop classics by Sting.
Tickets are $25. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Friday in the Copper Room of the Sooke Harbour House, 1528 Whiffen Spit Rd., Sooke.
A pre- and post-performance special festive Copper Room menu is available as well as a discount off your room rate on the night of the concert. Tickets are available by calling
250-642-3421 or online at eventbrite.ca. For more information, go to sookeharbourhouse.com.
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Make room for turkey with Pathfinders
Build up credit for the Christmas feasting at a five- or 10-kilometre non-competitive walk around the West Shore on Saturday.
Your hosts will be the Juan de Fuca Pathfinders Walking Club, a member of the International Volkssport Federation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy, non-competitive activities for people of all ages.
Volkssport clubs are found in 50 countries around the world, with walking events the most popular activity among members in sa国际传媒
Volkssport walks are almost always 10 kilometres, with a five-km option. They are planned to showcase the community or countryside. Leashed, well-behaved dogs can participate in most events 鈥� but check with the organizer first.
The three local Volkssport clubs in Greater Victoria 鈥� including the YMCA Volkssport and Garden City Wanderers 鈥� offer a wide variety of walks throughout the year.
Membership is not mandatory to join a walk.
The first five walks are free, after which there is a fee of $1 or $2 per walk.
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.; the walk starts at 10 a.m. Saturday from West Shore Parks and Recreation, 1767 Island Hwy., View Royal. For more information, contact Francine at 250-361-4583 or go to
jdfpathfinders.com.
