Claire Tate (right) meeting Santa at the gingerbread village in 2021. (Submitted/Emily Tait)

By Jordan Davidson

let it snow

Winterfest bringing a blast of Christmas into Nanaimo’s downtown

Nov 26, 2022 | 7:14 AM

NANAIMO — Santa is coming to downtown Nanaimo, kicking off almost a month’s worth of festive activities.

Dubbed ‘Winterfest’, businesses along Commercial St. and in the Old City Quarter will be bursting at the seams with Christmas activities, from a gingerbread village and choirs to late-night shopping, and free photos with the big guy himself.

President of the Nanaimo chamber of commerce Kim Smythe said families are encouraged to watch Santa touch down on Saturday and walk with him to the gingerbread village.

“It’s a jam-packed season full of memorable experiences downtown for families. We start off by flying in Santa on Harbour Air this Saturday (Nov.26) morning at 10:30. We’re inviting everybody to meet us down at Harbour Air’s terminal on the waterfront and walk with Santa.”

Santa will walk to the gingerbread village inside the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (101 Gordon St.), where he’ll be every weekend from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. until Dec. 18.

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Smythe said walk-ins to see Santa are allowed, but he suggests you book an appointment here at the Downtown Nanaimo’s website to make things easier.

“When they know they’re going to see Santa, once they go through those doors they are pretty much bee-ling for the big guy. So it’s pretty hard to distract them with gingerbread decorating and things like that, most of them want to get right up to Santa’s lap.”

(Submitted/Emily Tait)

There is plenty to do for the kids before or after they see Santa, including a hot chocolate bar, a gingerbread decorating station, and Santa’s elves will be on hand to entertain them.

Indigenous storytellers from the Snuneymuxw First Nation will be upstairs in the library Saturday afternoons from 12:30 pm.m until 2 speaking about Nanaimo’s history, and Literacy Nanaimo will also be hosting magic shows on Sundays.

Some local businesses in the area will be participating in a window display contest, going from Nov. 21 until Dec. 17., where shoppers can vote for their favourite for cash prizes.

“We have late-night shopping on Friday, Dec. 9th until 9 o clock at night, and most of these activities are also being done in conjunction with the folks up at the Old City Quarter. So you’ll be entertained both in the old City Quarter and downtown on Commercial St. in the Conference Centre at Gingerbread village and all around.”

A scaled-down version of Winterfest was attempted in 2021 with a gingerbread village being set up at the Conference Centre for a number of years prior to that.

Smythe said things will feel more inclusive and open for the 2022 edition.

“Last year was a little bit nerve-racking because it was masks, it was vax cards checking, it was all of those things that there isn’t this year, so a little bit more freedom to move around and feel safe and secure in your community.”

Pets can also sit on Santa’s lap for a photo on Dec. 1 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m, and not just dogs and cats either, according to Smythe.

“He’s seen spiders, he’s seen snakes, he’s seen all sorts of rodents, big animals and little animals. That’ll be a really fun time.”

A full list of events taking place in Nanaimo’s downtown and Old City Quarter starting Nov. 21. (Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow