Seasonal celebrations kick off with a special advent ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 26, followed by island fairs at the turning of the month.
The 40th Annual Celebration of Light event runs at Salt Spring Centre on Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. People wanting to walk the spiral path of stars and cedar boughs as songs of light and peace are sung are asked to RSVP to info@saltspringcentreschool.ca.
On Saturday, Nov. 30, Salt Spring United Church’s biggest fundraiser — Winterfaire — runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church’s Hereford Avenue location in Ganges. It features shopping upstairs and down, for “handicrafts, tasteful treasures, jewelry, winter greens, Christmas cakes, baking and preserves,” all surrounded by live festive music and with light from the stained glass windows created by the late longtime islander Jack Clements.
A silent auction and all-day cafe, for a hot cuppa and muffin or treat, plus lunch of authentic tourtieres or vegan/gluten-free chili, highlight the Winterfaire, proceeds of which enable the church to continue its work on Salt Spring and beyond.
That weekend sees craft fairs galore: on Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, there’s the Holiday Market at SIMS, the Fulford Artisan Christmas Fair and the Beaver Point Christmas Craft Fair, with another at Lions Hall from Friday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 1.
To get a jump on your holiday spirit, Salt Spring’s Little Red Schoolhouse will hold a fundraising Holiday Fair event at Beaver Point Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, and the Anglican Parish Christmas Bazaar is this Saturday, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at All Saints by-the-Sea.
And if lights are your thing, don’t miss Ganges’ official light-up at Centennial Park Friday, Nov. 29, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. — with live music from Viva Chorale! and a magical performance by some Christmas With Scrooge cast members.
Visit gulfislandevents.com for more details about holiday events happening on all of the islands.