Booking choice: The Christmas lights tour, from $218 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The gardens' Christmas season runs from December 1 to January 6, with the gardens closed on Christmas Day. Opening hours change to 3 to 9 PM, so the visit happens as the light fades and the displays come on.
That timing is why there is a dedicated Christmas tour from Vancouver: it spends the day in Victoria first and reaches the gardens later, then takes an evening ferry home.
The quick answer
The Christmas season runs December 1 to January 6 (closed December 25), 3 to 9 PM, at CAD 41.00 per adult. Expect light displays including scenes of The Twelve Days of Christmas, carollers and a brass band, and an outdoor skating rink. The Christmas tour from Vancouver costs from $218 with hotel pickup, about 2 hours in Victoria and about 1.5 hours at the gardens.
When does Butchart Gardens do Christmas lights?
Every evening from December 1 to January 6, except December 25, when the gardens are closed.
During the season the gardens open from 3 to 9 PM. Right after it, from January 7 to 17, they return to 10 AM to 4:30 PM, and from January 18 to 31 they close for a staff holiday.
| Dates | Hours | Adult | Youth 13 to 17 | Child 5 to 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 to 24, 2026 | 3 PM to 9 PM | CAD 41.00 | CAD 20.50 | CAD 5.00 |
| Dec 25 | Closed | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dec 26, 2026 to Jan 6, 2027 | 3 PM to 9 PM | CAD 41.00 | CAD 20.50 | CAD 5.00 |
Victoria by day and the lights by evening, with hotel pickup and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Christmas lights tourWhat do you see at Butchart Gardens at Christmas?
Light displays along the garden paths, including scenes from The Twelve Days of Christmas, plus carollers, a brass band and an outdoor skating rink.
The gardens describe walking the paths to find each Twelve Days scene, with traditional carollers and a festive brass band performing in turns every half hour from 5 to 9 PM. There is an outdoor skating rink under strings of lights, and the gardens' Christmas page carries the skating details. Children 12 and under can swap a handmade snowflake for a hot chocolate at the Coffee Shop.
Is any part of the gardens closed at Christmas?
Yes. The gardens say the Japanese and Mediterranean Gardens are closed during the Christmas season.
Everything else is about the lights rather than plants, which is the honest trade-off: one Christmas-tour guest felt the gardens are not worth seeing without real flowers, and another hopes to come back in spring or summer. If flowers are your priority, see the best time to visit.
Is there a Butchart Gardens Christmas tour from Vancouver?
Yes: the Westcoast Christmas tour, from $218 per adult, rated 4.8 from 49 reviews.
The listing's order: hotel pickup in downtown Vancouver, the ferry, about 2 hours around Victoria's Inner Harbour, about 1.5 hours at the gardens, then the ferry back. It takes about 12 hours, lists a maximum of 40 travelers, and runs subject to the weather: if it is cancelled for poor weather you are offered another date or a full refund. Food, drinks and gratuities are extra.
December only: the Christmas lights at Butchart and Victoria's Inner Harbour in one day from Vancouver.
Explore the Christmas lights tourWhat do guests say about the Christmas tour?
Guests praise the lights and the guides, and several call the day long.
"Butchart Christmas lights were lovely and the highlight of the day", wrote one guest. Another enjoyed the Gulf Islands from the ferry and the shops and museum in Victoria. On the other side, one guest felt the price was high for the time at the gardens, and a few suggested staying overnight in Victoria instead of doing it all in a day.
Can you do a regular Butchart Gardens tour in December?
Check the listing: with the gardens opening at 3 PM in the Christmas season, morning garden visits are not possible.
Tours that normally reach the gardens late in the morning have to change their order in December. The Christmas tour is built around the evening hours. If you are already in Victoria, the island tour from the city is another option; confirm its December times when you book.
Staying in Victoria over the holidays? Hotel pickup and time in the gardens, without the ferry day.
Explore the tour from VictoriaWhat should you wear to Butchart Gardens at Christmas?
Warm, waterproof layers and good shoes: you will be outdoors after dark for much of the visit.
The Christmas tour notes that travelers should have a moderate level of fitness, and the garden paths include slopes and steps. Gloves help if you want to take photos, and a hood or umbrella helps if it is wet.
Where can you see Christmas lights in Victoria too?
Around the Inner Harbour: the Parliament Buildings are outlined in lights after dark, a short walk from the Empress.
On the Christmas tour your Victoria time comes first, in daylight, so the lights in town are more of a bonus if you are staying the night. See Victoria in a few hours for a short walking plan.
One December day, two highlights: check dates for the Christmas lights tour.
Check dates for the Christmas lights tourFrequently asked questions
What are the Butchart Gardens Christmas hours?
From December 1 to January 6 the gardens open from 3 to 9 PM. They are closed on December 25.
How much is Butchart Gardens at Christmas?
For the 2026-27 season the gardens list CAD 41.00 per adult, CAD 20.50 for youths 13 to 17 and CAD 5.00 for children 5 to 12.
Is Butchart Gardens open on Christmas Day?
No. The gardens are closed on December 25.
Do I need to book the Christmas tour early?
The tour cancels free up to 24 hours before, so booking early costs you nothing if plans change.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Victoria & Butchart Gardens Christmas Tour
The gardens' Christmas lights in December
