Looking to eat, shop or access services on Christmas Day?
On Canada’s most festive of federal holidays, most businesses and other public locations will be closed, but some have limited hours for those who need it.
Here are some of the locations open for services on Dec. 25
Grab and Go
Coffee lovers can grab their morning brew at two Starbucks locations – 320 Cook St. from 10 am to 4 pm or 2972 Jacklin Rd. from 8 am to 4 pm – while the chain’s other stores are closed. Loyal Tim Hortons customers won’t be able to fuel up, since it seems the chain’s Greater Victoria locations will be closed all day on Dec. 25
If you’d rather eat Christmas dinner at a restaurant instead of making it yourself, options are sparse. Most businesses will be taking a well-earned rest on Christmas Day, but a few plan to keep their dining rooms open.
Fast food chains such as A&W and Subway will be closed. White Spot will also be closed but is currently accepting orders for its annual “Heat & Serve” turkey dinner if you don’t mind picking it up the day before.
READ MORE: Flood damage disrupts supply for Greater Victoria food banks
restaurants
West Shore residents have a couple of options to dine in. The Westin Bear Mountain’s Masters Lounge on Country Club Way will be open from 8 am to 9 pm, while the House of Boateng at 2854 Peatt Rd. is still taking reservations for its Dec. 25 dinner service.
In Victoria, the Fairmont Empress’ Q Restaurant is also open, although it warns patrons that Dec. 25 bookings are almost full. Nearby, the Steamship Grill & Bar at 470 Belleville St. opens from 11 am to 8 pm, and Sushi Jiro at 240 Cook St. will be open for lunch and dinner service.
In Sydney, Royal Aroma will be open from 11 am to 9 pm, while over on the Malahat, meals will be served at the Alpina Restaurant at Villa Eyrie Resort from 8 am to 8 pm
Don’t see your favorite restaurant on the list? Don’t be shy – give them a quick call to double-check their holiday hours.
stores
Last minute shoppers should cross off their Christmas lists by Dec. 24 because malls across the region – including Uptown, the Bay Centre, Hillside Mall and Westshore Town Center – will be closed on Christmas Day.
Shopper’s Drug Mart and London Drugs locations in Greater Victoria will also be closed.
The Whole Foods at 3587 Blanshard St. will be closed, and so will all Thrifty Foods and Save-On-Foods locations.
recreation
Recreation centers across Greater Victoria, as well as both YMCA/YWCA facilities and the City Center Park in Langford, will be closed on Christmas Day, with some centers offering limited hours on Dec. 26
Thankfully, Greater Victoria houses a wonderful network of walking trails, beaches and hikes if you’re looking to get active and outdoors on Dec. 25
If you’d rather grab a bag of popcorn and catch a new release, two movie theaters in Victoria will be open. Capitol 6 is showing The Matrix Resurrections at 12:30, 3:40, 7 and 10:20 pm The Cineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas will be showing Sing 2 (4:45, 7:30 and 10:20 pm) as well as Spider -Man: No Way Home (3, 3:30, 6:30, 7, 10 and 10:30 pm). The Cineplex Odeon Westshore Cinemas will also be open, but its schedule is not available yet.
Butchart Gardens will be closed on Dec. 25, as will the Royal BC Museum and the Maritime Museum of BC If you find yourself downtown, the City of Victoria’s Lights of Wonder display will be up in Centennial Square until Dec. 31
A short drive north is the Malahat Skywalk, which is open year-round, including Christmas Day.
public services
BC Transit will be operating buses on a Sunday schedule, meaning there will be regular but slightly reduced service throughout the Victoria regional transit system.
The Service BC located at 403-771 Vernon Ave. will be closed for Dec. 25, as will all Greater Victoria ICBC locations.
Emergency services – police, fire and ambulance – will all be operating 24/7 like they do every day.
READ MORE: 12 days, 12 ways to celebrate Christmas around the Capital
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