Milner Christmas Magic
Make memories with family and friends this holiday season by experiencing Milner Christmas Magic’s outdoor stroll through thousands of twinkling lights and festive window displays.
Magic Tips Before you Visit:
Admission runs from 5:00pm-8:00pm with viewing until 8:30pm.
Admission is by donation, suggested $8/Adult, $4/Child or $20/Household, but all are welcome!
Admission is purchased at the Welcome Centre when you arrive. No online tickets can be purchased in advance. Cash, Debit, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at the Welcome Centre for your donation.
Limited parking is available in our newly paved parking lot. We will have a volunteer Parking Attendant stationed at the entry gate to assist you on where to go.
Overflow event parking is located on the highway. For everyone's safety, we have hired road traffic control.
We do have a few accessible parking stalls in our lot. If they are all full, we have a safe drop-off/pick-up/unloading zone just above the Welcome Centre. If you need to utilize this space, let the Parking Attendant at the gate know.
Please expect Parking Attendants, Traffic Control Workers and other visitors along the highway. Drive cautiously.
An off-site shuttle service will be operating continuously throughout the event hours on Saturdays and Sundays only, running from the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. This allows visitors to park safely off-site at the Civic Centre and get dropped off at Milner Christmas Magic, then returned to their vehicles.
Visitors can expect the shuttle to leave from the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre approximately every 20 minutes between 4:45pm - 7:40pm.
Visitors can expect the shuttle to leave from Milner Gardens & Woodland approximately every 20 minutes between 5:15pm - 8:50pm.
There is space for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers and the service is free of charge.
One Cool Cookie food truck will be stationed in the parking lot near the Welcome Centre for you to grab a hot drink and treat before you enter the Gardens and start the Light Walk.
Hungry for more? An outdoor food service tent will be stationed near Milner House serving hot and cold beverages, vegan chili, soup, smokies, baked potatoes and a festive selection of cookies. Cash, Debit, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at the food tent.
Only certified service dogs are permitted on-site. No other pets.
Milner Christmas Magic is a visual light event, with some moving/twinkling light features. No strobe or flashing lights are included. Quiet music can be heard playing at the Welcome Centre and Gift Shop. Otherwise, no loud music or sounds are amplified anywhere on site.
The Light Walk is wheelchair, stroller and walker accessible. The Milner driveway is a long, gentle slope of packed gravel. Please consider: Anyone in/pushing someone in a manual wheelchair will require adequate strength to get back up the driveway grade.
On-site shuttle services will be running continuously throughout the event from the Welcome Centre to the Gift Shop and back. These consist of one 6-person and one 8-person golf carts, and priority will be given to those with mobility challenges, seniors and families with small children.
Accessible washrooms are located at the Welcome Centre, Gift Shop and an accessible portable toilet is stationed near Milner House.
We do have a few accessible parking stalls in our lot. If they are all full, we have a safe drop/off/pick-up/unloading zone just above the Welcome Centre. If you need to utilize this space, let the Parking Attendant at the gate know.
Santa & Mrs. Claus are located in the Gazebo in the Children’s Food Garden. Look for the big “Santa” sign to find them. Santa and Mrs. Claus offer a meet and greet experience, spending a few minutes chatting and connecting with each child. This can make wait-times long. If visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus is important to you and your family, please try to arrive as early as possible and know to expect a bit of a wait. Please ensure you are in line by 8pm.
In the event that wait times are over 45 minutes, a “take a number” system may be used so that you can enjoy the rest of the event while waiting to see Santa.
There is no photographer at Santa, you are welcome to take your own photos.
In the event we experience heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and/or strong windspeeds, we will need to cancel the event for the night. Please check our website or social media platforms the day you plan to visit to confirm we have not cancelled for the evening.
Enhance your visitor experience by purchasing a pair of Holiday Specs, holographic glasses that transform lights right before your eyes! Located at the Welcome Centre and Gingerbread House Gift Shop - $4 for one, or 3 for $10. Learn more here.
The Gingerbread House Gift Shop is the only area on site not equipped to accept cash. We apologize for the inconvenience.
First aid kits are located at the Welcome Centre, Gift Shop and Milner House. Staff and security can be seen around the site wearing high-vis vests and battery-powered string lights. Please alert someone right away if you are in need of assistance.
Lost and Found items are often turned in to the Welcome Centre, Gift Shop or Food Tent. If you lost something during your visit, email us at milnergardens@viu.ca or leave us a message at 250-752-6153 and we will do our best to locate the item.
