The holiday events coming up in Kamloops are enough to put even the Grinch in the Christmas spirit.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - If the unseasonably cold weather isn’t enough to help send you into a panic that Christmas is getting close, the holiday events starting this week should give you the boost of Christmas spirit you need to get through the next month.

The official kick off to the holidays starts Thursday night, Nov. 26, with Lights in the Night. The downtown party will include a variety of merchant parties and sales, a kids party and crafts, carollers, games, a lumiere parade and of course the official lighting of the tree at Gaglardi Square. 

Then on Saturday, Nov. 28, head downtown for the Santa Claus Parade, which starts at 11 a.m. at Second Avenue and St. Paul Street. The route travels north on Second Avenue and then east on Victoria Street.

This weekend, Nov. 28 and 29, Homes for the Holidays will offer up inspiring seasonal decor. The annual fundraising tour takes you through five beautifully decorated homes, each done by a different designer. 

Homes for the Holidays offers up seasonal decor inspiration.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Next weekend take a dip with Santa at the Canada Games Pool. Swim with Santa runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 5. That same day you can also head down to the Kamloops Museum and Archives for some hot chocolate and games during Games, Gatherings and Toys.

Dec. 10 will be the annual Senior Lights Tour. The tour offers seniors a bus tour of fabulously decorated homes around Kamloops. Register by calling 250-828-3500 and quoting program number 245532.

This year the Wildlights Festival runs at the B.C. Wildlife Park from Dec. 11 to Jan. 3. The park will be filled with thousands of light displays and Uncle Chris the Clown will be on hand most nights. You can also check out the holiday maze or story time, or take a tour of the lights on the Wildlife Express Miniature Train. 

Santa’s Alpine Visit hits Sun Peaks Dec. 12 this year. The free event runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and includes a vendors market, live music, storytelling with Santa’s elves and a variety of winter activity demonstrations. Gingerbread decorating and photos with Santa are available, but don’t fall under the free events. 

Even the horses get in the holiday spirit at Sun Peaks during Santa's Alpine Visit.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Dec. 15 Choral Rhapsody will take over the Sagebrush Theatre for a 7 p.m. show. Local choirs will present a selection of Christmas carols and the audience will be invited to sing-along between sets.

The Spirit of Christmas will take to the tracks Dec. 17 to 21. Tickets are already on sale for the popular Christmas-themed ride on the historical steam engine. 

Dec. 17 the CP Holiday Train will also make stops in Chase, Kamloops, Savona and Ashcroft. Jim Cuddy, Devin Cuddy and Kelly Prescott will perform at the stop as a fundraiser for local food banks. The Kamloops stop will take place just after 5 p.m. on the north side of The Sandman Centre on Lorne Street. 

For those wanting a last minute bit of fun with Santa, Sun Peaks will host skating, skiing and breakfast events with the big guy Dec. 22 to 24.

And of course if you’re in the shopping mood, there are still a handful of craft fairs taking place around the city in the coming weeks, including several this weekend.

Did we miss a Christmas event? Let us know in the comments below.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015