MOONLIGHT & MAGIC RETURNS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Downtown Courtenay is about to get a whole lot more whimsical. This year’s Moonlight & Magic theme: Elf Yourself!
Mark your calendars for Friday, November 20, from 5:00 – 8:30pm, when Moonlight & Magic takes over Downtown Courtenay for an evening of delight, wonder, and winter fun. The festivities begin with the Official Tree Light Up, kicking off the festive season and inviting the whole Valley to explore the streets, discover something new, and get a head start on holiday shopping.
Expect elves around every corner! Look for pointy hats, playful surprises, live music, interactive art, roving performers, food trucks, and plenty of family-friendly fun that will keep young and old smiling as the night sparkles on.
Moonlight & Magic is also the perfect night to shop local. Downtown Courtenay’s independent retailers, boutiques, galleries, and makers will welcome visitors with special offers and one-of-a-kind finds. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift, a treat for yourself, or inspiration for the season ahead, you’ll find it all within a few charming blocks. Stroll from shop to shop, grab a bite from a local food truck, and take in the magic of Downtown Courtenay at its most enchanting.
“Moonlight & Magic is a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together and celebrate what makes Downtown Courtenay special. It’s our local businesses, artists, community partners and the people who visit, shop and gather here that make downtown such a vibrant and inviting place. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone for an evening of festive fun and celebration.” says Philip Sutton, Executive Director of the Downtown Courtenay BIA.
True to the theme, it’s time to Elf Yourself! Bring your friends, your family, and your festive spirit. Costumes and elf-inspired outfits are encouraged!
Full details, including the schedule and featured performers, will be announced soon. Follow along at downtowncourtenay.com and on Downtown Courtenay’s social channels for updates.
THE COMOX VALLEY ART GALLERY WILL BE OPEN LATE
While you are here for the festivities, make sure to pop inside to shop and view the free art exhibitions at the gallery!
Friday, November 20 is the second-to-last day to see Tricia Wasney’s multimedia exhibition The things that hold us, which considers our relationships with the land, with each other, and with the histories that brought us to where we find ourselves.
It is also the first day of the exhibition Mesh: Art from the Wachiay Residency, which presents a collection of screen prints created by this year’s residency artists: Lauren Correia, Dominique Desbiens, Miles Tsang, Stewart Hughes, Caresse Nadeau, Dan Brown Hozjan, Jeanette Laberge, and Jenny Ritter.
Complimentary hot apple cider will be available to CVAG visitors, and we will be hosting fun, family-friendly art-making activities outside on CVAG Plaza.
The Comox Valley Art Gallery is committed to creating safer spaces where everyone can participate.
CVAG spaces are ACCESSIBLE. All ages are welcome. Staff are available to answer any questions and to provide orientation to the presentation and gallery spaces.
ADMISSION is free. Donations are appreciated.
PUBLIC HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS: We ask that visitors choose not to visit if they are experiencing symptoms of colds and flus.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Moonlight & Magic is presented by the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association with support from generous merchants, community sponsors and partners.
IMAGE CREDIT: Jenn Dykstra, 2025.