Courtenay is the Comox Valley's riverside city, with a downtown where a gallery, a fossil museum and a busy theatre sit within a few blocks of each other. That makes it easy to string a whole date together on foot, then head up to Mount Washington once the snow arrives. These Courtenay date ideas cover mid November through the holidays and into the new year, using what local venues have posted for the 2026 to 2027 season.

A Night at the Sid

Sid Williams Theatre: The Sid is the heart of downtown, and its season gives couples plenty of reasons to dress up a little. Crash Test Dummies play on Friday, November 13, The Great Divide salutes The Band on November 14, and the Vancouver Island Symphony brings Mischief, Madness and Mystery on Sunday, November 15. Sharing one program between two seats is part of the fun. December is packed too. Christmas with Casey Thomas-Burns is on December 3, the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular runs December 7 to 9, and Zachary Stevenson hosts A Holly Jolly Christmas on December 13, followed by Winter Harp on December 14. Courtenay Little Theatre's Elf the Musical takes the stage December 21 to 31, with no shows on December 24 or 25. In the new year, the symphony returns with Winter Glow on January 17, 2027, and The Sheepdogs rock the room on January 22. For Valentine's Day itself, Symphony at the Sid salutes Aretha, Whitney and Tina on Sunday, February 14, 2027, which is about as romantic as a calendar gets.

The front entrance of the Courtenay and District Museum on Fourth Street in Courtenay, BC.

A Sea Reptile and Old Post Offices

Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Centre: At 207 Fourth Street, this museum tells the story of the elasmosaur discovery, the long-necked sea reptile at the centre of its natural history galleries, alongside displays on local marine fossils. Its current exhibition, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, looks back at the post offices that once tied local communities together, and it runs until March 6, 2027. The museum opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closes on November 11, then reopens with regular hours on Thursday, November 12. Admission is by donation, so give what feels right and spend the savings on a coffee afterward.

Art Faire Season on Duncan Avenue

Comox Valley Art Gallery Winter Art Faire: From December 4 to 24, 2026, the gallery at 580 Duncan Avenue fills with work by more than 35 local makers, from blown glass and pottery to prints, jewellery and woodwork. The opening celebration runs 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 4. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday, then daily from December 20 to 23, with a 2 p.m. close on Christmas Eve. Admission is free, so set a small budget and choose a surprise gift for each other.

A riverside path with stairs down to the Courtenay River at Lewis Park in Courtenay.

Elves and Tree Lights Downtown

Moonlight and Magic: On Friday, November 20, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., downtown Courtenay celebrates the season with the official tree light-up. This year's theme is Elf Yourself, so expect pointy hats, roving performers, live music, interactive art and food trucks. Because the evening begins with the light-up itself, arrive right at 5 p.m. to watch the tree switch on together. Shops stay open with special offers, which makes it a fun night to stroll arm in arm and start your holiday list.

First Chair at Mount Washington

Mount Washington Alpine Resort: The mountain above town has set a tentative winter opening day of December 11, 2026, depending on snow. Until then the lifts are closed, so watch the hours page as the date gets closer. A first run of the season together is a great way to mark the start of winter.

Shops along Fifth Street in downtown Courtenay.

Sample Date Itineraries

1. Light-up Friday on November 20: An early bite downtown → Moonlight and Magic downtown from 5 p.m. → the tree light-up and a slow lap past the shops before 8:30 p.m.

2. Saturday among makers: Fossils and post office history at the museum, open from 10 a.m. → the Winter Art Faire on Duncan Avenue → an evening show at the Sid.

3. Snowy weekend from mid December: Morning laps at Mount Washington once it opens → the drive back down to town → Winter Harp or Elf the Musical at the Sid.

Pro Tips for Memorable Dates

The museum and the art gallery both close early in the week, so plan a culture date from Wednesday to Saturday.
Elf the Musical takes December 24 and 25 off.
The February 14 symphony concert lands on Valentine's Day, so grab seats early.
Mount Washington's opening day is only tentative, so confirm on the resort page before you head up.
The art faire stays open daily from December 20 to 23, which helps with last-minute gifts.
Arrive downtown early on November 20 to catch the tree lighting at the start of the evening.

Courtenay is a small city with a big calendar. Pair a downtown show with a gallery visit or a mountain morning, and the valley will give you plenty to talk about.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Photo credits: Courtenay and District Museum by Regend 3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Lewis Park river path by Regend 3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Downtown Courtenay by Fred1391, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.