A beloved tradition is rolling back into town, lighting up the streets of Greater Victoria for a great cause.
The Island Equipment Owners Association (IEOA) Truck Parade & Food Drive is set to dazzle on Saturday, December 7th, as a fleet of at least 80 gleaming, festively decorated commercial trucks embarks on a 35-kilometre route through five municipalities.
From dump trucks to fire trucks, crane trucks to mixer trucks, coast guard vessels, and even military vehicles, this magical parade will weave through neighbourhoods, spreading holiday cheer and inspiring the community to support local food banks.
It’s more than just a parade — it’s an opportunity to brighten the holidays for those in need.
There will be one slight change to the route this year to address safety concerns in Langford/Colwood—the trucks will travel down Veterans Memorial Parkway from Goldstream to Latoria Road.
“Last year, there were safety concerns along Metchosin Road, and the Latoria traffic circle wasn’t complete. Both factors led us to shift to Veterans this year. We apologize for any inconvenience to Colwood residents, but safety is our top priority,” said IEOA organizers.
Join thousands of spectators along the route and be part of this heartwarming event. Don’t forget to wave to the dedicated drivers who’ve poured their time and effort into transforming their vehicles into glowing works of art.
Want to contribute? Food donations are being accepted at designated drop-off locations throughout Greater Victoria:
- Food Donation Drop-off Locations (November 25th – December 6th):
- Aryze Developments: 1839 Fairfield Road, Victoria
- Capital Iron: Store Street and Langford locations
- Sunbelt Rentals: Victoria, Langford, and Sidney locations
- WestCoast Appliance Gallery: Nanaimo Street, Victoria
- Food Donation Locations on Parade Night (Saturday, December 7th):
- Mustard Seed at Breakwater Cafe: Dallas Road
- Aryze Developments: 1839 Fairfield Road, Victoria
- Oak Bay Municipal Hall: Oak Bay Village
- Sands Funeral Home with Emery Electric: 317 Goldstream Avenue
- Langford Light Up at Veterans Memorial Park
- RONA Langford: 850 Langford Parkway
- Christmas in Colwood: Royal Bay Commons
Oak Bay, Langford, and Colwood are hosting family festivals to bring the community together as the trucks pass by. Donations of food and money for local food banks are welcomed at each location. Visit our website for online donation options and support however you can!
Here’s when and where you can see the new IEOA Truck Light Parade route with approximate times below:
- 5 p.m.: Breakwater District/Ogden Point (start)
- 6 p.m.: Oak Bay Avenue
- 6:30 p.m.: Yates Street
- 7 p.m.: Watkiss Way
- 7:30 p.m.: Goldstream Avenue
- 8 p.m.: Ryder Hesjdeal Way (end)
On the night of the parade, spectators can track the location of the truck through this GPS tracking system.
“The parade is full with a waitlist for truck participants, it’s a fabulous line up of veterans who have done almost all of the last 25 years of parades with us and a collection of brand new entries to enjoy,” said Wendy Watt, manager of IEOA.
“Dump trucks, equipment trucks, fire trucks, mixer trucks, crane trucks, utility trucks, frigates, coast guard ships, buses, and trains will all be on display with decorations and lights to marvel at. Watch for characters like Frosty, the Grinch, Charlie Brown, Whooville, with Santa and Mrs Claus on board waving from their cottage.”
Let’s come together as a community to celebrate the season, support those in need, and keep this cherished tradition glowing for years to come!
25th Annual IEOA Truck Light Parade
- Where: Begins at the Breakwater District and ends in Colwood (see map above)
- When: Saturday, December 7th at 5 p.m.
