November already? Shops are decorated from the doorsills to the rafters, and carols wafting through the air. Since it’s impossible to fight the early onset of the festive season, we long ago decided to join in and ease into the Christmas spirit—on our own terms of course with a crafty girlfriends’ weekend getaway.

Our objective? Christmas craft fairs to get a head start on the festive season scooping up home décor items, gifts—edible and otherwise—and fashionable treats for ourselves. Our hands-down fave Christmas event is Vancouver’s annual Christmas Craft Market in full swing at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre—yes, it’s that big! —from November 7 to 11. Running a close second is Victoria’s 27th Annual Dickens Christmas Craft Fair on December 1. The pace is calmer and the variety magical. Ditto the Out of Hand Christmas Fair, November 22-25 at the Victoria Conference Centre, and Nanaimo’s cool Professional Christmas Craft Fair, November 5 to 7. There are dozens more making it a snap to do several in a weekend.

If this doesn’t set your lights atwinkle and hearts aglow, then bundle up for the Rogers Santa Claus Parade streaming through downtown Vancouver on November 25. Festive floats, happy crowds of excited kids and entranced adults guarantee you’ll come away thoroughly imbued with the Christmas spirit. If you find yourself on Vancouver Island, then Victoria’s Santa Light Parade on November 17 is just the ticket as is Santa’s arrival by floatplane in Nanaimo on December 7.