For the 47th year in a row, mid-December in downtown Victoria resonates with a deep, brassy sound. The source of this instantly recognizable, velvety timbre is a tradition that signals the approach of the Christmas season — the annual open-air charitable festival of tubas and other brass instruments, Holiday Tubas.

 The event traces its roots to the first Tuba Christmas, held in New York City in 1974. Since then, the format has spread around the world and is now celebrated in more than 200 cities. Victoria remains one of its most consistent and active centres. Each year, more than 100 tuba and euphonium players from across the region gather here. This year’s concert marks the 47th edition, making it safe to say that it has become a firmly established pre-Christmas tradition.
 In Victoria, the tradition was founded by Eugene Dowling, who served as organizer from 1979 to 2015. He was later succeeded by Paul Beauchesne, who organized the event from 2015 to 2022. Since 2022, the event has been organized by Scott MacInnes.

 Scott MacInnes coordinates the musicians and maintains a balance between a traditional repertoire and the open, informal character of the event. This is no small task, as the participants include professional musicians, students, and amateurs alike. The performance comes together through careful individual preparation and a single shared rehearsal held on the morning of the concert.
 This year, the celebration returned to Market Square, a location perfectly suited to the event’s format: no stage, no barriers, and an open urban space where listeners can not only enjoy the music but also sing along, becoming part of the shared celebration. Together with the musicians, they help bring well-known Christmas melodies to life.

 This year also brought a change of name — Tuba Christmas Victoria has officially become Holiday Tubas, following the decision by the local group of tubists to sever ties with their American partners.
 Tuba Christmas is overseen by a U.S.-based charitable organization that charged performers participation fees and then directed those funds toward charitable donations in the United States. As Scott MacInnes explained, “Given the political climate, it felt like the right time to part ways.”
 The event is now organized by the School of Music at the University of Victoria (UVic). However, the principles and goals remain unchanged: Holiday Tubas is still free to the public, and its charitable mission remains central. Musicians no longer pay to participate, and during the concert they collect voluntary donations in support of the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, which helps people in need throughout the Greater Victoria region.

 Witnessing the new/old Victoria Holiday Tubas, in the old/new location, we are happy to assure our readers that the event fully reflects the spirit of our island and our capital — a celebration of kindness and community, infused with the warm sound of brass and the spirit of giving. See you again next year, in the same place and at the same time — and, we hope, with an even larger circle of friends.