Free, public Christmas events in Victoria – starting today!

Round up of some Christmas events happening in Victoria

TONIGHT 27 November Centennial Square Christmas Tree Light Up
Bring the whole family downtown to Centennial Square and enjoy free festivities and entertainment.  Schedule:
5:00 – 6:00pm The Magic of Christmas on the new Spirit Stage 6:00pm Watch the big Christmas Tree being lit up, then a Fire and Light Show.
Price : FREE

IEOA Lighted Truck Parade

IEOA Lighted Truck Parade – 5 December
Come out and see the wonderfully decorated trucks. You can choose your favorite decorated truck and donate to the Mustard Seed Food bank along the parade route. Over the past 10 years this even has raised a total of 90,000 pounds of food and $35000 for food banks and charities. For details of the route see the event website: http://www.ieoa.ca/

Price : FREE but you are encourage to donate to a foodbank

Victoria Harbour Ferry Santa Ballet
The Victoria Harbour Ferry Co. are presenting the Nutcracker Ballet hovering above water in the Inner Harbour. This musical, illuminated ballet will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the holiday season.  This event is in support of Santa’s Anonymous and The Victoria Cool Aid Society.
Hot chocolate, coffee and treats will be available at Ship’s Point, in exchange for donations of a Tin (canned food), Toonie or a Toque (or other warm clothes).  All Santa Ballet performances will begin in the Inner Harbour at 7:00pm on the following dates:
Saturday, November 21: Following the Island Farms Lighted Santa Parade
Friday, November 27: Following the Centennial Square Christmas Tree Light Up
Saturday, November 28
Friday, December 4
Saturday December 5: Following the Lighted Ships Parade in the Inner Harbour
Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12
Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19
The Santa Ballet is a free event for all residents and visitors to Victoria. Hot chocolate and hot dogs will be available at Ships Point, with donations of a Tin (canned food), Toonie or a Toque (or other warm clothes).
The best place to view the Santa Ballet is from Ship’s Point, or any point along the Causeway in front of the Empress Hotel.
After the Dancing Santas visit Ship’s Point to hand out candy canes, they will then take to the water for a Santa Parade around the Inner Harbour from Shoal Point to Dockside Green from 7:45-8:00pm.
For more information please visit www.victoriaharbourferry.com or call 250-708-0201.

Price : FREE but you are encourage to donate to the affiliated charities

 

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 – Monday, January 4th, 2010
8:00 PM to 12:00 PM Festival of Trees

A  display of beautifully decorated trees at the Fairmont Express to raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital. As sponsors of this event, local businesses, organizations and individuals decorate the trees in a sometimes wacky, often irreverent, and always beautiful fashion. The Festival of Trees is open to the public who are encouraged to cast a ballot for their favourite tree.

Price: Free

 

More Christmas Fairs – 22 Nov onwards

Image from the book Hester and Lester which will be launched at Hemma Made

On the weekend I went along to both the Knitted Owl and the Out of Hand fairs.I loved the knitted owl fair where I picked up lots of pressies (see previous post) but found the Out of Hand Fair a little disappointing, especially given that entry fee was $7. However I did find one very nice item at Out of hand (it’s a X-Mass secret)  that was a bargain at a price $20 below the tag price in downtown stores. Over the next few weeks there are more small fairs offering free entry and free refreshments including warm cider!

Hemma Made, 28 Nov, 5-10PM this fair offering free admission and free cider in addition to a range of local hand made items, everything from kids items to clothing, jewelry and art.  Location: 1274 May Street, The corner of Moss & May St.

Annual Noel Bazaar- Dec 1-3

30 local artists, designers & crafters arepresenting their wares at this unique and popular Christmas Market.

Details: Admission by donation, licensed event.

Victoria Event Centre

1415 Broad St

Tuesday      Dec 1 5-9

Wednesday  Dec 2 2-9

Thursday     Dec 3 2-9

Dec 5- Dickens Craft Fair – Shop for unique homemade, homegrown or handmade items at this 29th annual fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. December 5 at James Bay Community School Centre, 140 Oswego. By donation. 250-381-5323. www.jamesbaymarket.com

Dec 5-6 Tribal Market - Get your holiday gift shopping done in one groovy place with five awesome vendors including a fine selection of crystals and gems, bamboo clothing, leather work, jewellery and original clothing designs, December 5-6 at the Base Lounge, 1303 Broad. 250-590-1816

 

Lure: one of the vendors at Holly Jolly fair

Holly Jolly Christmas Fair 12-3 Dec

Again you can enjoy Free admission, refreshments, (as well as plenty of free parking).

LOCATION: 950 Kings St at Can West University.

DATES: Saturday Dec. 12 and Sunday Dec. 13

TIME: 10-5 Saturday and 12-5 Sunday

For details of the vendors and some pictures of their wares check out their website: http://www.hollyjolly2009.com/whos_coming.html

Moss Street Holiday Market Dec 12-13, 2009

Finally there is the Moss St Market which will have many of your favorite summer summer time vendors returning with Christmas treats. They will be selling arts and crafts (cards, clothing, jewelry, pottery, glass, soap, bath products, etc.) organic baked goods, organic winter vegetables and so much more….

Admission the the market FREE and if you bring a mug you get FREE apple cider.!

TIME: 10am-4pm

DATES: Saturday Dec 12 and Sunday Dec 13, 2009

LOCATION: 1330 Fairfield Rd in the Fairfield Community Place and the Garry Oak Room.

Lots of parking, wheelchair accessible. Call 250 361 1747 for more information.

 

FINALLY remember to bring cash and/or a cheque book along as many vendors do not have credit card facilities.

Shop the wild festival Oct 3&4

Market open 10 am to 4 pm each day

For the last two years I’ve wanted to attend the shop the wild festival but for one reason or another I’ve missed it. This year we are going as I’m going to be out there picking apples in the morning. The shop the wild festival is a free event (always nice!) and according to the website there are over 35 exhibitors who will be providing “wild mushrooms, jams and syrups, alder smoked salmon, natural body care products, eco-furniture, native plants, artisan wood products” and more! There will be a interesting lunch (see menu) available from 11.30 to 3pm both days. There will also be talks on mushroom identification, Forest Herbal Walks with Folk herbalist Sheila Wray who will be taking people through the forest at Royal Roads University. For more details check out the website: http://buybcwild.com/2009-exhibitors

Opening & exhibition: Monday’s ninth annual Photo Contest

Monday mag has recently announced the winners of their amateur photo contest. You can see the pics here: http://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/arresting-images/ The opening receiption is tonight. Details of the opening reception and exhibition:

Monday’s Annual Photo Contest
Opening reception 6-9 p.m.
Friday, September 11
Show runs to Wednesday, September 23
10 am-5 pm Monday-Friday
Community Arts Council Gallery,
G6-1001 Douglas (at Fort)
381-2787 • info@cacgv.ca

Victoria Arts & Culture Fair

This Sunday at the Victoria conference centre you can find out about many of the arts and cultures organizations in our fair city for FREE. You can find out more about their schedules for the upcoming season and find about about entrance or ticket costs. Sounds like a great way to learn more about the variety of arts and culture on in this city.

http://www.vicacf.ca/index.html

Visit sunwing farms!

Tomato, basil and ricotta salad

Sun Wing farms, growers of fabulous tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers a( and a few other things) will be closing for the winter in a bit over a month. If you get a chance I’d suggest heading out there and picking up a selection of their lovely tomatoes for some late summer salads. Find out more about sunwing at: http://www.sunwingtomatoes.ca/

Some cucumber and tomato salad recipes (based on NY times 101 salad ideas)

Cube watermelon and combine with tomato chunks, basil and basic vinaigrette.

Mix wedges of tomatoes and peaches, add slivers of red onion, a few red-pepper flakes and cilantro. Dress with olive oil and lime or lemon juice.

Slice cucumbers thin, toss with red onions and salt, then let sit for 20 to 60 minutes. Rinse, dry, dress with cider vinegar mixed with Dijon mustard; no oil necessary.

Cook whole grape tomatoes in olive oil over high heat until they brown lightly, sprinkling with curry powder. Cool a bit, then toss with chopped arugula, loads of chopped mint and lime juice.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/18/5-farmers-markets/

pick blackberries!

I love picking blackberries and there are tonnes of good picking spots on the Island. (UVic campus, out around Hatley castle and Royal Roads). I find that – despite the thorns ! – its a very relaxing way to spend a few hours on a sunny afternoon. It is also fun to make a day out of it. Sometimes we pack a picnic and bringing along a few friends.  There are lots of ways to use blackberries. Add them to fruit smoothies, add them to natural yogurt or your morning cereal, or make blackberry pies or jam. Or here are some more unusual ways to use blackberries:

Spiked blackberry lemonade

3 lemons

4 cups blackberries

1 cup berry sugar

1 cup ice cold water

2 cans soda water

2/3 cup gin or vodka

Add juiced lemons,  berries, ¾ cup sugar and 1 cup water to blender. Blend until pureed. Taste and blend in remaining sugar if necessary. Strain berry mixture through a fine sieve into a pitcher, add vodka (or gin) if using. Put in the refrigerator to cool. Add soda water just prior to serving

Blackberry mouse

2 c. packed fresh blackberries

1 envelope. unflavored gelatin

2 tbsp. cold water

1/3 c. plus 2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1/4 c. water

2 egg whites

1-1/2 c. whipping cream

Blackberries for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Puree blackberries in a food processor or blender. Strain through a fine strainer to remove seeds. Soften gelatin in 2 tablespoons cold water. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, place blackberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Mix into gelatin mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold into berry mixture. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold into berries. Pour mousse into 4 to 6 individual serving glasses, or a decorative bowl. Garnish with fresh blackberries if desired. Chill in refrigerator for 3 hours or until ready to serve.

Massaged kale with blackberries salad

Massage kale with olive oil and salt to break it down. Sprinkle blackberries, pumpkin seeds and some shaved pecorino or crumbled goat cheese on top. Serve immediately!

Earth day film festival 21-22 April

Tomorrow is earth day. Open cinema, VIDEA and the Sierra Club of BC
are presenting the Annual EARTH DAY FILM FESTIVAL FRIEND & FUNDRAISER. Entry is free. For more details see:

http://www.harbourliving.ca/event/open-cinema-presents-2nd-annual-earth-day-film-festival

26th Annual Swiftsure Breakfast – May 23rd Clover Point

The Swiftsure International Yacht race is an annual event that can be watched from Clover point. This year the Fairfield Community association is holding a breakfast which will include yummy Bubby Rose baked goods. If the fine weather keeps up this should be a fun morning event.You can find more details about the race at:

http://www.swiftsure.org/
You can find more details about the breakfast at:

http://www.fairfieldcommunity.ca/events/ssb.html

Oak Bay artist’s studios walk

Free art walks at Okay Bay this weekend. The website tells us:

Recreation Oak Bay is proud to announce the 10th semi-annual show of fine arts in Oak Bay this April 18 and 19. Many of Oak Bay’s established and emerging artists will use their homes and studios as backdrops to display the products of their creativity in a variety of original watercolour, acrylic, oil, fibre, photographic, woodcut, glass and pottery creations. This juried tour, which is produced by Recreation Oak Bay, will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, from noon to 4:30 p.m. The two-day special event is free to the public. Brochures with artist descriptions and a tour map are available at www.recreation.oakbay.ca in early April. Brochures are also available at the Oak Bay Recreation Centres, the Oak Bay Municipal Hall and the Oak Bay Library as well as at local businesses on Estevan and Oak Bay Avenue and through participating artists prior to the show. For more information call Recreation Oak Bay at 250-370-7129.

My favorite was the weaving at Jean Betts (no. 13 on the art walk). She has a range of scarves and bags from the quirky, to bright and contemporary to simple and classic.