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.

Family day at the Victoria gallery Nov 15

Join the gallery for a day of hands-on art making for children and their families inspired by the current exhibition West Coast Modernism exploring abstraction, cubism, modern architecture, and more.

Spooks n’ Spokes Ghost Ride – October 30

The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition is running a Spooks n’ Spokes Ghost Ride – October 30

This easy 20 kilometre night ride on Friday, October 30 will teach you about the spirits who live in some of the castles and finest homes of Victoria.  Riders are encouraged to wear costumes and decorate their bikes! The ride departs from the fountain at Centennial Square at 6:30 p.m. and ends there at about 9:00 p.m.

You must have front and rear lights for your bike to participate!

all details: http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/

Celebrate the apple season

Spartan apple sorbet

making apple rings from spartans: notice the pink flecks!

local apples

selection of apples picked locally

Apple season is in full swing and we are thoroughly enjoying it.  I used to think that I disliked apples. The slightly dry and powdery texture and watery taste I experienced did nothing for me. But a trip to the Edmonton farmers markets a few years ago transformed my opinions. I realized that what I HATE is the apples sold at large chain grocery stores. Since that revelation I have happily discovered more apple delights. As a volunteer fruit picker with the Lifecycles fruit tree project I have picked giant apples (perfect for apple butter), winter banana apples (also perfect for sauce or apple butter or apple rings), small tart crab apples (perfect for blackberry and apple preserve),  spartans with  pink flecked white flesh (perfect for munching, sauce or sorbet)  and many more wondrous varieties. Apple celebrations continue this Sunday Sep 27 at Sea Cider: http://harbourliving.ca/event/apple-day/

Salt Spring Island Fall Fair

Cake decorating

Fall vegetables

Fall fair chicken wings

Last weekend we checked out the Sooke Fall fair. It took me back to my childhood years living in the country. There was the baking and the knitting, some of it beautiful but much of it in colours and styles that, well let me just say I would never pick. There were pale yellow cardigans, patchwork jackets in all shades of purple and mauve, and pale pink acrylic adult toques. Um. Then there was the pumpkins and zucchinis which were fascinating in their shapes and sizes.  And of course there was music and chickens, and preserves and music. This coming weekend we are checking out the Salt Spring Fall Fair which I’ve been told is a lot of fun. Apparently there is: “a Zucchini race; pies are lined up with little bites taken out of them (jury reports); and pigs are running around with prizes attached to their bums.” Who could miss that?! For all the details see:

http://www.saltspringmarket.com/salt_spring_island/fallfair.htm

Check out a fall fair!

This is the month to attend some old style country, agricultural fairs. This labour day long weekennd Saanich is holding its fall fair (see http://www.saanichfair.ca/ for details). Sooke is holding their fall fair on Sep 12 & 13th fair (see http://www.sookefallfair.ca/). The Sooke fair took me back to my childhood years living in the country. There was the baking and the knitting, some of it beautiful but much of it in colours and styles that, well let me just say I would never pick. There were pale yellow cardigans, patchwork jackets in all shades of purple and mauve, and pale pink acrylic adult toques. Um. Then there was the pumpkins and zucchinis which were fascinating in their shapes and sizes.  And of course there was music and chickens, and preserves and music. This coming weekend we are checking out the Salt Spring Fall Fair which I’ve been told is a lot of fun. Apparently there is: “a Zucchini race; pies are lined up with little bites taken out of them (jury reports); and pigs are running around with prizes attached to their bums.” Who could miss that?! For all the details see:

http://www.saltspringmarket.com/salt_spring_island/fallfair.htm

On the same weekend is the Luxton Fall Fair which is apparently the oldest fair on the island. To find out all the details check out their website (Sep 18, 18 -20 http://www.luxtonfair.ca/).

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!

Seventh Annual Fairfield Artists Studio Tour April 24&25

Tour — April 25 & 26 from 11 – 4 p.m.
Gala Opening — Friday April 24, 7-9 p.m. (Garry Oak Room, 1335 Thurlow Road)

This walking tour will let you see inside the private studios of 50 artists living in Fairfield. You can see pictures of their artwork on this site: http://www.galendavison.com/fast_2009.htm

There will also be group shows Saturday April 25th and Sunday April 26th – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  at:

• Fairfield Community Association, 1330 Fairfield Road
• Garry Oak Room, 1335 Thurlow Road
• Fairfield United Church, 1303 Fairfield Road
• Fairfield New Horizon, 380 Cook Street

Opening celebration and group show

Friday April 24th, 7 p.m. in the Garry Oak Room – 1335 Thurlow Road

Both tour and group show are FREE to the public!

Be A Tourist in Your Own Town- March 4th – 8th

Be A Tourist in Your Own Town

59 venues are participating this years Annual Be A Tourist in your own Home Town line-up. This is a great event for those watching their budget. During this period it is  free to get into many attractions including the Victoria Art gallery (usually $12 per adult!).

For a list of attractions check out:

http://www.attractionsvictoria.com/be-a-tourist/index.html