Blog

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Magic of Christmas at The Butchart Gardens. On Dec. 1st, the Gardens will be decked out with tens of thousands of lights plus evergreen swags, holiday wreaths and the popular Twelve Days of Christmas display. The official light-up ceremony begins at 5pm and includes free rides on the Rose Carousel (with admission).

Come celebrate the holiday season at the Royal British Columbia Museum! Between November 18th and January 12th, the cobblestone streets of Old Town will be transformed into a turn-of-the-century Christmas, complete with festive garlands and a 4.7 metre (15-foot) Christmas tree. Check out the RBCM Facebook page for some beautiful photos of festive Old Town, then visit their website for more info on this and other great holiday events.

Christmas is here! It’s only November, but the holiday season will soon be landing at The Fairmont Empress. For the past 20 years, the historic hotel has been transformed into a festive forest full of decorated trees, with all proceeds going to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. The trees are sponsored and decorated by local individuals, organizations and businesses and voted on by the public. Last year, the event received over 10,000 votes and raised over $110,000.

Next year, the Royal BC Museum will be hosting 3 major international touring exhibits. Here’s what to look forward to!

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
(December 16, 2011 to April 9, 2012)

See the world through the lenses of prize-winning nature photographers. This exhibition showcases over 100 photographs in 18 categories (including Photojournalist of the Year, Endangered Wildlife, One Earth and Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year) chosen from over 40,000 international entries.

Urban Arts, one of Victoria’s most unique theatre experiences, is bringing back its popular musical this weekend. Nevermore is an exciting, mysterious journey into the innerworkings of Edgar Allan Poe that brings his passion and obsession to life. The musical takes place not on a stage, but in the historic courtroom at the Maritime Museum. Seats are available in the gallery, the jury’s benches or the balcony, giving each audience member a unique view of this memorable theatre experience.

This Saturday is your last chance to visit Victoria’s most popular public market before it closes shop for the winter season. The Moss Street Market, now in its 20th year, is the ultimate stop for handmade crafts, artisan clothing and local and organic produce and foods. It’s dog-friendly, kid-friendly and runs rain or shine.

The Ghosts of Victoria Festival is an annual event showcasing the spookiest activities in the city. From ghostly walks to haunted trolley tours, the Festival is a great way to explore British Columbia’s most haunted city. For a full listing of events, visit Discover the Past. Here are a few highlights:

This weekend is your last chance to enjoy The Other Emily: Redefining Emily Carr at the Royal BC Museum before the exhibit closes on October 16th. The exhibit showcases the life of Emily Carr before she became famous, recounting her teenage years to just before her emergence on the national art scene in 1927. Through rare original paintings, sketches, drawings, manuscripts, letters, photographs and diary entries, you’ll experience a never-before-seen side of this iconic artist.

Looking for a great fall recipe? Our Oven Baked Pecan French Toast is perfect for any fall weekend,  including Thanksgiving. It’s simple, elegant and delicious, and it can even be prepared the night before.

This recipe is from Sylvia Main’s Fabulous Fairholme: Breakfasts and Brunches, a beautiful 142-page collection of recipes and photographs from our award-winning bed and breakfast. Fabulous Fairholme is published by Whitecap Books and is available on our website, on Amazon and at many bookstore and kitchen stores.

Art of the Cocktail is Victoria’s most spirited event—literally. It’s a 3-day festival celebrating the art, craft and tradition of the cocktail, with proceeds funding the Victoria Film Festival in February. The festival runs from Oct 1–3 at various downtown locations and has something for everyone, whether you want to learn tips, tricks and recipes from the pros or just want to sample something new.