Come enjoy a day with family and friends at the Mary Winspear Center as First Last Chance Christmas Craft Shows celebrate their 33rd year! We are proud to present an array of unique inspirations from 80+ West Coast artists and artisans. With over twenty-five categories represented, you are sure to find creative solutions for every person on your list including you! First Last Chance hopes to help make your holidays special. You may be surprised with a $200 Daily Vendor Shopping Spree or an hourly give-a-way. Our café will once again be open, so make sure to take a bit of time to fill your bellies with Farm’s Gates glorious food while you listen to seasonal live music. When you step through our doors, you will find fashionable jewelry, luxurious body and spa products, ceramics, fiber art, glasswork, candles, wearable art, leather work, sculpture, metal crafts and woodwork. Local wines, spirits and all sorts of delectable food items will also be on display at this holiday event. Whether you are looking for a gift for someone special, stocking-stuffers, or wanting to inspire holiday spirit, we offer it all under one roof! First Last Chance Christmas Craft Shows are annual events of distinction, bringing our communities together. The shows provide customers with a unique opportunity to meet and purchase directly from the artists, artisans, makers and designers for a much more intimate transaction. So, get into the spirit of the season, put on your shopping shoes and we will see you there!

The Butchart Gardens is a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gardens receive over a million visitors each year. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.

A wedding in a garden – a perfect match It’s a hidden gem, tucked away in Saanich. Horticulture Centre of the Pacific offers nine acres of award-winning botanical gardens as a beautiful natural backdrop for you to celebrate your love and commitment. The staff at HCP know that your love is too big and joyous to be kept indoors – that’s why when you say your vows in HCP’s outdoor ceremony area, you will find yourselves accompanied by birdsong, joined by soaring eagles, and surrounded by flora whilst the waters of our conservation park sparkle in the background. Tips for the perfect West Coast fairytale wedding? The smaller, the cozier! HCP can accommodate up to 100 guests. Don’t worry about the weather, embrace it, rain or shine. Plan the day however it works best for you. The centre’s wedding package includes full access to the gardens and the Pavilion Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so organize a ceremony and reception (or one or the other) however you see fit. Considering an elopement? HCP’s award-winning elopement package offers three hours in the gardens for you and up to 10 guests! There is an off-season discount of 20 per cent for weddings October through April. As one of Equally Wed’s preferred vendors, HCP is committed to always being a safe and accessible place to celebrate love. The staff at the centre know the importance of quality event services, and how nothing goes together quite as well as ‘garden’ and ‘wedding.’ As Frances Hodgson Burnett once wrote about a Secret Garden very similar to the one at HCP: “And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed, and every morning revealed new miracles.” So it is true for gardens, and so it must be true for marriages. Come bring these two truths together – with a wedding hosted by the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. Contact the centre online at Hcp.ca, or at Facebook.com/HCPGardens/, or on Instagram at @hcpweddings.

Cedar Hill Golf Course is open year-round for public play. Their 18-hole course offers affordable green fees, a driving range, putting and chipping greens, cart equipment rentals, and instructional programs with PGA of Canada professionals. Enjoy exceptional greens and fairways that will far exceed your expectations. Set just minutes from downtown Victoria and with the benefit of our mild west-coast climate, Cedar Hill Golf Course offers an enjoyable and accessible golf experience for everyone! Lead by its dedicated grounds crew, Cedar Hill Golf Course is in the process of completing the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf certification — an award-winning program that helps golf courses protect their environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. For non-golfers, a picturesque 3.5 km chip trail surrounds the course. Whether you are a walker, runner, or nature enthusiast, you will marvel at the wonderful views this wooded trail offers. Cedar Hill Golf Course is conveniently located only 10 minutes from downtown Victoria.

Every year, Creative Craft Fairs offers a true extravaganza of outstanding arts, crafts, and demonstrations with their popular 3 day event at Victoria’s Pearkes Rec Centre. Attended by thousands of visitors each year, the fair offers over 125 exhibitors presenting crafts, gourmet food, fine art, photography, clothing, glass art, jewellery, bath and beauty products, woodwork, high quality imports and much more. This will be their 29th year at Pearkes Rec Centre – they hope to see you there!

Side Street Studio is celebrating almost 40 years of representing the amazing work of 100% local BC Artists and Makers. They strive to offer a wonderful range of unique designs and prices on handmade, West-Coast inspired; Jewelry, Pottery, Woodturning, Glass Art, Small Originals, Indigenous Works, Textiles, Sculptures, Gift Cards, Photography, Metalwork, Natural Soaps, Body Care, Candles and much more. Stop by for a visit, in-store or online!

The Owl Designer Fair is a fixture in the Victoria Christmas craft show scene and happens every November in the heart of Fernwood. A thoughtfully curated mix of favourite returning vendors and new up-and-coming makers, it is a one stop shop for the best locally handmade gifts. 16 years ago Emmy-Lou McMillan had a vision to bring unique makers together for a great market experience, and thus the Owl Fair began. In 2018, she passed the torch to Stephanie, the maker behind the clothing label Dottie Handmade. As a past vendor and Fernwood local Stephanie knows the Owl well. Stephanie has a passion to support and grow the handmade movement, and to connect the community with its local makers. She is excited to keep one of Victorias favourite handmade markets going strong! You might be wondering where the name Owl Fair came from! It would make sense that the fair should have something to do with Owls right? Well, besides the fact that some of the returning vendors have started making Owl themed products, it was actually just a catchy name that stuck. The ever-changing Owl icon has become a recognizable image associated with the fair. Handmade jewellery, local fashion, art cards, wooden toys, upcycled creations, leather goods, ceramics, kids clothing, apothecary and more! Come for the one of a kind vendors and stay for the live music, food truck and free craft workshops. Support your friends and neighbours by shopping locally!

Hoyne Brewing Co. is a family-owned brewery that believes in people. It is at the core of everything they do. They like to think of their team and community as their extended family—and what better way to celebrate than sharing a beer made from the finest ingredients and a deep love of the craft?

Welcome to Esquimalt! You’ll find the region’s newest event venue and historic Japanese gardens a short distance from downtown Victoria. The Gorge Park Pavilion features remarkable Japanese-inspired architecture to complement the pristine gardens and natural setting. The Pavilion is tucked away in Esquimalt Gorge Park—a large park that blends open green space, forested natural beauty and the popular Gorge Waterway. The venue is a wonderful space for weddings, vow renewals, celebrations of life, conferences, reunions, meetings or any special occasion.  Sitting at 6000+ sq ft, the Pavilion covers 2 floors, both with stunning views of the water.  Each floor contains 3000 sq ft of rentable space that holds 120 guests in banquet seating. Service for your event is made easier with a dedicated servery that includes prep counters, residential fridge, range, dishwasher and sink. Each floor has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the park and water way. The lower floor opens to a large patio and the upper floor holds two balconies; the largest is 500sq ft and overlooks the Japanese gardens.  The building boasts an impressive second floor banquet hall with breathtaking cedar beams and panoramic views of the Gorge Waterway. 

All forms of celebrations can be elevated with the addition of thoughtfully designed lighting. As we all look toward an exciting 2023 wedding season where nearly-weds can plan for a wedding full of friends and family, here are four unique ideas for wedding lighting. 1. Combine greenery with lighting. Pairing your lighting with greenery is a beautiful way to enhance your wedding venue. Whether paired with delicately designed swags or a trailing vine, FestiLight’s various styles of fairy lights are the perfect delicate addition to any greenery. 2. Add layers to your lighting. Having the warmth of candlelight on your guests tables invites a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere. FestiLight’s globe lights glow at a warm ~2800K, the perfect temperature to pair with warm candlelight. Add depth by hanging sparse strings of these charming bulbs overhead to “mirror” your candlelight. 3. Light up trees and shrubs. Whether at the entrance to your venue, or scattered about your reception area, lighting up trees is a simple and captivating way to brighten up your wedding day. 4. Use a portable light hanging system. If your wedding is taking place in open air, you might be scratching your head about the best way to light your dinner tables or dance floor. FestiLight’s portable posts make it super easy to create a dazzling overhead display of lights that is both functional and decorative, even if you don’t have a tent to hang them from. No matter the scale, FestiLight will help bring light to your special day. For more information go to www.festilight.ca or send an email to service@festilight.ca to get the conversation started. And, in the meantime, don’t forget that FestiLight also offers professional Christmas light installation!

The Victoria Jazz Society was founded in 1981 and reincorporated in 1987. They produce two major multi-day music festivals every summer, TD Victoria International JazzFest and the Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival, as well as a Fall/Winter/Spring Presentation Series.

A local favourite, having won consecutive Readers Choice Awards for Best Pub, this beautiful heritage property features made-from-scratch meals using ingredients that are thoughtfully sourced and lovingly prepared. Wash it all down with a choice of 22 local micro-brewed draught beers on tap!! Family-friendly, food sensitivities and allergies enthusiastically catered to, with plenty of free parking makes this heritage pub a great stop for a quick respite from your travels.

Get your wedding party together for a night of pub-crawling fun that will generate lasting memories! Our brand new group bikes are top of the line and have the added benefit of electric pedal assist, should the passengers need extra help touring around town. Knowing Victoria as well as your pedal bike tour guide (and owner of the business), Colin, your carefully crafted tours will meet the needs of your group, affording you the opportunity to visit some of Victorias best locations and have the time of your lives. Less work, more partying! ! The tour includes three complementary appetizers and the first round of drinks are on them!

Craigdarroch Castle is a definitive Victorian experience. It is a shining example of a “Bonanza Castle” — massive houses built for entrepreneurs who became wealthy during the industrial age. In this case, the industrialist was Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal. This legendary Victorian mansion, built between 1887 and 1890 on a hill overlooking the City of Victoria, announced to the world that Robert Dunsmuir was the richest and most important man in Western Canada.

Arcteryx began because Canadian Coast Mountains are harsher, more humid, and nastier than almost anywhere else. Founded by single-minded climbers in need of better equipment, they believe design is a process: prototype, test, revise. Driven by the specific needs of each product. Arcteryx Victoria has a curated selection of our relevant designs, for an urban and active life. Their knowledgeable staff is there to help you select the best possible gear for your needs.

Maple Leaf Adventures is committed to creating a great sustainable tourism industry in British Columbia and southeast Alaska. Providing high-quality adventures, following the principles of eco-tourism, where we not only respect the environment and communities of our coast, but they give back to protect and regenerate, too. The trips provide special access to the wildlife, landscapes, culture and nature of the coast, while providing the excitement of an adventure by ship.

One of the best parts about planning your wedding is making it entirely your own. Flowers are an essential part of wedding décor because they can bring your vision to life, pulling together textures, colours and that ambiance you really want your guests to feel! At Brown’s The Florist, we have a talented team of designers to provide you with some peace of mind with your wedding planning. We really love helping you make your floral dreams become a reality, and that is why each wedding we work on is absolutely unique and custom-made to the couple we are designing for. We know that the list of benefits for using locally grown flowers is a long one, which is why we are grateful to say that more than 80% of our flowers come from local growers or from the mainland. A few Brown’s The Florist wedding planning tips to help you start: Much like bouquets and boutonnieres, hair pieces or accessories will be in all of your wedding photos. If you want flowers in your hair, bring it up with us as part of your wedding flower checklist. We can help and give you tips to keep your florals in tip-top shape the entire day. Along with the bar, the guestbook table will be a popular spot for your guests as they enter your ceremony, during dinner, and through the reception. Adding an arrangement or two is an easy way to dress up the table. This is another table that would be an easy spot to repurpose wedding ceremony florals too! Don’t wait too long to plan your wedding flowers. Planning in advance allows us the ability to better accommodate your wishes and bring your vision of a beautiful wedding day to life. With three beautiful locations to choose from, we are able to provide full service throughout the Victoria area, from Downtown Victoria and Sidney to the Western Communities. We strive to provide all of our communities with top-notch quality and service. Call us, visit us in-store, or go online to book your consultation with us.

Munros Books has been a destination for readers since 1963. Located in a beautiful heritage building in the heart of downtown Victoria, Munros carries a large selection of children’s books, local history, fiction, and poetry. Their bargain book tables are not to be missed! You’ll also find stationery, journals, puzzles, and gifts for the book lover.

Stormtech outerwear specializes in producing waterproof outerwear and bags to keep you and your gear warm and dry. A necessity for keeping you comfortable while visiting Vancouver Island. They have products for men, women, and youth. Exceptional durability has been a hallmark of the Stormtech brand for more than 30 years. Quality is important to Treck Wear and Stormtech. They know you need to be able to count on your gear

Artina’s Jewellery, with two locations in Victoria and Vancouver BC, has the largest selection of unique and exquisite Canadian Jewellery. They showcase over 90 of Canada’s most talented artists including West Coast Indigenous carvers and contemporary Canadian jewelers. Family-owned and operated for over 30 years, they specialize in unique, handcrafted jewellery and take pride in providing superior customer service.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in downtown Victoria, BC, Canada. Your visit will be a memorable experience for years to come. Youll feel a lasting desire to return! Welcome to the little peoples Wonderful World of Smallness, walk down its road step into the Story Books of fact, fiction, and fantasy. Return to those fond memories of yesteryear, those childhood dreams, and historys greatest moments! Buy your Yearly Season Pass today! See the Worlds Smallest Operational Sawmill, 11 years in the making.

Join the Songhees Nations official tourism team, Explore Songhees, to learn about the traditional territories of the Lekwungen People. Join them on a walking tour to learn about the 7 Signs of Lekwungen on an interpretive walkway along the Inner Harbour and surrounding areas that honors the art, history, and culture of the Coast Salish people who have resided in the Victoria area since time immemorial. Or hop on a canoe tour, to learn about the traditional ways of the water that the Lekwungen people followed for hundreds of years before colonization. Learn about the history of the now Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and cultural practices and protocols including weaving, foraging and harvesting food from the water.

History and Elegance at St. Ann’s Academy. St. Ann’s Academy, a National Historic Site, has a rich history in Victoria. This stunning location has elegant indoor, outdoor and combination settings available to suit your unique love story. Outside, the Academy grounds feature a variety of garden settings – two in particular that are ideally suited to outdoor ceremonies and receptions. The Novitiate Garden is very secluded, which makes it the ideal location for an outdoor ceremony and smaller reception. The verdant green manicured lawn, perimeter flowerbeds and gazebo create a pleasing, cozy atmosphere. For larger scale affairs, the Academy Green offers a sunny field as well as shade under the canopy of grand trees Inside, the Academy offers a chapel, parlours and a spacious foyer. The chapel is the true jewel of the Academy. Built in 1858, the chapel’s gently flattened arches and hand carved and gilded ornamentation is reminiscent of the baroque inspired chapels common in Quebec. With golden sunlight cascading through its original art-glass windows, the chapel lends an unequalled air of fantasy and romance to every wedding held within. Though historically Roman Catholic, the chapel has been rededicated as an interfaith chapel, welcoming everyone’s beliefs If you prefer something less religiously-reminiscent, St. Ann’s also has a theatre-style auditorium with beautiful art-glass windows and a greater capacity for your special day. Experience the ultimate romantic wedding at St. Ann’s Academy. The historic buildings are the perfect location for your wedding photos

In keeping with the custom of the era, the Pendray Inn, located on Victorias scenic Inner Harbour, features traditional Afternoon Tea at our heritage Tea House. Enjoy a relaxing ambiance steeped in history tradition, while sipping on exotic international teas from around the globe.

Create a Memorable Engagement. Victoria Carriage Tours will set the perfect scene to ask the big question. Enjoy the moments leading up to your romantic location and after they say YES, we will transport you to your next activity. These engagement packages are uniquely tailored to each client. Options include: Advice on the most romantic locations in Victoria, pick up at a hotel or restaurant, and on-location service to many places within the Greater Victoria area. On the BIG DAY! Arrive as the Royals do! Experience the elegance of a Horse and Carriage while being transported to your venue. Slow down and enjoy comfort and style knowing the custom wedding package you wanted specific to your wedding day is going exactly how you dreamed it would. Options include: Shuttle service for the bride to and or from the venue, shuttle service for wedding party, allotted time for photos, on-location service to many venues within Greater Victoria area, ride the horse down the aisle, princess style carriage.

Iconic Barbs Fish Chips is floating in Victoria BC’s Inner Harbour at the vibrant Fisherman’s Wharf and has been serving up delicious fresh seafood for over 39 years. Families flock to enjoy locally caught BC Halibut with a crunchy crust served up alongside golden fries, crisp coleslaw, and tangy house-made tartar sauce. Generations have fallen in love with these world-famous Fish Chips but Barbs friendly team also dishes up towering house-made burgers, legendary seafood chowder plus local Fanny Bay oysters, clams, and Salt Spring mussels all soaked in butter. Visitors and locals soak up the seaside activity while they enjoy meals on the dock alongside fishermen, sailboats, houseboats, seaplanes, and seals playing in the harbour. Barbs features open-air picnic tables and a handy pickup window if you’d like to enjoy takeout at one of the nearby parks.

The Esquimalt Farmers Market operates on the land of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations. As a food-first farmers market, they acknowledge that many of the practices represented at the market are a result of ongoing forms of colonialism. Recognizing these inherent connections and continuing to interrogate settler colonialism is critical to our work. As they continue to grow as an organization, they endeavour to strengthen our relationships and responsibilities to the people and nations of this place.

Celebrating its 41st year in 2022, the Dickens Fair is one of Victoria’s oldest and best-loved Holiday Craft Fairs. Our carefully chosen Vancouver Island and Gulf Island artisans offer a great variety of handmade and homemade products at affordable prices. The Dickens Fair is getting ready to “Deck the Halls” so please mark your calendars and come join us on December 3rd from 10 am – 4:30 pm. With the great selection of vendors, there will be something for everyone! Enter a wonderland of treasures, from toys to jewelry, fashion, and food. Hosted by the James Bay Market Society, the Dickens Fair provides an opportunity to meet and support local artisans, hear their stories, and learn first-hand how they make, bake and craft their wares. You will recognize many of your favourite James Bay Community Market vendors in addition to many new-to-you vendors showcasing their work at the Dickens Fair for the first time. The variety and quality will impress the most discerning shoppers. The Dickens Café will have something for everyone from warm and cold drinks to soups, sandwiches, wraps and sweet treats

Coastal hikes, sandy beaches, and giant Douglas-fir trees are yours to explore in CRD regional parks! Join them at their free guided outings for nature lovers in all seasons of life, every season of the year