Join the Maritime Museum of B.C. as it presents Victoria Harbour, its feature exhibit that takes visitors back in time to explore the changes that have taken place to the waterfront in the heart of the city, now until April 6.
The seasonal feature exhibit explores everything about Victoria Harbour, from the natural environment, to early industry, to how people work and play in and around the harbour today.
“If you take a moment to stop and look around, you’ll see that the wharfs and buildings ringing the harbour all have stories to tell,” said Heather Feeney, collections and exhibits manager for the museum.
Visitors can also view Detail Beyond Measure, the museum’s permanent exhibit, which displays models, half hulls and name plates from historic vessels, especially those plying local waters at the height of the era of transpacific and transatlantic steamships, collectively known as the Steamship era.
Admission is $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $5 youth and free for children 12 and under. The museum is currently open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday at 744 Douglas St. For more information, go to mmbc.bc.ca/exhibits.
Help wake the fruit trees from winter slumber at a wassail in Vic West
Join in a modern version of a wassail (Waes Hael or “be of good health”) — an old English tradition to wake fruit trees from their winter slumber and scare away evil spirits — at Banfield Park on Saturday, Jan. 13.
The tradition of wassailing, a ceremony performed to ensure a good harvest, dates back to the 1500s.
At the event, organized by the Vic West Food Security Collective, attendees can sip hot cider made from Vic West apples, crown the Wassail King and Queen, or sing and dance with the Island Thyme Morris dancers.
The event is free to join but feel free to bring along a few sixpence (or dollars) to add to the hat in appreciation.
The event starts with the crowning at 2:30 p.m., followed by a dance performance at 3. The wassail ceremony takes place at 3:30, with a ‘feast’ of rustic snacks taking place at 4 p.m. at Banfield Park Community Orchard, 452 Craigflower Rd. Dress for the outdoors and bring a mug for complimentary mulled cider.
The Vic West Food Security Collective is a group of volunteers who work on projects to strengthen production, consumption, and access to food that is safe, nutritious, affordable, locally produced and environmentally and economically sustainable. For more information, go to victoriawest.ca/neighbourhood/food-security.
Raise a glass for charity at the Victoria Whisky Festival
The Victoria Whisky Festival returns to Victoria for a weekend of “spirit-ual” exploration, with events that will appeal to whisky enthusiasts and foodies alike, at the Hotel Grand Pacific, Jan. 18 to 21.
The four-day festival includes the Canadian Whisky Awards, grand tastings, masterclasses and consumer tastings.
The lineup includes two five-course dinners with an emphasis on local, seasonal, farm to table ingredients, paired with five whiskies selected based on the unique style of each distillery.
Packages includes the Saturday evening consumer tasting as well as a custom bundle of grand tastings and masterclasses.
Part of the proceeds from the event benefits local charitable organizations. The festival donated more than $40,000 in 2023.
Tickets range from $49 for individual events to $345 for packages. The event runs Jan. 18 to 21 at the Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St. For more information, go to victoriawhiskyfestival.com.
