Where has the year gone?! It’s hard to believe it’s December already! We’ve been in full ho-ho-ho-holiday mode over here for a few weeks now and are excited to share some of that cheer with you all! After this crazy year, we think we all could use a little bit of holiday magic right about now!
One of our favourite parts about our job is bringing a bit of joy and magic to the community and this year some of our coolest clients brought us on board to beautify their spaces and bring some Christmas cheer to their communities via magical moments that are very festive and super fun!
So bundle up, grab a hot drink (extra points if it’s peppermint or eggnog infused!), and be sure to check out these sights and some great local businesses when you are in the area!
Tinsel Tunnel & City of Langford’s Christmas Tree Farm in Ponds Landing Plaza at Bear Mountain
What’s more festive than tinsel ornaments? Hundreds and hundreds of tinsel ornaments, of course!
Surround yourself with holiday magic as you take a walk through Tinsel Tunnel, snap a few photos that will literally sparkle!
There’s a giant present photo wall to stop in front of before making your way over to the mini Christmas Tree Farm. If Hallmark movies have taught us anything, it’s that everything good happens at a Christmas Tree Farm.
Taking all those festive photos can get chilly, so be sure to warm up with a hot chocolate from the nearby Mountain Market. Needing something a little stronger? Check out the Lounge at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort for some cocktails. Our favourites are definitely the Pear Vanilla Mule or the Fall Sangria! We love the chalet feel of Bear Mountain and the hotel’s Christmas decorations give it that extra cozy feeling this time of year!
Bear Mountain stops worth checking out while you are in the area,
- Mountain Market at Ponds Landing – the local hot chocolate spot!
- Jack’s Place and Kuma Sushi in Bear Mountain Resort Village
- The Westin Bear Mountain – staycation anyone?
- Fairways Hotel on the Mountain – we discovered they are even offering a Holiday Season Hotel Package for locals looking for a little seasonal getaway close to home!
Mistletoe Walk in Belmont Market
Belmont Market has quickly become our go-to shopping stop since it is so close to our studio! We love Belmont Market’s vibe and it just keeps getting better and better as new stores open up on the main avenue. While you’re there, check out our Mistletoe Walk. Snowflakes will dance above your head as you stroll around browsing the local shops! There’s even a cute Instagram wall for some photo sharing fun!
Our Belmont Market favourites for you to check out,
- Origin Bakery – the seasonal sugar cookies are our favourite!
- True Boutique – beautiful clothing featuring lots of great lines!
Candy Cane Lane at Garden Court in Sidney
We can’t forget our Peninsula pals! Sidney is a beautiful town no matter what season we are in, but we especially love it in the winter time. We think the perfect time to visit is right around dusk when Beacon Avenue’s Christmas lights really start glowing, with a warm drink in hand you definitely get the holiday Hallmark vibe!
Garden Court is located on Beacon Ave between The Farmer’s Daughter and The Woodshed and is currently the holiday home of Sidney’s very own Candy Cane Lane! Grab some wine and cheese on the patio or pick up a wood fired pizza to go, and take a walk through the super sweet Candy Cane Lane.
While you’re in Sidney, there are lots of great local boutiques to find that perfect gift! Be sure to check out Nest & Nook Housewares and Miss Bliss which are located right across the street from Candy Cane Lane!
Sidney favs,
Holiday Comforts at The Bay Centre
The Bay Centre, located in the heart of downtown, can be your one stop shop for holiday shopping! We’ve been lucky enough to team up with the Centre on a number of fun projects this fall and into the holiday season. From balloon garlands to a social sharing wall, we have been loving creating beautiful moments throughout the Centre.
You might not know that 30% of their stores are locally owned businesses and services! On the store guide on the website all the locally owned shops are identified with a pink sticker so you can plan in advance of your visit to keep things as local as possible! There truly is something there for everyone!
Our current favourite stop is the seasonal pop up of the Market Collective by Shi
While you’re shopping there are lots of Instagram-perfect moments where you can stop and take that perfect photo! This “Be Kind” installation (a tiny ode to Dr. Henry’s wise words) has been up for a few weeks now and we love everything about it! The colours, the gorgeous dried installation from Bespoke Blossoms, and the large wooden “Be Kind” sign make it a unique stand out amongst the traditional holiday decor and we are here for it!
Earlier this month, we teamed up with Bespoke Blossoms to create The Bay Centre’s tree for the Festival of Trees in benefit of the BC Children’s Foundation. It’s full of dried florals, pom-poms, and tassels aka our favourite things! You can vote for the tree of your choice via donation when you are visit the mall — we aren’t biased, but we have a suggestion on who you should consider voting for!!!
There are 50 other unique trees all on display so definitely make time to check them all out!
Happy Holidays from The Good Party team! We hope your December is filled with holiday magic and lots of joy — and if you do find yourself at any of these local spots, be sure to tag us @thegoodparty – we can’t wait to see the community enjoying these joyful holiday moments!
Creative Partners:
Photography – Kirsten Larsen
Festilight
Designer Weddings Victoria
The Bubble Bus Co.
Bespoke Blossoms
Melanie Anne Designs
West Coasters
SignPad
DL Sound
Structuure Designs
Cowichan Valley Christmas Trees
