The Peninsula

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TIMES COLONIST | timescolonist.com

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

0011644619 SIDNEY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AR Discover The Peninsu 10 x 28

Sidney in December: A Hallmark Experience MORGAN SHAW Executive Director Event Liaison Facilitator Sidney Business Improvement Area Society

here’s a reason Hallmark chose Sidney for a movie set – it’s because the town actually looks like a holiday wonderland where magical things can happen. Whether you spend an hour, a day or a weekend here in December, you’ll leave with a spring in your step, and most likely with your Christmas shopping done. Here are a few of the best ways to enjoy a Hallmark-worthy holiday experience in Sidney this month.

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A Hallmark setting Town staff outdid themselves this year, stringing lights on every tree, shrub and light post up and down Beacon Avenue. By day, there are carollers to serenade your shopping spree, plus beautiful window displays showcasing Sidney’s merchants. By night, the lights create a glittering corridor from the highway all the way down to the sea, where you can stroll in the moonlight along the pier or waterfront path. This year’s Tour of Lights has made the merchant displays better than ever. Go to Sidneybia.ca to vote for your favourite display and be entered to win some fabulous prizes. Participating Sidney businesses are also giving away over $3,000 worth of prizes throughout the month of December. Win gift certificates to dine, relax and explore Sidney in the New Year. For a complete list of participating retailers, visit Sidneybia.ca

Steeped in romance Plan an unforgettable evening of romance in Sidney, where you can fall in love for the first time – or all over again – under the influence of the town’s dreamy atmosphere and exquisite options for food and drink. Choose from over 50 restaurants and cafes where you and your love can sample everything from handcrafted spirits to European cheeses, including dishes crafted with ingredients from the sea and local farms. There are international flavours too; including Thai, Indian, Greek, Chinese, Mexican and French. Add to the magic with a horse-drawn carriage ride around town, every weekend from noon to 4 p.m. until Dec. 22. Or, indulge in a day spa treatment for two followed by a show at the Mary Winspear Centre or live music and one of Sidney’s many pub venues. For the ultimate date night, book an overnight stay in town, and extend your own holiday romance for just a little longer.

Wonderland with a polar bear, penguins and who else? Santa! The fun extends right through New Year’s Eve, when the entire centre comes alive with activities, culminating in a celebratory fireworks display. Speaking of New Year’s Eve, there’s a grand party planned at The Mary Winspear Centre. Ring in 2020 in classic fashion, with dancing to the music of The Chris Millington Band, and that quintessential First Night tradition: a midnight glass of bubbly and Auld Lang Syne. Warm your spirit and your soul with a bit of holiday cheer in Sidney. For an events calendar and full description of all there is to do and see this month, be sure to visit sidneybia.ca. sidneybia.ca

A heartwarming experience Whether you’re a kid from one to 92, there are a few particularly special activities you won’t want to miss this holiday season. The Butchart Gardens’ Twelve Days of Christmas lights display is truly magical, and you can strap on a pair of ice skates for a spin around the outdoor skating rink amidst the holiday lights. Starting with a Family Carnival on Dec. 21, the arena at Panorama Recreation Centre is transformed into a Winter

What Gardeners Really Want! ardeners are the easiest people to shop for. There’s always something they need, something they’ve worn out or lost, something they’re dreaming about but don’t have. Dig This stores are full of inspiring gifts for the gardeners on your list, whether they be novice or very experienced. Tools Every gardener needs quality tools. Cheap tools are just frustrating. Why not give the gardener on your list a tool that will last and be a pleasure to use. • The stores favourite weeder continues to be the made-in-BC bandit. • The EZ Digger is a multi-purpose tool that digs, cultivates, weeds and even works to help transplant. • Swiss-made Felco pruners. Once a gardener has used a Felco, they’ll never use anything else. • A hand-held hoe and cultivator is perfect for heavy soils.

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Dependable Gardening Gear Leather gloves are washable and very durable. And besides that, they are pretty. Gloves with long gauntlets are perfect for pruning roses or fighting back blackberries which seem to grow everywhere on Vancouver Island. Reinforced bags from Canadian Admiralty Canvas are great for collecting garden waste.

A folding kneeler is a perennial favourite. The arms help you get up after too long down on your knees. Flip it over and you have a seat to rest upon while admiring your work. Keep a Gardener Warm and Dry Warm, waterproof footwear is essential for winter and early spring gardening. The Frenchmade Aigle boots sold at the Sidney store are stylish enough to go anywhere, and the Bogs Boots carried at the Broadmead store will keep your feet warm and toasty even in snow. Pollen brand machine-washable, pure wool sweaters are made in Lund BC. They are warm, very easy to care for and feel great to wear. Garden Ornaments Cast Art Studios is a local manufacturer of garden ornaments including Japanese lanterns which lend a calm Zen feel to the garden. Don’t Forget Stocking Stuffers! Slip an AA battery into the neck of an empty wine bottle and light up a string of warm LED lights. A fun way to light your patio table. Seeds are always welcome as a small gift.The 2020 seeds are now in stores and the only difficult part is choosing which ones to grow! A soil test kit is practical and fun to use, like a mini science experiment. Doing the test is even more fun if you can enlist a child to help you mix the soil into the little test tubes. After a long session in the garden, a soak in Barefoot Venus’ mustard bath will rejuvenate a tired gardener. digthis.com

You’ll dig our cozy ponchos!

0011773151 DIG THIS Discover the Peninsu 5 x 75 CMYK, ,

9813 Third St. Sidney, BC 778.426.1998 www.digthis.com

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