Royal Scot Blog

The wonders of nature like you’ve never seen them: through the lenses of prize-winning photographers from around the world. This visually striking exhibition from the Natural History Museum showcases more than 100 photographs in 18 categories (including Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Endangered Wildlife, One Earth and Photojournalist of the Year), chosen from more than 41,000 international entries from 95 countries. Each photo and accompanying caption tells the inspirational, astonishing and often humourous stories of our fascinating natural world.

On now until April 9, 2012.

DVBA Meter Fairy

On Fridays and Saturdays in Downtown Victoria the DVBA Meter Fairy will be roaming the streets, topping up expired meters with 15 minutes of time as a special gift to those who enjoy our downtown so much. For more details about parking in Downtown Victoria please take a look below and keep your eyes peeled for a very special fairy!

Free Parking

November 26 – December 24, Saturdays from 11 am - 2 pm

The DVBA’s annual Christmas gift to you: 2 hours free parking at all five City Parkades, every Saturday until December 24th. Don’t forget to ask for a “First Hour Free” voucher wherever you shop or dine downtown, and remember the 5 City parkades are free on Sundays and holidays!  With ample parking stalls in City parkades, on-street parking, privately owned facilities, and plenty of free parking initiatives, it’s easier than you think to park downtown.  For more information, visit www.victoria.ca/cityhall/departments_engprk.shtml

The Nutcracker Suite & Sugar Plum Fair:  Canadian Pacific Ballet

December 27 – 30,  2 & 7 pm

McPherson Playhouse

Tickets start at $42 (discount available for students/seniors/children).

Cinderella and the Fairy Tale Ball

December 27 – 29, 7:30 pm & December 30, 2 pm

Royal Theatre

Ballet Victoria presents a fun-for-the-whole-family Fairy Tale Ball at the Royal Theatre.

Tickets can be purchased through the box office, online, or by calling 250-386-6121.

For more information please visit www.rmts.bc.ca

Christmas in Old Victoria

December 21, 2 pm

26 Bastion Square (outside)

Enjoy a 90-minute walking tour of Old Town, the historic heart of Victoria, where Christmas traditions and colourful stories abound. The program starts inside a heritage building for background discussion and stories, based on true accounts of how Christmas was celebrated during the days of Fort Victoria and the gold rush era, then (weather permitting) will continue outdoors to places close to Bastion Square. No reservations needed, purchase tickets from the guide before the tour.

Tickets: Adults $13; Students $11

For more information please visit  www.discoverthepast.com/Christmas/xmasfest.htm

Decorating the Castle for the Christmas season takes many hours and involves a number of staff and volunteers. The transformation is amazing as the rooms are presented in traditional Victorian fashion and original period toys peak out from under the Christmas trees. The decorations are on display throughout the month of December.

The Christmas 2011 Entertainment Calendar is ready and posted here. We’ve got a number new musical selections this year as well as additional children’s entertainment. All of the day time entertainment is free with your admission to the castle.

Visit the website for more information.

Skate in Centennial Square

Come downtown and check out the outdoor ice skating rink right in the centre of Victoria at Centennial Square. A great way to get out and enjoy the season as well as get some exercise to beat the holiday stress, ice skating is a holiday tradition in the less temperate regions of Canada. From November 26, 2011 to January 2, 2012, the Downtown Victoria Business Association’s ice rink will be providing Victoria with all the enjoyment of the outdoor ice skating experience, with none of the hardships that come with sub zero temperatures and metres of snowfall. The ice rink will have enough room to support up to 70 skaters at once and being open six days a week, there is plenty of opportunity to take a spin through the city this holiday season.

Visit the website for more info.

December 1st, 2011 marks the start of the 25th season of festive Christmas displays. 

Tens of thousands of coloured lights combine with evergreen swags and wreaths of holly and winter berries to line walkways and festoon lamp posts. The ever-popular Twelve Days of Christmas displays are tucked away about The Gardens.

 From 5 pm to 9 pm in the Piazza you will find lively performances featuring traditional caroling and music.

 Enjoy some recreational ice skating on our 307 sq. m (3,300 sq. ft.) outdoor rink. No need to worry about hockey sticks flying about, or figure skaters making you look bad.

Skating is available daily during admission hours. Just show up and skate at the next available time, or you can book a time by visiting the

Visitor Information Centre upon arrival. Skate times run on the hour and last for 40 minutes. The rink capacity is 50, so be sure to bring your friends.

The Dining Room Restaurant , in the former residence of the Butchart family, is decorated in holiday finery and serves a delicious 3-tiered High Tea. The Blue Poppy Restaurant , filled with poinsettias, offers a variety of tasty main dishes and desserts, with a convenient cafeteria-style service. For a light meal and hot beverages in front of glowing fire, drop in to the Coffee Shop .

 If you are hunting for Christmas gift ideas, the Seed & Gift Store presents an array of tasteful selections.

And check out a craft fair this weekend…

November 11-12- Calico Christmas 654 Agnes St. at Pacific Christian School., 250-516-3070, Fri-6pm -9:30pm, Sat. 9am-5pm

November 11-12-13 Creative Craft Fairs, Pearkes Rec Centre 3100 Tillicum Rd. – Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am to 4:30pm

November 12 – Christmas Bazaar, Church of St. John the Divine, 11 am – 2 pm. 925 Balmoral Street (off Quadra)

November 12- Vintage Holiday Bazaar – Fairfield United Church 1303 Fairfield Road at Moss Street – 10-4pm

November 12-13, Sooke Prestige Craft Fair, Sat./Sun 10 am to 5 pm at Prestige Oceanfront Resort

November 12-13- HOLIDAY GIFTS GALORE, the 36th annual craft sale and show presented by the Juan de Fuca Arts and Crafts Guild.  Location St. Joseph’s School Gym, 757 Burnside Road West, Victoria, BC.  Free admission.  Door prizes.  Wheelchair accessible.  VISA.  Lots of free parking, on bus route.   Saturday November 12, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday November 13, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Information 250-474-7060.  A wide variety of arts and crafts, gifts for everyone, many under $20.

November 12 – Christmas Fair at Cadboro Bay United Church, Sat. Nov. 12 from 10 am – 2 pm. at 2625 Arbutus Road. Info call Jane at 250-294-9354

November 12 – Shoal Centre Annual Craft Fair and Bake Sale, 10030 Resthaven Dr. Sidney, 10am-2 pm. Phone 250-656-5537

PRINCE ANNOUNCES CANADIAN TOUR

Tickets go on sale beginning November 4th for the Victoria show.  Saturday, December 17, 2011 8:00 PM at the Save On Foods Memorial Arena.

Prince, one of the most prolific and groundbreaking artists of our time whose recorded music, live performances and powerful artistry have affected music and pop culture like no other, will bring his extraordinary live production to Canada with his spectacular tour, WELCOME 2 CANADA. This is Prince’s first multi-city national Canadian tour since 2002.

Prince kicked off the Welcome 2 America tour in the New York area in December 2010 with a celebrated six night stand which received tremendous acclaim by fans and critics every night. Prince followed up with three intimate nights in Oakland and six special nights in the Carolinas where he performed many of his fan favorite mega-hits which had fans in every market screaming and dancing for more. The extraordinary run of shows continued with stops in Sacramento, Fresno and San Jose, with more than a quarter of a million fans joining him in Los Angeles. Prince welcomed a wide range of guest artists throughout his multi-hour sets, including Chaka Khan, Alicia Keys, Larry Graham, Sheila E., Mary J Blige and many more.

The Welcome 2 America tour has been embraced with rave reviews in every stop made across the country. “He had the crowd panting as soon as he hit the stage… It was unbelievably great. Do you go to a Prince show for predictable consistency? Ah, no. You go for moments of divinely inspired madness — and last night, he delivered as many of those as a fan could expect.” — Rolling Stone

The New York Daily News raved, “Prince is worthy of all royal accolades…The hit-friendly show had a kinetic confidence and racing pace that spoke of his singular place in pop history,” while the New York Times said “It’s easy to envision Prince as another Chuck Berry or James Brown, barnstorming for decades to come.” The San Francisco Chronicle raved “spinning, strutting and swaying in his towering heels as if no time had passed since the days he dominated MTV with his angular suits and perfectly sculpted hair… neither his fantastic voice nor his dynamic legs showing any signs of slowing down.

Click here for more concert info.

Ghost Bus Tours have become Victoria’s most popular Halloween activity over the past 18 years. Tour routes are developed and are narrated by John Adams, a well-known local historian and ghost expert who has appeared many times on the Creepy Canada TV series. Each year the two-hour route is different and includes many new stories as well as some of the favourites from previous years. Ghost Bus Tours leave from a secret Victoria location! Only once you reserve and pay for your ticket will you find out the departure location! Seating is limited on each bus and tickets sell out quickly, so book early.  Visit the website for more information.

Pumpkinfest features live entertainment, face painting, kids games, hay rides, u-pick pumpkins, train rides, corn maze, playground, petting farm, children’s haunted house and fantastic seasonal displays. This annual event is running October 15th ,16th,  22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th from 10 am till 4pm. 

Cost is $10 per adult $7 per child for first venue. All other venues add $5 more each. Family Pass (2 adults 2 children) includes Corn Maze and Train Ride.

Check out the Galey Farms Website for more information.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8TH
SAVE-ON-FOODS MEMORIAL CENTRE – VICTORIA, BC
DOORS:  7:00PM       
SHOW:  8:00PM

The Moody Blues embarked on their first cross-Canadian Fall tour in more than a decade, playing in 17 markets around the country.  The Canadian tour titled “Precious Cargo” began on September 15 in Halifax, NS and will continue through October 8 in Victoria, BC.  The band is touring in support of their new upcoming Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) greatest hits collection which will be released in two editions on July 19, as part of their highly successful Icon series. 

The latest Icon series releases available on July 19.  UMe’s Icon series features “great artists and great songs at a great price.”  Each collection offers greatest hits, signature tunes and fan favorites; and previous Icon releases have included such legendary artists as Stevie Wonder, Rush, KISS, Johnny Cash, James Brown, Jackson 5 and Patsy Cline, and many more. 

The band’s “Nights In White Satin” originally released in 1967 from their landmark “Days Of Future Passed” album, recently landed at #2 on the UK Rock Chart, and at #27 on the BBC Radio 1 chart, making it the fourth time that “Nights” has charted in its 40-plus year history.  The song’s resurgence ignited from a recent cover performance by Matt Cardle, winner of Simon Cowell’s hit UK show “The X Factor.”

The Moody Blues have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide and have been awarded an astonishing 14 platinum and gold discs.  Their incredible roster of hits has generated No. 1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 40, Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles.  The band has sold out tours on a consistent basis over the course of several decades, making them one of the all-time best-selling album and top-grossing touring bands in existence.

Click here for more concert info.