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Arts & Events

Downtown Burlington’s Holiday Cocktails & Cuppas Crawl

December 14, 2020 No Comments

There’s something to be said about the magic of Downtown Burlington. In the summer, our waterfront is a hot-spot for festivals and food and in the winter, we transform into a whimsical, glittering wonderland.

From the Festival of Lights in Spencer Smith Park to our new interactive light display along the Elgin Promenade, the heart of downtown oozes with tradition in the winter months. And this year, we want to help you add a new tradition to your holiday favourites. A tradition you can’t help but say cheers to as it brings warmth to those cold winter nights.

Announcing: our first annual self-guided Holiday Cocktail & Cuppas Crawl.

The holiday season is a time to treat yourself – and this year more than ever, we’re all looking for new ways to have fun and indulge. Our first ever Cocktail & Cuppas Crawl ticks all of those boxes. Throughout the month of December, Downtown Burlington’s cafés, restaurants, and bars will be mixing up their favourite holiday concoctions.

A little peppermint here, a little cinnamon there – as you sip and savour boozy cocktail delights or indulge in a specialty coffee or hot chocolate mounded with whipped cream, you’ll actually be qualifying for an assortment of prizes.

And since nothing about 2020 has been all that easy – we made participating in the holiday crawl a sinch. Just download the free pass on your phone (details are available on our website at burlingtondowntown.com). Check-in on the app as you drink and explore boozy bevies and delectable warm drinks at participating businesses. The more check-ins you make, the greater your chances are to win our weekly giveaways. There’s also a grand prize, where the winner will be treated to $300 in various restaurant gift certificates.

Grab someone in your bubble and take in the sights, sounds, and flavours of the season – all in our charming downtown.

Holiday Cocktails & Cuppas Crawl begins December 1st. Download the passport today to see who’s participating and learn how to check-in on the app at burlingtondowntown.ca

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Burlington Downtown Bright Nights

December 10, 2020 No Comments

When you think back on the holidays, what do you remember most? Is it gathering with family around the kitchen table? Singing carols around a piano? Maybe it’s baking gingerbread cookies with Grandma on Christmas Eve. We all have something special we hold close to our hearts when it comes to the holidays. For years, Burlington Downtown has played a hand in crafting those memories and traditions.

From the annual Festival of Lights in Spencer Smith Park to the Festival of Trees at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, our charming downtown comes to life every winter – and every winter, magic is made.

While our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa Claus Parade are taking a 2020 hiatus, we’re excited to bring you something new and bright that we call Burlington Downtown Bright Nights.

This interactive instalment will illuminate and transform downtown walkways with glittering lights and interactive displays.

As you enjoy an evening stroll through a picture-perfect postcard setting, you’ll be greeted by charming storefronts, each decorated for the season in their very own way. Entering the Elgin Promenade, you’ll find yourself under a 100-foot canopy of glistening lights, a perfect setting for pictures (or engagements – no pressure). Between Scriveners and Kelly’s Bake Shoppe, The Singing Tree will invite you to interact in real-time. This lighting scheme responds to singing, clapping, or yelling – creating an unforgettable and magical experience for participants.

No matter where you wander, you’ll be met with magic. This is an illuminating downtown experience unlike one we’ve ever done before.

Bright Nights will take place from December 2020 to January 2021. The experience is free to the public and designed to be enjoyed safely outdoors with physical distancing.

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Honouring loved ones and spreading Christmas cheer with Ian Anderson House’s Tree of Lights Celebration

December 2, 2020 No Comments

On the first Sunday of each December, the grounds of Ian Anderson House are filled with the sights and sounds of holiday cheer, as a large fir tree is lit with Christmas lights and a choir of staff and volunteers sing carols.

The Tree of Lights Celebration is a Hospice tradition around the world that serves to honour the memories of loved ones passed, celebrate the magic of the holiday season and raise much needed funds so that these hospices can continue to provide quality end-of-life palliative care to residents and supports for their families during their last weeks of life.

Here in Oakville at Ian Anderson House, families are invited each year to join the staff for the lighting of the tree, carol singing, desserts, and hot chocolate and cider. Each family member is given a candle to light in memory of the loved one that they have lost.

This year however, due to the pandemic, the event is being held virtually, live on the Ian Anderson House Facebook page. The staff will on the grounds singing Christmas Carols to families watching at home. Community members are also invited to take part virtually, to show their support and to witness this joyous celebration. The event is being broadcasted live on Sunday December 6^th at 5:15 pm.

Anyone wishing to donate to the IAH Tree of Lights can do through the website www.ianandersonhouse.come and select the “to donate” tab.

About Ian Anderson House: Founded in 1997, Ian Anderson House is Ontario’s first in-resident cancer hospice. It is located at 430 Winston Churchill Drive near the corner of Winston Churchill and Lakeshore Rod in Oakville. In addition to residential bedside care Ian Anderson House also provides outreach support for those families caring for a loved on dying at home.

IAH is dedicated to the memory of Ian Anderson, who was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1987 and who died in November 1990 at age 59. The creation of IAH arose from the personal experience of Margaret Anderson, who took care of her husband Ian at home during the last three months of his illness. Ian died at home, which was his wish, but Margaret had become aware of the lack of alternatives for those in a similar situation who, for whatever reason, could not be given the necessary round-the-clock care in their own home. IAH was created to provide palliative care in a home-like, safe environment for individuals with terminal cancer. Because of her experience of caring for Ian in the last few months of his life, the physical and emotional toll, the sense of isolation and the feeling of anxiety and uncertainty, Margaret decided to create a residential hospice in memory of her husband so that families in a situation like hers could be cared for and supported.

Seven years later, in 1997, Ian Anderson House, Ontario’s first cancer hospice was finally opened, on the seventh anniversary of Ian Anderson’s death. As of October 2020 more, than 2900 residents and their families have been cared for and supported at IAH.

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Film.ca wins Best Family Entertainment ‘Talk of the Town’ award

December 1, 2020 No Comments

Note: Each business listed below has made changes and are taking precautions to ensure customer and employee safety during this time. Please contact the businesses directly to confirm up-to-date products, offers, hours and safety procedures.

Looking for safe ways to support local and have fun with your household? Visit our Best Family Entertainment Talk of the Town Award-winner, Film.ca Cinemas!

This community theatre has been a mainstay of Kerr Village since 2005, bringing big box office hits to Oakville for affordable prices. This retro theatre also screens many Canadian and independent films, highlighting up-and-coming filmmakers from all backgrounds.

Looking for a more private experience? Rent out a screen and get the theatre all to yourselves! It’s a safe and fun way to enjoy new films and old favourites on the big screen with your entire household.

Play in the arcade, grab a bite at Zuzu’s Pizza or send the kids to filmmaking bootcamp at this beloved Oakville theatre.

Try for the turkey at Best Family Entertainment runner-up, Hopedale Bowl!

This family-run 5-pin bowling alley is a great destination for families of all ages, as bumpers and coaching tips are always available with help from the friendly staff. Book a time on the weekend to enjoy their glow-in-the-dark sessions and dance along with some of your favourite party tunes from the past and present.

Looking to challenge your household? Take on the escape rooms at Best Family Entertainment second runner-up, Narrow Escape!

You’ll need to work together at this local escape room hub to solve puzzles and riddles that will eventually lead your entire family to the exit. Narrow Escape hosts rooms for all levels of difficulty, including Claustrophobia (moderate), Baker Street Mystery (hard) and Hacked (beginner). This is a great safe way to get the entire family out of the house and working together.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted! We will be announcing our next category on November 7, 2020 over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

2020 Talk of the Town Awards: Best Family Entertainment

Film.ca Cinemas
Hopedale Bowl
Narrow Escape
Aerosports Trampoline Park
iFLY Toronto

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Downtown Oakville Partners with TELUS Small Business and DMX Marketing to Offer Local Giveaway this Holiday Season

November 30, 2020 No Comments

It’s time to support our local business, it’s time to shop local!

This year has been especially tough on local businesses in Oakville Downtown. We have faced unprecedented times, which none of us in the community could have predicted. The impact on our local businesses has been huge. Combined with the redevelopment of Lakeshore Road, it has been an extremely tough 2020 for businesses in Oakville.

But now is the time for small businesses to recover, for all of us to shop local. To help with getting local stores back on their feet, and help promote them, Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) has launched their Hometown Holiday Campaign to support local and has teamed up with TELUS Small Business Solutions and DMX Marketing, who are sponsoring the promotion to spread the word and reach all residents of Oakville. The campaign is all about getting you connected with the local stores you love and help get them up and thriving once again.

For the campaign, a virtual gift guide to Downtown Oakville’s businesses has been created, to help you find exactly what you are looking for this holiday season, whilst also helping support local businesses. And to make it even better, as part of the campaign, TELUS Small Business has supported (3) $500 gift cards to be won, that can be redeemed at your favourite downtown Oakville business of choice! For the chance to win one of these cards, head to our website, signup and view our Gift Guide! And you might be a lucky winner!

With the gift guide, you have a fantastic guide to Oakville’s local businesses, where you can find a wonderful selection of Christmas products from small businesses in Oakville, such as fantastic skincare products with Rosewater Spa or wonderful jewelry at Bluboho.

Finishing on November 20th, the renovations on Lakeshore Road have been completed, fully opening the downtown once again. After plenty of hard work, the road construction is complete and it looks simply beautiful. And with the newly laid roads, traffic can flow smoother than ever, making shopping in Oakville even easier.

With the reconstruction finished and the gift guide ready and waiting, all you need to do is get shopping! After the hardships of this year, it’s time for the community to come together and rally behind our local stores. Oakville is ready for business once again and just in time, as the Christmas season is nearly upon us. Whilst the current situation means we cannot celebrate how we normally would, we can make sure it won’t dampen our Oakville spirit! So it’s time to get out and shop local.

With the new gift guide, you can make sure that you find exactly what you are looking for. Across the downtown core, there are a variety of fantastic stores, each of which will have a special something for the holidays. Maybe your secret Santa is quite the fashion enthusiast, in which case Must Boutique has what you are looking for! If you are looking to get back on the bike this Christmas, then a trip to Racer Sportif is in order. Or maybe you are looking to buy a bouquet for that special someone in your life. If so, FIORI can help make that special moment all the more perfect.

And in such a time of cheer and festivity, you cannot go wrong with a fine place to eat and drink. In Oakville, we are in luck to have many catering to both! For those looking for something sweet, then you are in luck, with Sugar Suite Cakes and Black Forest Pastry Shop baking up some utterly delicious treats. Looking to dine in, then you have options aplenty! Seasons Restaurant, Borgo Antico-Cucina Bar, Paradiso Restaurant and Riyasat Indian Restaurant and Bar are just a few options when looking to grab a bite to eat!

Don’t want to head out? Don’t worry, as many of our restaurants, bars, cafes, bakeries and more deliver! Get the tastes you want to deliver right to your door, giving you the satisfaction of knowing you’re not only helping the local community but also getting some amazing food too!

This Christmas season, let’s go from the big box store to the small business in our community and make a real difference by supporting our families. By supporting our Oakville. It’s time for local small businesses to shine, so let’s shop local!

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Taste of Burlington’s #TakeOutToHelpOut

November 20, 2020 No Comments

Did you know that Burlington has over 400 restaurants offering a variety of delicious food options for all tastes and budgets?

These businesses have appreciated the patronage of locals through restrictions and are asking you to continue this support through take out, gift cards and dine in options (following health guidelines). With the most recent announcement that the Halton area is now in the red zone as per provincial guidelines, most of our restaurants are open to provide food services with your safety their utmost concern. Restaurants are able to extend their patios into the colder months and many have set up heated spaces to extend their seating capacity.

In an effort to encourage residents to continue this important support for restaurants, the Taste of Burlington is launching the Take Out to Help Out campaign via social media. Diners are encouraged to post pictures of themselves getting take-out or of their take-out meal and post on social media using #TakeOutToHelpOut. They should then tag a friend to have them do the same, so that the message spreads and the restaurants see and feel our support. Taste of Burlington will be giving away restaurant gift cards randomly each week to social media users who post using the hashtag.

Kelly Harris, Marketing Specialist at Tourism Burlington and Coordinator of the Taste of Burlington program states: “In the first phase of the pandemic we sadly saw some of our local restaurants close. Our restaurants need our continued support now more than ever to ensure your favorite spot keeps their doors open. If you are able, please get take-out, as often as you can, to help our restaurants through this difficult time”.

We are also asking people when they order take out to pick up directly from the restaurants to avoid the use of third party delivery companies.

Tourism Burlington has launched a Holiday Savings Pass until January 4 with a number of restaurants providing tasty savings for you. Sign up for this pass, it is easy and FREE! Don’t forget to consider ordering gift cards from restaurants, they make a great holiday gift.

For more information on the Take Out to Help Out campaign, the Holiday Savings Pass or Taste of Burlington please visit tasteofburlington.ca & tourismburlington.com, or call/email: 905-634-5594 kelly.harris@burlington.ca

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It’s Still The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

November 5, 2020 No Comments

At this time of year, you would typically find our events section overflowing with news of upcoming holiday cheer. From tree lightings to Santa Claus parades, our BIAs know how to deliver on holiday favourites. Many of these events have become longstanding traditions in our families and communities. While we don’t have to remind you that this year will be different, we do want to remind you that the holidays are still a special time – and worthy of making new traditions.

Bronte Village

Bronte’s official kick-off to summer usually begins with At Home in Bronte – an annual event where 60 local organizations, artists, businesses, and families are invited to paint a Muskoka chair. These chairs are installed for public viewing and enjoyment in Bronte Village on Canada Day for the duration of the summer. This summer, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 – but Bronte BIA is excited to announce a winter instalment of this event. This winter, visitors to Bronte Village will find dozens of professionally painted Muskoka chairs along sidewalks and the waterfront. There will be hidden icons on the chairs, designed to get families outside and to encourage them to participate in a winter scavenger hunt.

The Village has also designed new banners and plans to line the streets with lit snowflakes and decorations for the holiday season. While there won’t be a Christmas Tree or official lighting, Bronte offers exquisite views and scenery, the waterfront an obvious one.

Downtown Oakville

You’re invited to Downtown Oakville’s Hometown Holiday festivities! Stroll safely along the brand new, extra-wide sidewalks and support your local specialty stores, services and restaurants throughout the holiday season.

The highlight of Hometown Holiday will be the spectacular 30 foot Instagram worthy ribbon tree of lights, being installed in Towne Square on November 28. Be sure to come and visit, take a photo with family and friends, and enjoy the extraordinary lighting installations in Centennial Square as well as throughout the Downtown core. Follow @oakvilledowntown (on FB or Instagram) for the details.

Don’t miss out on the best gifts of the holiday season. Subscribe to the Downtown Oakville e-newsletter to gain early access to the NEW Virtual Gift Guide here: http://explore.oakvilledowntown.com/

Downtown Burlington

Santa will not be parading in Downtown Burlington this year. The annual tree lighting and candle-lit stroll have also been cancelled. But – some wonderful things have been planned in exchange.

Celebrating 25 years of magic, the Burlington Lakeside Festival of Lights will be returning. Sixty magical lighting displays will be set up at Spencer Smith Park from November 27th, 2020 to January 8th, 2021.

The lights will turn on at 4 p.m. every day and run until midnight – with exceptions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Orthodox Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, where the lights will be lit all day and night. This outdoor event is a perfect way to experience the holidays in Burlington and also grab some fresh air.

In addition to the Festival of Lights, Downtown Burlington has invested in a unique plug n’ play technology that transforms traditional lighting displays into interactive experiences. The display is powered by a real-time sound-to-light mapping system called Aurora. Located next to Scrivener’s along the Elgin Promenade, visitors can interact with the lighting in real-time by singing, clapping, or yelling. There will also be a canopy of lights in other areas of the promenade.

Waterdown Village

Waterdown has become a holiday hot-spot thanks to their annual evening Santa Claus parade. The parade, which typically begins at 6 p.m. lights up beautiful Downtown Waterdown with floats decked out in lights. Unfortunately, this year’s parade, along with their ‘Made for You’ market and Christmas Tree lighting have been cancelled. However, there are plans to host a virtual tree lighting via Facebook and Instagram, with special guests to be announced. Follow @waterdownbia (on FB or Instagram) for details closer to the event.

While many aspects of these events are changing week-to-week, one thing is for certain: all of the BIAs want to ensure the holidays bring magic!

Stay tuned for merchant sales. And word on the street – there’s talk of winter patios. It doesn’t get more Canadian than that, eh?

Written By: Anneliese Lawton

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Pumpkin Pop-Up Experience in #DTOakville

October 29, 2020 No Comments

With the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, Downtown Oakville has made the difficult decision to cancel their Tiny Tots Parade, but they will still be bringing some Halloween spirit to Downtown Oakville in a way that’s safe and fun.

Join Downtown Oakville for their Pumpkin Pop-Up Experience on Saturday, October 31. Stroll the brand new, extra wide sidewalks (costumes encouraged!) to see all of the creative pumpkins that merchants will be putting on display. Enter their CONTEST by voting for your favourite pumpkin for a chance to WIN 1 of 2 $150 gift cards to a Downtown Oakville retailer of your choice.

Here’s how it works:

Take a photo of your favourite pumpkin at Downtown Oakville’s Halloween Pumpkin Pop-Up Experience and post the picture on social media using the hashtag #DTOPumpkinExperience (make sure to tag @oakvilledowntown + the merchant)
Subscribe to our e-newsletter here
Follow @oakvilledowntown on Instagram and Facebook

Contest closes Monday, November 2, 2020 at noon. Contest open to local residents only. All contest submissions must be of a participating business listed above.

*This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Instagram or Facebook.

A list of participating businesses is coming soon at oakvilledowntown.com

DONATE TO OAKVILLE READY’S LET’S HAUNT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE

Be sure to stop by Towne Square between 9 am and 1 pm to drop off (contactless) a non-perishable food item for Oakville Ready’s Let’s Haunt Hunger Food Drive in support of Kerr Street Mission.

Best dressed or best dresses car will WIN a $150 gift card donated by the Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Association (us!). Click here to learn more.

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The Oakville Museum wins ‘Best Cultural Experience’ Talk of the Town Award

October 27, 2020 No Comments

…Note: Each business listed below has made changes and are taking precautions to ensure customer and employee safety during this time. Please contact the businesses directly to confirm up-to-date products, offers, hours and safety procedures.

Indulge in a little history this month at our Best Cultural Experience Talk of the Town Award-winner, the Oakville Museum!

The Oakville Museum resides in the restored Erchless Estate, the former home to Oakville’s founder Colonel William Chisholm. This historic home usually hosts touring exhibits throughout each year, as well as two permanent exhibits about Oakville’s Black History.

Though select exhibits are currently closed, you can still book a 45-minute guided tour of the estate, including information about Oakville’s founding family as well as time spent in the exhibit, Freedom, Opportunity and Family: Oakville’s Black History.

Celebrate Culture Days at the Oakville Museum with a self-guided walking tour of the outdoor grounds and garden, or one of their free guided tours available every Sunday in the month of October!

See your favourite plays, musicals and famous faces at Best Cultural Experience runner-up, The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts!

Though operations at this performing arts centre have currently halted, its stages have been known to host great Canadian and international artists such as Steve Hackett, The Barenaked Ladies, Margaret Atwood and Serena Ryder. It’s a can’t-miss feature of any Oakville visit.

Looking for a little art? Set your eyes on the works of established and emerging artists at Best Cultural Experience second runner-up, The Oakville Galleries!

The Oakville Galleries hosts travelling exhibits through both of their locations at Centennial Square and Gairloch Gardens. Book a time slot now and come see their latest installation, Show Up, by renowned Canadian contemporary painter, Elizabeth McIntosh. Don’t forget to spend some time among the gorgeous flowers at Gairloch Gardens during your visit.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted! We will be announcing our next category on October 19, 2020 over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

2020 Talk of the Town Awards: Best Cultural Experience

To see all of the Visit Oakville 2020 Talk of the Town Award-winners, click here: visitoakville.com

Article provided by Visit Oakville

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The AGB’s Soup Bowl To Go: Oct. 15 to Nov. 30

October 16, 2020 No Comments

With the crisp Autumn breeze setting in and those hot Summer days swiftly drifting away, it’s time to cozy-up in our sweaters and enjoy the ultimate comfort food: soup!

And in most timely fashion, the Art Gallery of Burlington has brought back their annual Soup Bowl Fundraiser to warm our tummies and our hearts.

This year’s edition is “Soup Bowl To Go”, in true social distance style!

Interested participants are invited to choose and purchase a one-of-a-kind handcrafted ceramic bowl (from the AGB online store) and then bring their voucher to a participating restaurant to enjoy a bowl of delicious local soup.

Bowl sales run from October 15 to November 13 with voucher redemption from November 13 to November 30.

For all details to the fundraiser, click here.

Soup Bowl is an important fundraiser which supports AGB children’s programming, including vital education initiatives such as school outreach and financial assistance for youth. This event has become beloved by the community for over 24 years.

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