From January into early March many communities have Dine Out or Dine Around events happening to promote their local restaurants, accommodations and attractions. It’s a great time to explore your local community or take a few days to explore an area not too far away.
Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria launches with a gala event at the Victoria Conference Centre on February 16. With 60 restaurants, more than 20 VQA wineries and breweries, this will be a foodie’s paradise! During the two weeks of the event, which runs through March 5, restaurants will be offering special menus at $20, $30, $40 or $50 per person. And not only are restaurants getting in on the action, Bed & Breakfasts and hotels are encouraging you to stay a few nights by offering special overnight rates ranging for $89 to $169. Victoria is a great place to visit anytime of year, and if you come towards the end of the Dine Around & Stay In Town event, you can also take part in the annual Victoria Flower Count! Since 1976 this fun event to promote Victoria as a destination in the shoulder season and to bring pride to communities has been a great success. After all, Victoria is not called The Garden City for nothing! Usually this event takes place in late February, but as even BC’s balmy west coast had quite the winter this year, the Flower Count will happen March 6th to March 12th.
Great food, great company, Dine Around!
If you want to check out the deals and great food in Vancouver at Canada’s largest annual food and drink festival, you’ll have to plan on doing so next year. Dine Out Vancouver took place from January 20 through February 5. Special fixed price menus at $20, $30 and $40 and dine & stay packages were on offer here as well, as were numerous unique culinary events. Vancouver is such a multi-cultural city and that is definitely reflected in its restaurant scene.
BC’s Thompson Okanagan region also featured a similar festival with over 50 restaurants participating in Dine Around Thompson Okanagan in January. Menus ranged from $15 to $45, and this being the Okanagan, you just know that many Okanagan wines were on offer.
Cowichan Valley restaurants take part in the first Eat Stay Play!
Back on Vancouver Island, Dine Around Mid-Island takes place March 3 through March 19, a seventeen day event to explore the cuisine in Nanaimo, Parksville, Lantzville and Qualicum Beach. When Victoria’s Festival ends, travel up Island and check out some great places in this region.
Before you get to Nanaimo you must stop in the Cowichan region for a few days for its first ever Dine Around event, Eat Stay Play. This region, sometimes called “Canada’s Provence” is a real food lovers destination with wineries, breweries, distilleries, specialty food producers and top notch restaurants. Special fixed price menus from $15 to $45 per person, accommodation at local hotels and Bed & Breakfasts at $69, $99, and $119, and discounts at local attractions, can be enjoyed from February 24 to March 12.
Don’t let the weather stop you. Get out there and explore culinary BC!