Little Local - September 11

Apple season is here! The trees are heavy with fruit, a sweet sign that fall is on its way. September brings fresh routines, cooler evenings, and an abundance of local food.

This week we’re sharing a little apple guide (from heritage varieties at Moss Street Market to the magic of Welland Community Orchard), plus fun ways to bake and craft with your haul. And don’t forget that the Terry Fox Run is happening this Sunday!

Scroll down for all the details, along with more family-friendly events happening around the city this weekend.

It’s Apple Season!

Our family has been spotting an abundance of ripening apples on trees around town. It’s tempting to grab a snack, but what’s the protocol?

👉 The rules: In city and regional parks, picking fruit isn’t permitted, even if the trees look neglected. On Crown land, foraging for personal use is generally okay. And if apples are hanging over from someone’s yard, it’s still private property so ask before you pick.

If you’d like to try harvesting in a community setting, I want to introduce you to…

Welland Community Orchard 

Tucked away in View Royal, Welland is home to nearly 200 heritage fruit and nut trees — the largest collection on Vancouver Island. Open year-round, it’s a wonderful spot for families to bring a picnic, wander shady paths, or hop off the Galloping Goose trail to explore. You’ll find it at 1215 Stancil Lane, with easy access by bus, bike, or car (there’s a small parking lot at the end of the lane). Just remember to respect the signs and close the gates behind you.

The orchard is cared for by the LifeCycles Project, which also hosts volunteer harvest events where families can help pick, taste rare varieties, and learn about Victoria’s orchard history (watch for one coming up at the end of the month!).

More ways to enjoy 🍎 season

• Woodside Farm’s Fresh Food Experience is also happening this Sunday, Sept 14 from 10am-4pm. There’s an Apple Maze to explore and fresh garden food to enjoy!

• Apple Luscious Organic Orchard is at the Moss Street Market on Saturdays right now. Their stall is overflowing with delicious heritage apples you can sample and purchase by the pound.

• Bake a batch of apple muffins for school lunches.

• Whip up a healthy apple crisp, a dessert that’s fun to make with the kids.

• Get crafty with apple stamping. Dip apple halves in paint for fun fall art.

Apple season is one of our favourite times of year in Victoria. As we transition into fall, there’s an abundance of local food growing all around us, from heritage apples to squash and pears. It’s a reminder of how lucky we are to live in such a delicious, food-rich place!

🥪 This Week’s Lunch: This Week’s Lunch delivers kid-approved meals complete with mains, fruit, veggies, and snacks, straight to your door. Choose between 3 and 5-day options for little kids or big kids. Fresh, fun, and ready to grab, so mornings feel a whole lot easier.

🌱 Wild Child Playgroup: Every Tuesday at The Grove (St. Barnabas Church), kids 0–7 can dig into nature play: mud kitchen, gardening, art, and more. A fun, hands-on way to learn and connect outdoors. Register online.

🛒 Urban Grocer: From fresh produce to pantry staples and ready-to-go meals, Urban Grocer (Fort and Oak Bay) makes family shopping easy! Pop in for everyday essentials or treat yourself to something new from their locally sourced selection.

📅 Weekend Events

🤱🏻 15th Annual La Leche League Garage Sale
Friday, Sept 12 - Sunday, Sept 14
1128 Topaz Ave. All proceeds go to la Leche League Canada who help families with breastfeeding. Garage Sale on Friday 12th (5pm-8pm), Saturday Sept 13th & Sunday Sept 14th (8am-7pm).

⛵ Community Day: Trekka Returns
Friday, Sept 12 | 9:30am–4:30pm
Celebrate Canada’s smallest circumnavigating boat at the Maritime Museum with postcards and maritime history fun. [Info]

🎨 Lagoon Arts & Culture Festival
Friday, Sept 12 | 5pm–7pm & Saturday, Sept 13 | 8:30am–5pm
Join Arts & Culture Colwood at the beautiful Lagoon West Park and Goldfinch Arts Centre for live music and performances, an Indigenous art showcase, an artisan market, family-friendly activities, food trucks, and more! [Info]

🎬 VIP Movie Night Under the Stars
Friday, Sept 12 | Starts at 6pm
Watch Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning on a giant 33-foot screen with red-carpet vibes, music, snacks, and more. Donations are in support of the South Island Primary Care Society. [Info]

🍓 Kids Snack Building & Parfait Party 
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10am–12pm
Head on over to Peninsula Country Market where kids will be able to create their own snacks and parfaits. Drop-in, booth-style stations with hands-on food activities, fun live demos, and take-home tips to help build basic food skills. [Info]

🌱 Learning Through Play
Saturday, Sept 13 | 10am 
A free, interactive session at Momease Baby Boutique hosted by Sprout Family Health, Momease, and Earlybird. Parents will learn play-based strategies for building independence and confidence, while kids enjoy hands-on, fall-themed activities. Space is limited. [RSVP]

🦉 Road Trip to Owls
Saturday, Sept 13 | 9:30am–1pm
Hop on the bus from Crystal Pool and join CRD naturalists on a trip to Devonian Regional Park for an all-ages guided walk to learn all about owls. Space is limited so reserve a spot! [Info]

🏮 Autumn Lantern Festival
Saturday, Sept 13 | 5pm–8:30pm
A glowing evening at Gordon Head Rec with lanterns, music, and community spirit. Bring yor own lantern or make your own there fro $5. [Info]

🪢 Salty Sundays: Rope Keychains Workshop
Sunday, Sept 14 | 2 pm–4 pm
Learn knot-tying and make your own rope keychain at the Maritime Museum of BC in this hands-on maritime activity. [Info]

🌿 Art in Nature Guided Walk
Sunday, Sept 14 | 1:30 pm–3:30 pm
A creative guided 800m walk through Mt. Work, merging art and the outdoors. Great for families and inspired minds. Stroller and wheelchair friendly. Free [Reserve your spot]

🍏 Orchard Market at Junction Cidery
Sunday, Sept 14 | 11 am–5 pm
Sip cider, shop local vendors, and enjoy live music in a beautiful orchard setting. [Info]

🥕 Woodside Farm’s Fresh Food Experience
Sunday, Sept 14 | 10am-4pm
Bring your family for some fun in the sun, eat some fresh garden food, pet the friendly animals, take a hay ride, run the Apple Maze and so much more! [Info]

📅 Upcoming and Ongoing

🎪 Circus Osorio
Sept 11–22 | Multiple daily shows
The big-top spectacle at Mayfair Shopping Centre featuring acrobats, motorcycle stunts, aerial acts, and more. [Info]

🍎 Sooke Apple Festival
Sunday, Sept 21 | 10am–3pm
Celebrate the harvest with a free, family-friendly day at Sunriver Orchard! Enjoy heritage apple varieties, pie by the slice, cider, live music, kids’ activities, apple-press demos, and a chance to support the community garden. [Info]

🍏 Community Sharing Day at Welland Community Orchard
Saturday, Sept 27 | 11 am–3 pm
Celebrate the harvest at Victoria’s beloved community orchard! Sample and learn how to press fruit, taste heritage apple varieties, ask questions about fruit trees, and enjoy fun kids’ activities. A festive afternoon for all ages. [Info]

🎃 Thrifty Foods Wicked Victoria
Sunday, Oct 26, 2025 | 10:30 am–3:30 pm
Downtown Victoria transforms into a free, family-friendly Halloween festival with live music, kid zones, costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky fun for all ages. [Info]

Final Note: I do my best to keep everything accurate, but I am only human so the odd mistake might sneak in! If you catch one, feel free to let me know.