Little Local - September 25

It’s officially fall! Spooky events are starting to creep in, the rain looks set to return this weekend, and we’ve put together a kid-friendly mushroom spotting guide for those fall nature strolls. There’s also plenty happening around town this weekend, including Luxton Fall Fair and Community Sharing Day at Welland Orchard. Details for these events and more down below. See you out there!

Fall Mushroom Spotting 🍂🍄

When the rain returns, our local forests come alive with mushrooms! Fall is the best time to head out with your kids and see how many fungi you can spot hiding under trees, peeking out of moss and pine needles, or decorating old logs. My kids are all about these “missions”, making hikes fun and exciting.

A “Don’t Touch” Rule

While some wild mushrooms are edible, many are poisonous, and it can be tricky even for experts to tell them apart. A good family rule is: look, admire, and photograph, but don’t touch or taste. This keeps kids safe while still letting them enjoy the magic of discovery.

Where to Go

East Sooke Park: Coastal trails where mushrooms thrive in damp forest floors.
Metchosin & Sooke Hills: Classic fall mushroom territory.
Local Trails & Parks: Explore around Thetis Lake, Francis King, Mt. Work, and Durrance Lake.

Make It Fun

• Pick up a mushroom identification book like “Mushrooms of British Columbia” by Andy MacKinnon and Kem Luther.

• Bring a magnifying glass or camera and turn kids into “mushroom detectives.”

• Keep a simple mushroom journal with drawings or photos of your finds.

• Count how many different shapes, colours, or sizes you can spot on a single walk.

Sampling Safely

If your kids are curious about tasting mushrooms, head to a local farmers’ market. Vendors often sell wild-foraged chanterelles, pine mushrooms, and other seasonal favourites that have been properly identified and harvested. It’s a safe way to connect what kids see on the trail with food on their plate ;)

I’ve seen a few vendors even sell mushroom-growing kits (like oyster or shiitake logs) so you can try cultivating your own edible fungi at home. Mushroom-growing kits are also available from Forager’s Galley (Island company) at one of their local retailers.

👉 Remember: Fall mushrooming is about curiosity, not collecting. Leave mushrooms where they grow so they can keep doing their important job in the forest ecosystem.

Read: Mushrooms Know: Wisdom From Our Friends the Fungi by Kallie George and illustrated by Sara Gillingham, is a bright, beautiful picture book that introduces kids to the fascinating world of fungi while weaving in gentle life lessons. My kids love it!

Make: I know I’m leaning hard into the mushroom theme this week, but I spotted these adorable little toadstool jam cookies on @NorthwoodsFolk’s Instagram and will definitely be baking them this weekend. Recipe in the post!

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🧑🏽‍💻 KWENCH: Drowning in home distractions while you work? Escape to KWENCH, a downtown coworking space filled with light, energy, and community that makes it easy to actually get things done. Get a hotdesk membership or book a day pass!

🦷 Wheely Clean: Skip the dentist office because Wheely Clean’s mobile hygiene vans come to you! They’re fantastic with kids, now offer teeth whitening, and make family dental care stress-free. Book your visit online!

📅 Weekend Events

🏮 Esquimalt Lantern Festival
Friday, Sept 26 | 5:30–9:30pm
Gorge Park & Pavilion glows with handmade lanterns, live music, giant puppets, and interactive art. Bring a lantern and wander the illuminated paths. [Info]

🎡 Luxton Fall Fair
Friday, Sept 26 – Sunday, Sept 28
Head on over to Luxton Fairgrounds in Langford midway rides and games, local artisan booths, blacksmithing, antique farm equipment, apple cider making, miniature trains, museum displays, and more. [Info]

🛍️ Victoria Kids Consignment Fall Sale
Friday, Sept 26 – Sunday, Sept 28
Score deals on gently used kids’ clothes, toys, and gear at this big seasonal sale at Eagle Ridge Centre. [Info]

🥣 Kids Snack Building & Parfait Party
Saturday, Sept 27 | 10am–12pm
A tasty, hands-on activity at Peninsula Country Market (Saanich Fair Grounds) where kids can build their own healthy snacks and parfaits. [Info]

📚 Esquimalt Story Festival 2025
Saturday, Sept 27 | 10:30am–1pm
Celebrate the 20th year of Esquimalt’s Story Festival with storytellers, crafts, performances, free books, and a by-donation lunch served by the Lions Club. [Info]

🐟 Museum Tots: Salmon Tales
Sunday, Sept 28 | 10:30am – 11:15am
A sensory storytime at the Maritime Museum for kiddos 3-5, all about salmon life cycles with crafts, play, song, and dance. [Info]

🍏 Apple Day at Sea Cider
Sunday, Sept 28 | 11am–4pm
Celebrate the apple harvest at Sea Cider with tastings, live music, orchard tours, and plenty of kid-friendly activities. [Info]

🧡 Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony
Sunday, Sept 28 | 11:30am–1:30pm
A community gathering at the Sno’uyutth Welcome Pole at Oak Bay High School to honour Truth and Reconciliation with ceremony and reflection. [Info]

📅 Upcoming and Ongoing

🫏 Farm Friends Drop-In
Thursdays at 10:30am
Beacon Hill Children’s Farm offers story time and a meet and greet with the animal of the week! [Info]

🚲 Bike to Work (School) Week
Saturday–Friday, Sept 27–Oct 3
Hop on your bike and join families across Greater Victoria in celebrating cycling! Stop by celebration stations for snacks, prizes, and community fun. [Info]

🎃 Lohbrunner Pumpkin Fest
Every Sat & Sun in October | 10am–4pm
Pick the perfect pumpkin, wander the patch, enjoy hay bales and photo ops, and take in the autumn scenery at Lohbrunner Farm. [Info]

🏟️ Fall for Fun at Royal Athletic Park
Saturday, Oct 4 | 1–4pm
A free afternoon of family fun at Royal Athletic Park with games, bouncy castles, face painting, and community activities. [Info]

👻 Thrifty Foods Wicked Victoria
Sunday, Oct 26 | 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.