Happy Holidays 2023
Another year is wrapping up so some of the Molinaro Group got together to “wrap” a tree as sponsors of the @BurlingtonPerformingArtsCentre’s 7th Annual Festival of Trees.
Where To Shop Local This Holiday Season
This time of year is one of the busiest, with holiday get-togethers, winter activities, and all the shopping! While it’s easy to order gifts online, there’s something special about walking into a local shop, looking around at the handmade items, and selecting a thoughtful present for your loved one. We’ve rounded up the best local stores in Burlington so you can cross those last items off your shopping list! Centro Garden Centro Garden came to life because of Jason Pepetone’s love for gardening and his expertise in the garden center business. Those who are passionate about design, art, style, and gardening will enjoy shopping at this local store. From adorable Christmas ornaments to home décor to locally made cleaning supplies, there are so many wonderful items to choose from! Visitors can wander through the indoor and outdoor areas of the store, admiring the garden shop and beautiful Christmas decorations while checking off every person on their holiday shopping list. The Artisanville Much like its name, The Artisanville is a small shop full of unique, handcrafted products, and located in both Burlington Centre and Lime Ridge Mall. Canadian designers and artisans create original home décor pieces, clothing, fun jewellery, paper goods and more! With a vast assortment of handmade pieces, you’ll find memorable gifts for your parents, siblings, friends, and little ones! ODDSPOT Located in Downton Burlington, ODDSPOT is a great store to browse vintage items and old records. There are also handcrafted pieces, décor objects, clothing, and other unique items. Find the perfect gift for the vintage lover in your life! The Little Pop-Up Shoppe This adorable pop-up shop, located in Village Square, is Burlington’s only monthly rotating shop! Every 30 days, they feature new products from Canadian artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. With adorable Christmas décor pieces, winter accessories, and handcrafted kitchen items, there’s something for everyone! The Block Co If you’re looking for a truly unique gift, look no further! Give a beautiful charcuterie board, full of delicious meats, cheeses, and fruits. The Block Co. will work with your food preferences and budget to create a custom charcuterie board for you to give your loved ones. Bring one of their gorgeous charcuterie boards over to your next holiday party or set up a grazing table at your own gathering. This is a treat everyone can enjoy! Pure Boutique With the latest trends in home décor, Pure Boutique is an ideal shop to find gifts for the homebody in your life. They carry stunning candles, skincare items, and beauty accessories, which all make amazing stocking stuffers. With lovely décor items, beautiful stationary, and endless bath and body products, you’ll find the perfect gift in no time! The Handmade House With a wonderful selection of sustainable products, homemade Christmas décor pieces, and one-of-a kind clothing items, The Handmade House is a one stop shop for all gifting this season. All these delightful pieces are handmade with care, and purchases support local businesses and keep the city of Burlington thriving! Find amazing gifts for your closest friends and family at The Handmade House! Have you started your holiday shopping yet?
The Best Holiday Events In Burlington
With temperatures dropping and the days getting shorter, the holidays seem to be right around the corner! Though the sun begins to set at 5pm, we love this time of year as there’s a magical feeling in the air. Everyone begins to anticipate the holiday season, and all the fun activities that come with it! We’re getting ready for long winter walks, hot chocolate by the fire, visiting Christmas markets, and admiring the holiday lights. We’ve rounded up 5 fun events happening in Burlington to get you excited for the winter season. The North Coal Christmas Market This year’s North Coal Christmas Market will take place on their patio on the 10th, 11th and 12th of December. Join them for a day of eating, drinking, and shopping local! Guests can also enjoy their firepits, the new Muskoka Lounge, and other holiday activities. Visit their website for a glimpse into their 2019 Christmas Market, and for more details about this year’s event. Burlington Festival of Lights Back for the 26th year in a row, Burlington’s Festival of Lights starts on November 26th and runs all the way to January 8th. Burlington residents will have the opportunity to explore Spencer Smith Park and view all the beautiful displays. Lights will be active from 4pm to midnight every day, and all day on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Orthodox Christmas, and New Year’s Eve! For those who wish to stay warm and toasty, take a drive along Lakeshore Road, beside the waterfront and view the attraction by car. Bring your family and friends to experience the magical light festival and get into the holiday spirit! Santa’s Holiday Magic Trail Santa will be driving an adorable antique firetruck throughout various Burlington neighbourhoods on December 4thand 5th, from 10am to 5pm. For all guests’ safety, this year Santa will not be accepting letters or posing for photos. Check their website for all updates and for a map of Santa’s route. Attendees can also use the hashtag #SpotSantaBurlON on social media to let others know of Santa’s location in the neighbourhood. Victorian Christmas Tour & Treats In a guided tour, travel back in time to the historic Ireland House! At this intimate event, you’ll begin with a toast at the Oakridge Interpretive Centre followed by shortbread, ginger cake, and figgy pudding samples. After the tour, enjoy the outdoor open fire, sip some wassail, and roast chestnuts to truly get into the Christmas spirit. You’ll also go home with a delicious box of treats! This special tour takes place on December 3rd and 4th, get your tickets here. Jingle Bell Race This event is just outside of the Burlington area, taking place at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club. Come out and celebrate the festive season with an in-person holiday race! Participants will receive a post-race breakfast, medal, and a gift. There is an option to complete the race virtually for those who do not wish to participate in person. The race takes place on November 28th, you can purchase your tickets here! How are you celebrating the holidays this year?
How To Decorate Simply For The Holidays
We’re so excited for the holidays! There are gifts to wrap, cookies to bake and a Christmas tree to put up, in addition to decorating the rest of your space. While we can’t bake your cookies or wrap your presents, we can definitely help you in the decor aspect! Since we’re spending more time at home, we’re looking forward to a slower holiday season and decorating for Christmas is the perfect relaxing activity. Simple decor can have a big impact — including relieving you of some holiday stress. Try honing in on these three areas to bring the holiday cheer into your home: Greenery Incorporating natural greenery is the easiest way to decorate for the holidays! It’s minimal enough to add to any room, while bringing warmth into your space. Add a piece of garland to the windowsill, and cozy up with a good book or arrange it on the dining table for a touch of holiday decor in your kitchen. You can also drape garland on the headboard of your bed or along the railing on your balcony. Hanging simple, natural-looking wreaths are a great addition to your front door without being too over the top. Another great way to bring nature into your home for the holidays is to get a real Christmas tree. Leave it bare with white lights for a minimal look or combine a few neutral ornaments to create a beautiful decor piece, which will also smell amazing! Think Minimal Instead of the traditional kitschy decor typically associated with this season, opt for neutrals. Combine different textures such as faux furs, knit pillows and velvet blankets to convey warmth in your home. Neutral colours such as white, gray, beige and black fabrics can be very inviting, while keeping your space cozy and classic. Hang neutral, textured stockings to keep everything cohesive. You can also place a bowl of ornaments on the kitchen island or coffee table for a minimal look or if you’ve acquired too many for the tree over the years. For a more natural look, use pinecones instead. Lighting Lighting is a fun way to get everyone in the holiday spirit. While you may not spend as much time on your balcony during the winter season, adding a few twinkly lights will help make the space extra cozy. Windows are another great area to put up lights. Turning them on while watching a holiday movie and sipping on some hot coco will create such a delightful atmosphere. If you prefer a more minimalistic tree, all you need is a few lights to make the perfect decor piece! Check out a few of our favourite local shops for decor inspiration: Classique Decor: This beautiful showroom has high quality products, with handpicked Canadian made furniture and accessories. In House Living: This stunning 3000 square foot store is constantly changing, as the owners carefully select the merchandise, which arrives every week. Liz At Home: This fabulous showroom has incredible furniture, artwork and decor items, all at an affordable price! How do you decorate for the holidays?
