This weekend is also one of the busiest in Victoria. The harbour fills up with over 120 artisans and crafts people. Musicians and street performers entertain hundreds of people every day along the causeway area. First nation carvers and artists fill the South causeway under the Welcome to Victoria sign. 

This is also the same weekend as the Symphony Splash. The Symphony Splash attracts tens of thousands of people for an afternoon of music performed by the Victoria Symphony. A floating stage is created and placed in the harbour for the crowd to enjoy. The grand finale is fireworks in time with the Beethoven 5th. 

​For Vendor information click here ​​

The market has moved up the pier this year. We are still on the water front. Due to the work needed to be done on the pier the market has moved west beyond the fences. Look for the signs to find us.  We will have live music, food trucks and vendors Starting
Friday at 6pm until 10:30 pm 
Saturday 10:30 to 10:30
Sunday 10:30 to 10:30 ( Fire works at 9:30 pm by the City of Victoria ) 
Monday 10:30 to 5 pm 

The city has big plans for Ship point. Hopefully the Ship Point market will be part of them. You can read the whole article here 

What a great day it was on Sunday. Lots of sun and lots of talent. 12 entertainers auditioned for 2 locations in the inner harbour and 5 spots at fisherman's wharf. One thing the city of Victoria has is lots of Talent. 

Calling all creative types.  would you like to sell in the harbour. Applications are ready and we have 7 full time locations open this year. This includes the new new area by the Steam ship building. This new area will be located close the the V2V ferry and the CoHo ferry. If you are a foodie and would like to have an area in the inner harbour all season long. We have 4 locations available for food carts this year. 

We will Jury the 1st round of applicants by April 5th. 

More information email ​info@victoriaharbourfestival.com 

 Jenny Mack goes big. She has been doing market for years and joined the Ship Point Market this in 2017. Her designs and fabric choice propelled her to become very successful at Ship Point. This winter she took a big step and opened up a store on Lower Johnson Street. 

This store adds to the growing number of designers/manufactures on LO JO. Unfortunately we will lose her at the market this year but wish her all the luck in the new venture. Check out her website @ ​http://www.jenimack.ca/

 

​2018 is shaping up to be a year of opportunity if you own a food cart. We have three openings on the Causeway for full-time food carts. We are looking for unique food items that will add to the diversely in the inner harbour. The locations are leased for the entire year. 

If you think you have what it takes to become a successful food cart operator this will be the year for you. If you are interested contact: Joseph Gonyeau @ vicharbourfest@gmail,com  or fill out the form to be placed on the list to receive the applications by the end of January 

Another success story. The more I see these the more I need to start writing about these amazing micro business owners.

Anyone who went to the Ship point night market back in 2013 would have met an energetic couple, selling fudge. They started a company called Fudge in a Round. They stepped back from the market life and found new methods of getting their fudge around to the public. Recently they made it on to the Dragon Den and have stepped up production to new levels. They are on a role. 

Here is the link to the story in  the Sooke New Mirror

The Dragon den was so successful for them that could not believe what happened, Here are Kelly's own words.........

FUDGE IN A ROUND’S EXPERIENCE ON
THE DRAGON’S DEN
WE GOT BETTER THAN A DEAL!!!!!
#cbcdragon  #fudgeinaround #PunQueen

Wow… it’s finally over!
All the prep work to get there! 
It was so hard to try not to tell others about our experience, and what the Dragons shared with us, both compliments and constructive criticism.
Out of 4,000 auditions across Canada, it was narrowed down to being 1 out of 250 to be selected to tape in Toronto. Then they chose those that will not get airtime, just Web time, 2 minute pitch, and the ultimate desired time of a full 7 minute segment (picking only about 100 pitches) on the 2nd HIGHEST RATING watched show across Canada with over 2 million views!
If that isn’t accomplishment enough, I don’t know what is!
Face it people, it’s FUDGE. We went in there with our heads held high, proud of our product, and our town that has supported us throughout this journey.
We did not go there feeling that our FUDGE was a big investment, we know that for business people like the Dragon’s we are considered small fry in the ocean. BUT, we know we are the BEST FUDGE out there!
To be able to spend time with The Dragons for 1 hour and get their views on our product was worth the journey alone! 
Now to BEHIND the scenes!
Remember, they EDIT our 1-hour meeting with them down to 7 minutes, so they cut and paste to what makes a T.V worthy pitch, it is T.V.
If you have watched our pitch, your probably wondering why we left like kids in a candy store. Well now you will know why!
All the dragons loved the fudge. Joe really loved the Chocolate Coconut, Manjit loved the Rum and Coke, Michelle liked the Lemon Star Burst, Both Jim and Joe went NUTS over the Tiger, Michael devoured the Cinnamon and pretty much all the fudge on his tray, and Arlene thought the fudge was sweet.
Hello… it’s FUDGE, but Arlene did get reamed out by Manjit and the rest of the Dragons and they all said it’s not as sweet as other fudge out there.
The clip on our packaging was a LITTLE different from what was aired. Manjit did bring up how we package our fudge, because it is so different out there. It’s funny to see facial expressions used in clips (copy and paste is the best!)
I did say to Manjit that if she can think of a better packaging, please let me know. I love constructive criticism that makes a business only get better!
But, the rest of the Dragons loved the packaging and how we serve it with spoons (can never please everyone)
Both Michael and Joe said the we under evaluated ourselves, and that I am realistic in all my numbers. (Whew, I didn’t get the wrath of high numbers!)
Notice I haven’t mentioned JIM yet????
OK, now for the best part! 
Jim was quiet the ENTIRE time! He only asked us one question, which was aired on T.V. He was the last to say if he was out or not, like shown on air.
BUT… this is how it went!
Jim stated that he was “Racking my brain, trying to think how I can help you out” (exact words)
Now the reason why the next part was not aired is because he mentioned a company name twice while he was talking to us. And he even said to us that what he said won’t get aired because of that. Dragons cannot outright say company names on air.
BEST PART….
He said he knows the OWNER of a Canadian Airline Company, and Jim could DEFINITELY see our FUDGE used for either First Class Packs or on the menu on the planes!
WOW!!!! Our fudge going from land (Stores) …to sea ( HMCS Ottawa) to now Air (T.B.A)!
We received Jim’s assistants contact info, and it has all been coming into place!
NOW PRESENT!
We made contact with the help from 2 sources. (First, Jim and Thank you “B” you know who you are xo).
The Executive Vice President of the Airline stated our fudge would be a “good fit”.
We got help from an amazing writer (Dave xo) to help us write up a Proposal.
When it was done, we forwarded it to a couple channels to proofread, and then it was ready to send to the big people in Head Office.
TODAY!
It was sent, and we received feedback already! Quote “ I definitely see an OPPORTUNITY here for your product”
"WE THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD FIT!"
Now it is going through a panel for further discussion and then hopefully a meeting in Calgary! 
These things take time, but its worth all the waiting!
We will announce any further details as they come up. We are happy with the results… we GOT A DEAL!
We get to keep 100% of our company, AND got a contact for an Airline that could make this company fly! (Pun DEFINITELY intended!)
We will not stop here, it is just the beginning!

NOW THANK YOU’S
Lady Gaga may have her “Little Monsters”, but Fudge In A Round has our “Little Fudge Followers!” 
And there’s know one sweeter! (Pun REALLY intended!)
WOW…. Way too many to Thank!
Thank you to ALL our family and friends (you know who you are)
Thank you to the town of Sooke for ALL the support!
Thank you to the rest of the lower Island for ALL the support!
Thank you our Mainland friends for ALL the support

Thank you Sooke Legion Branch #54!
Thank you to ALL the stores that are caring our fudge!
Thank you Dragons, CBC studios, ALL the Executive Producers, Senior Executives…behind the scenes people (your fudge is on the way!)
If we forgot anyone, we are sorry, THANK YOU sincerely!
Now we have to go Fudge In A Round!
Kelly and Paul DeRocco

The harbour was a hub of activity this summer. Swift sure brought in some excitement with their world famous race. Canada Day 150 was the biggest event of the year, allowing lots of local acts to perform. The weather was amazing.

​ I parked on ship point to take this picture reflecting on the past and beginning to plan for next year.