With the holidays quickly approaching we know things are going to look a little bit different this year. Large holiday parties will be traded for cozy nights in with your bubble, and busy malls will be traded for shopping small and local. The one thing that won’t change is all that we have to be grateful for and celebrate here in the Fraser Valley.

We might not be able to have large holiday dinners, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share a sweet treat with our immediate family, or crack open a bottle of local wine with a roommate. We’ve put together your ultimate holiday inspiration guide, all of our favourite things that you can find in our communities, with online shopping, curbside pick up, and socially distanced in-person shopping options available. Cheers to that!

Coffee & Tea Lovers

Based in the Fraser Valley, BC Coffee Cub sources the finest BC-roasted coffee and small batch artisanal food products and sends them right to your door. Every box of this monthly subscription service features a different roaster and a different food maker from across the province. It’s a great way to support local businesses and sip your way across BC from the comfort of your own home.

At The Back Porch in Harrison owners Dan and Lynda invite you to visit their pottery & basketry studio, watch coffee being roasted in a circa 1919 flame roaster or head out to the barn to see the antiques and collectables. Pick up some bags of perfectly roasted Rustic Rooster coffee for the perfect cup of dark roast.

Karla’s Specialteas in Mission offers locally produced and sourced ingredients, with only the freshest natural and organic loose leaf teas on offer. Gourmet artisan blends are created with the expertise of a certified Tea Sommelier and Aromatherapist. Teawares and pottery are also available to complete your gift.

Also in Mission, Grab-A-Java roasts their beans on site and are organic certified, it is hard to get a fresher cup of coffee! Working with the Café Femenino coffee program, your bags-to-go adds the feel-good-factor of supporting the end of the poverty cycle afflicting women coffee farmers across the world.

Missing your coffee dates with coworkers or friends? Grab some gift cards for local coffee shops to enjoy a hot beverage on FaceTime or Zoom this season. 

Spirited Sips

Chilliwack’s only winery, Whispering Horse, is already a must for wine lovers. Located in Yarrow, they are releasing a brand new bubbly just in time for the holidays! Pick up a bottle of the 2016 Sparkling Seyval Blanc or grab their new ‘WILD’ wine line: L’Acadie Pet-Nat 2020 and L’Acadie Wild 2019. These wines are extremely limited in quantity so visit their website to purchase!

From the creators of Ripples Winery, New Wave Distilling is the perfect unique gift for any cocktail lover. Their craft spirits are created using organic blueberries and other local ingredients. Plus, the bottles look amazing on any bar cart. Visit their tasting room on Tolmie Road or order online!

Although we aren’t able to toast in person with everyone this year, this is a great time to pick up a bottle of local wine from one of our many wineries, a 6 pack from a local brewery, or a gift card for later, and gift it to someone special in your life. 

The Main Event

Abbotsford’s newest grocery shopping experience, Local Food Supply, is making it easy to support local and give back this holiday season. Purchase curated meal ingredient bundles, pre-made dinners, or a la carte items for pick up or delivery. You can even order your full holiday turkey dinner with all the ingredients locally sourced! While you’re ordering check out their Dare to Give Local campaign in partnership with Archway Community Services for a way to give back.

Langley’s Well Seasoned is a real foodie’s paradise that carries the finest in gourmet foods with a specialty in hard to find ingredients, spices, sauces, condiments and cookware. You can also pick up “Gourmet-To-Go” meals from their freezers or order “Gourmet To Go Dinner” online weekly for pickup in time for the weekend.

Every turkey dinner needs cranberries! Located in the heart of Fort Langley, Cranberries Naturally provides customers with a selection of handmade cranberry goods. Shop in-store or online for free in-store pickup or flat rate shipping.

Give the gift of local dining this season: a gift card for dinner together at a safer time, or grab a few gift cards to one of your favourite local spots or a new place to try for a last minute gift to have on hand. Know someone who’s extra busy this time of year? Pick up some take out for them from a local restaurant and drop it off on their porch. 

Sweet Treats

Chilliwack’s River Valley Honey is a First Nations owned business that specializes in honey and beeswax products. Operating since 1979, you will find great Christmas gifts in their shop including holiday trios and honey gift packs. Great gift ideas for those looking to stay healthy this season!

The Harvest Cafe has introduced their holiday drinks and donuts and we can’t get enough! Stop in for a drink and treat while shopping in Downtown Chilliwack or pick up their famous holiday cookie assortment box to take home to share! We won’t tell if they don’t all make it home…

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Harrison is the perfect place for sweet treats and stocking stuffers. Many items are handcrafted on site and make the perfect gift for your boss, neighbour, teacher, or just because! Kids love the Rudolph the Red Nosed Candy Apple!

The Artisan’s Attic & Fudgery is a unique gift shop located in Hope featuring high quality handcrafted items from artisans in BC and Canada. To add to the great gift ideas they also make their own delicious fudge and sell Salt Spring Island gelato!

Like you, we’re passionate about exploring BC. But now is the time for us to stay local and support local businesses with just your immediate household or bubble. Let’s each do our part now, so we can explore BC again, soon. We’re all in this together.