Beer and meat pies for Australia Day Thursday, Jan. 26; oriental dancers for the Chinese New Year Friday, Jan. 27 to Sunday, Jan. 29; But what exactly do you do for Robbie Burns Day?
The Scottish holiday Wednesday, Jan. 25, honours Scotland’s national poet with haggis feasts, but no local businesses seem keen to cook the sheep’s-udder pudding. However, Whistler is always quick to embrace another excuse to drink, so toast a wee dram to the Scotsman in the spirit of his own words: "Here’s a bottle and an honest friend! What wad ye wish for mair, man?"
From Scotland to Down Under, Victoria Bitter will start pouring as early as 9 a.m. at Whistler’s biggest Aussie celebration, Jan. 26 at the Longhorn Saloon. Last year’s tented patio and inside bar was a blur of yellow and green with kangaroos and beavers alike chugging jugs of Australian beer and tearing the house down day and night. The Longhorn menu is wiped clean with meat pies for all, all day long.
Stagger from the Longhorn to Moe Joe’s for Aussie celebrations after dark with punked AC/DC cover tunes from Nelson’s BC/DC band. Tickets are $12 at Evolution or $15 at the door. Doors 7 p.m.
Tommy’s features the Miss Australia contest with a $400 award.
And if you see a giant dragon weaving down the mountain the following day, it isn’t a lingering illusion from the night before: Tourism Whistler officially ushers in the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog, for the first time with a giant dragon swooshing down the mountains and dancing through Whistler Village, along with martial arts displays, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations and musicians playing traditional instruments.
Celebrations begin Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Garibaldi Lift Company (GLC) and continue throughout the village until 4 p.m. all weekend long. Showtimes will be available later in the week at www.tourismwhistler.com.
