Blackberry Festival

Galiano Island is home to several "prickly" crops. The sweetest of these - the blackberry - grows at least two varieties. The regular Bramble type is found on main roads and on trails as is the Himalayan variety. The Himalayan variety has larger, later developing berries that are also more protected by thorns.
The Galiano Club has held a Blackberry Festival for many years. Volunteers spend the week up to the festival, held on the Saturday of the Thanksgiving weekend, making pastry for pies and the pies themselves. At the Festival one may purchase these whole pies which are fresh or frozen. Homemade soups and bread are served along with pie, ice cream, tea or coffee.