Pete's Dairy Bar

10/05/2026

Hello!

It's been a few days since we closed for the season. We've been busy cleaning, winterizing the shop and taking a moment to catch our collective breaths. What better time, we figured, to take a look back at our 42nd Season.

You might want to settle in...it's a long one.

Changes - We recognized there was (and still is) a problem with rising prices. Pete's decided, unlike most other businesses, that instead of raising prices we'd LOWER the prices on our Child/Small/Large ice cream cones this year. It may not not have been an earth-shattering change but we wanted to do something to make ice cream less of a luxury.

We also lowered the price on drinks (pop, water, Sunny D), introduced the Jr Flurry and had other $1.00 menu items to have more budget-friendly offerings.

Also, regular patrons know that at the end of LAST season (2025) the old soft ice cream machine decided it was time to retire...in the final hours of the last day. What you might not know is that machine was originally used at the Teepee (in Oak Bay) until we bought it, in 1987. That tells you how old the poor thing was. Replacing it was definitely a BIG change.

Scoopers - The staff, this year, was either all-new to the scooping game or returning* after stepping away for a few years. The year got off to a rocky start, to be honest. The learning curve was steep and issues with the new soft ice cream machine and cash register made things...interesting.

However, everyone came through AMAZINGLY! We got over the hurdles and settled in to make sure everyone got great service and had a good Pete's experience.

To our staff, you've all done very well! We're so proud of you and thank you for your hard work & perseverance this year.

Traditions - We were happy, as we always are, to welcome the Kindergarten Classes of St George Elementary School for their annual visit to the shop. 41 children came by (the biggest group since 2009!) for an ice cream.

If you're unaware, Carol Harris & Pete dreamt up this trip back in 1992 and we have been making it happen (with the help of the school, teachers, TAs & chaperones) ever since. We've had 2 generations of Pete's Kids come by which is wild to think about!

It's our favourite day of the year. We love seeing all the young people come and we're happy to be able to honour Pete & Carol by continuing their tradition.

We also invited the Grad Class of 2026 (Pete's Kids 2014) back, for an ice cream and special giveaways. This was Pete's idea, to have the kindergarten classes come back, as they graduate to sort of bookend their K-12 education.

Groups - We welcomed Community Living, in late August, for an "Ice Cream Social" which is a newer tradition. They came, they had an ice cream and had lots of smiles. It's a special day we look forward to when we welcome an overwhelmingly nice group.

We also welcomed motorcycle groups, other schools, car enthusiasts on rallies/drives, paraders/marchers, tour groups, the entirety of SGES (over a couple of days) and so many other collections of cool cats.

It's great fun seeing a bus pull up or a convoy of cars, or bikes, and having a big bunch of folks come in and get to have a collective Pete's experience.

Winners - We added Grad Giveaway winner Sabrina Vance & Customer Loyalty winner Kim Sarchfield to our long list of winners... Congratulations ladies!

What a year it has been. Despite the road bumps it was a terrific season and that's because of you. This past season was among our busiest so thank you.

Thank you for coming out. Thank you for being patient when things got CRAZY busy or the machinery wasn't behaving. Thank you for coming to the shop for your first visit. Thank you for coming back year after year and making us a family tradition. Thank you for supporting a small, local business for 42 years. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives.

It's easy to be cynical of "corporate sincerity" which is usually a load of pandering codswallop. However... we, truly, are sincere when we say that we're extremely grateful to every person who reads our posts or comes through the doors. Your patronage is why we're able to stay open and keep opening every year.

We mean it when we say that without YOU there is no US.

Be well, take care and we'll see you in '27
- Mary & Team Pete's

09/26/2026

Ladies and gentlemen...that's a wrap on Season 42. We'll have more later.

Thanks for an outstanding year

- Team Pete's

09/26/2026

09/26/2026

This is it. Today, Saturday Sept 26, is our very LAST DAY of our 42nd Season.

The doors will open at 1PM and that will begin the countdown for the last few hours we'll be open this year.

Today *is* going to be your last opportunity for our amazing soft ice cream. If you want one more cone (or cup, or bowl) of our soft coffee ice cream that you all love so much you'll need to come in today or wait until '27.

If it's a flurry you favour, this will be it. Milkshake to make you go Mmm? The Best Banana Split anywhere? A satisfying Sundae? Or even a cool Cone (or cup)? You're down to the final hours.

Once the ice cream is gone, so are we. If we sell out of ice cream before 8PM then we are closed early and you will have missed out!

We hope to see more of our friends & customers one last time this year. Come on down for the last Pete's of 2026!

09/25/2026

Could this be it? Is today going to be the final day of 2026, our 42nd Season?

The weather is certainly cooperating and if it's busy, once we open at 3 then the answer is... yes, it very well might be.

If not today, then tomorrow (Sept 26th) is very likely going to be it.

We are literally going into the final hours. We've got plenty of soft ice cream mix but...

If you've been putting off one last soft coffee ice cream. Or sundae. Split. Flurry. If you've been thinking "Well, I'll drop in on Saturday for one last treat before they close." you might find yourself VERY disappointed.

Come in, today. Don't wait. Don't delay.

We open at 3PM until, maybe for the last time this year, 8PM.

09/24/2026

The weather has been nicer than we've expected and that has thrown a wrench into our last day predictions.

That means there is a very real possibility we MAY close earlier. We CAN NOT guarantee we'll be open on Sunday, September 27th. Or Saturday the 26th.

We have plenty of soft ice cream mix left but it'll go fast!

If you want one more sundae, milkshake, flurry, soft coffee ice cream or something else... we ARE into crunch time. You REALLY do not wait to wait until it's too late.

Our last day is coming quicker than you, or we, think!

09/23/2026

Good afternoon!

Once we open at 3PM, we are officially into the final 4 or 5 days of our 42nd Season.

Slushies are $2 each (tax included) while they last. Blue Raspberry & Watermelon are the flavours on tap and once they're gone... that's it!

Also, we will probably* be closing either Saturday or Sunday (the 26th or 27th) for the year. It will depend entirely on the weather and how many of you lovely people come out over the next few days. And, fwiw, we might close through the day and not even make it to 8PM!

If you want one last Milkshake. That final Flurry. A parting Banana Split we'd suggest you not put it off much longer. The last day will be here, and gone, before you know it!

*There is a slim chance Friday will be the last day. Like, maybe a 3% (or less) chance.

09/22/2026

How about one last Pete's Eye-View Video for the year?

This is what it looks like if you were a Soft Ice Cream Swirl Waffle Cone. We slowed it down, in the second part. A quick little video for your Tuesday. :)

No audio, btw. This is a silent film. Those new-fangled "Talkies" will never catch on. 🎥 😅

Reminder... Pete's opens tomorrow (Wed Sept 23) at 3PM as we head into the final 4 or 5 days of Season 42.

Not much time left for one last cone, sundae, milkshake... we'll be closed before you know it. Please. Do not wait until it's too late!

09/21/2026

Well folks, you know when the signs go in the windows that we're getting down the last few days.

This weekend (September 26th/27th) WILL BE our last hurrah of 2026... our 42nd Season

That's Saturday or Sunday BUT it's possible we'll sell through our remaining ice cream Friday the 25th. We'd give that... maybe a 5% chance right now.

We're closed, today and tomorrow, but once we open at 3PM on Wednesday we're into the last 4 or 5 days.

We keep saying it but... you DO NOT want to wait until it's too late

09/20/2026

From now until they're gone... Slushies are reduced to $2.00 (tax included)

Come on in and have your choice of Blue Raspberry or ever-popular Watermelon before they're going...going...GONE!!

Open until 8pm tonight then we'll see you Wednesday! :)