The Stratford Victorian Christmas Trail features 16 local stops for holiday shopping. (Handout)

Happy trails to you in Stratford.

The city of trails, treks and savoury tastes adds the Victorian Christmas Trail in advance of the "holiday season."

There's also the year-round tasty Chocolate Trail, the Epicurean Trek and the Savour Stratford Taste Workshop series to round out the visitor experience to the "Festival City."

Add to that the Heritage Homes Tour and then the Small Miracle that's indicative of "always lots going on in Stratford," said Cathy Rehberg of the Stratford Tourism Alliance.

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Victorian Christmas Trail

Billed as the alliance's "special holiday offer" for fun shopping, the Victorian Christmas Trail features 16 local stops.

"They each offer a distinctive present for shoppers who purchase the Trail Package and visit their store," Rehberg said.

Modelled after "wildly successful" Chocolate Trail launched earlier this year, the Christmas one includes eight tickets to be redeemed at shops "for a unique holiday gift" or a personal find to keep.

The 16 shops en route are decorated for the season and are well stocked with gifts.

Taking part are Alexandra Spa, Anything Grows, the Barkery, Bradshaws, Chocolate Barr's Candies, Cozyn's Garden Gallery, Distinctly Tea, H.H. Delea & Co. and Jenn & Larry's Brittle and Shakes.

There's also Kitchen Connaisseur, P'lovers, Smallmart, Tea Leaves Tea Tasting Bar, Touchmark Shop, Treasures, and Turnbull & Stewart all along the trail.

Passes are available until Dec. 21 and are valid for three days from the date of purchase. They cost $20 and have a value of more than $40 in gifts from the trail shops.

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Ahh, sweet - the Chocolate Trail

Here's a sweet treat from chocolate mocha sauce and gelato chocolato to a pot of chocolate mint tea.

Stratford's Chocolate Trail has become so yummy and successful it's said that many visitors claim they come for the chocolate and stay for the festival plays.

Chocoholics can satisfy their sweet tooth making the stops along this trail

As the home to three renowned chocolate shops along with restaurants and shops offering a wide range of cacao-based products, chocolate is the one exception to the rule here in championing local foods.

The $20 pass includes tickets entitling the bearer to choose eight of 16 stops on a self-guided tour.

Each ticket is good for a "tasting" of a chocolate delight and the chance to speak to the chocolate makers, learn about the products and visit Stratford's restaurants and retail locations.

"It's a great stocking stuffer for chocolate lovers on your list as the gift certificate can be purchased and the recipient can redeem it when they are ready for their chocolate indulgences," Rehberg said.

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Savouring more of Stratford's culinary delights

There's more . . . the Epicurean Trek offers a self-guided tour to various food shops where tastes and treats range from cheese to oils, tea to preserves and chocolate.

The Savour Stratford Taste Workshop Series offers four different experiences this month and next starting today (Nov. 20) with Tea and Chocolate at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Tea Leaves with tea sommelier Karen Hartwick and Rheo Thompson Candies.

Cheese and Beer is Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. at the Milky Whey Fine Cheese Shop with Liz Payne and Creemore Springs Brewery where three beers are offered.

Wine and Chocolate are paired on Dec. 4 at Foster's Inn at 3 p.m. with Chateau des Charmes vintages and Rheo Thompson Candies, which is sold-out.

Scotch and Chocolate wrap things up on Dec. 18 at Foster's Inn at 3 p.m. with Esther Brown, a local Scotch enthusiast and Kristene Steed of Rheo Thompson Candies.

The workshops are $30 plus tax.

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For the season

- Stratford's Heritage Homes Tour takes place Dec. 11 and 12 with visits to five bed-and-breakfast homes, all decorated for the holidays.

- A Small Miracle, "a unique interactive outdoor play," takes place on Dec. 15 to 19 at Stratford's Market Square.

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If you go:

- To learn more about the Stratford Victorian Christmas Trail and what each shop has to offer, go to www.welcometostratford.com/ChristmasTrail or call 1-800-561-7926.

- Details on the Chocolate Trail are at www.welcometostratford.com/chocolatetrail

- The Epicurean Trek and Savour Stratford events are at www.savourstratford.com

- Seasonal events in Stratford including the homes tour and A Small Miracle are at www.welcometostratford.com/Christmas; 1-800-561-7926.

Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com