Photo from @monixp on Instagram provided by VanDusen’s Festival of Lights page
By Loose Lips Mag
@looselipsmag
The holiday season is finally here! Stroll the cold streets of Metro Vancouver for all the festive and jolly events you could ever wish for. Here’s what’s happening this December.
Vancouver Christmas Market: “A beloved holiday tradition for locals and visitors alike, the Vancouver Christmas Market returns to its expansive seaside home at Jack Poole Plaza (home of the Olympic Cauldron). The city’s signature yuletide celebration amplifies and expands its festive offerings with more than 80 huts stuffed with sweets, treats and treasures.”
Date: November 21- December 24
Time: 11:30 AM- 9:30 PM; 6:00 PM close on December 24
Location: Jack Poole Plaza aka Olympic Cauldron. See here for their event page.
Aurora Winter Festival: “The Aurora Winter Festival inspires the festive spirit through magical winter experiences. Escape into a hidden village by the North Pole filled with captivating Christmas light displays and magical characters. Enjoy the market huts, food gardens, amusement rides, live entertainment, and plenty of other exciting activities. From visiting Santa’s Workshop to lacing up your skates on the Frozen River, there is something for every age at the Aurora Winter Festival.”
Date: November 23- December 30
Time: 4:00 PM- 10:00 PM
Location: Downtown Vancouver’s Concord Pacific Place at 811 Carrall Street. Find out more here.
Sea of Lights: Immerse yourself in the Vancouver Aquarium’s holiday interactive experience! With lights, bubbles, movements, and sounds this is a mesmerizing display. Come out and explore the sensations of the underwater world in this “underwater” dive.
Date: November 23- January 6
Time: During opening hours
Location: The Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Stanley Park, Vancouver. Buy tickets here.
A Charlie Brown Holiday Double Bill: Good Grief, it’s twice the fun! The holiday sell-out, A Charlie Brown Christmas, is back and playing in a special double bill feature with You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Experience the ups and downs of everyday life with Charlie Brown and his friends in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Then join Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas as he tries to direct his friends in the school Christmas pageant.
Date: November 24- December 30
Time: Varies based on date
Location: The Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright Street on Granville Island, Vancouver. Buy tickets here.
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum: “Stroll through the streets of the Village to see wreaths, cedar swags and vintage-themed displays will. At the bandstand, visitors can create their own magical holiday show with lights that change colours to sound.”
Date: November 24- January 4
Time: Varies based on date
Location: Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby. Find out more on their website.
Edge of the Knife: “Shot on stunning Haida Gwaii and scripted in two Haida dialects, Gwaai Edenshaw and Helen Haig-Brown’s 19th-century epic is both a landmark work of cinema and a nod to the grand storytelling traditions that lure us to the big screen. Guilt-ridden after a tragic accident, Adiits’ii (Tyler York) retreats into the wilderness where he’s plagued by spirits and transformed into Gaagiixid, the Haida Wildman. As his loved ones set out to capture and cure him, a riveting tale of survival and forgiveness unfolds.”
Date: November 25- December 3
Time: Times vary based on date
Location: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver. Find out more details here.
Curious Imaginings: As part of the 2018-2020 Vancouver Biennale, Curious Imaginings is expected to become one of North America’s most talked-about art events of the year! The hyperrealist “world of oddly captivating, somewhat grotesque, human-animal hybrid creatures” is the artist’s first exhibition in a non-museum setting, transforming a wing of the 105-year-old Patricia Hotel. Read Loose Lips article on the exhibit here!
Date: Until December 15
Time: 11:00 AM- 7:00 PM
Location: Patricia Hotel, 403 East Hastings Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Friends of the VPL Winter Used Book Sale: Vancouver Public Library is selling the best finds and gifts for every book lover this winter! With books from just 50 cents to $2.00, this event is not to be missed.
Date: November 29- December 1
Time: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Location: 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver. Click here for more.
Shop for a Cause: Join in for amazing deals on gently used, designer, new and vintage clothing shoes and accessories! You don’t want to miss out on this great weekend of shopping to raise funds to empower women in our community.
Date: November 30- December 2
Time: 10:00 AM- 6:00 PM
Location: 685 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. Find out more on their event page.
Kitsilano Winter Market: This one-day event focuses on local and sustainable crafts and good. Get a head start on your Christmas shopping and have some festive fun!
Date: December 1
Time: 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Location: Kits House, 2305 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver. Find the event page here.
Britannia Shipyards Heritage Christmas Craft Fair: Come out for Britannia’s second annual Heritage Christmas Craft Fair in the beautiful historic buildings of Steveston. Over 50 local artisans will be gathering to showcase and sell their products!
Date: December 1
Time: 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM
Location: Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, 5180 Westwater Drive, Richmond. See here for more.
Etsy Vancouver Market: Shop handmade goods, discover local talents, and explore a range of lifestyle offerings. In addition, Wesbrook Village is teaming up for a massive winter festival!
Date: December 1-2
Time: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Location: Wesbrook Community Centre, 3335 Webber Lane, Vancouver. Check it out here.
VanDusen Festival of Lights: Experience a magical winter wonderland with over one million lights in VanDusen’s beautiful 15 acres. Stroll around with friends and family, ride on the carousel, watch the famous dancing lights, take a photo with santa, and much more!
Date: December 1- January 6
Time: 4:30 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver. Find out more on their event page.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: “’Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme.’ Can Belle teach the Beast to love, before it is too late? Discover the magic behind the castle walls in this brilliant adaptation of the Academy Award–winning animated film. This beloved fairy-tale spectacle will thrill you with its show-stopping musical numbers, stunning sets, and lavish costumes.”
Date: December 1- January 6
Time: Showtimes based on date
Location: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Granville @ 12th, 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Vancouver Gem and Mineral Show: Western Canada’s largest gem show is back, featuring 100+ of the best gem, mineral and jewellery vendors from across Canada. Find unique gems, fine crystals, fossils, and more!
Date: December 7-9
Time: Times based on individual date. Find info on their event page.
Location: PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver.
Ballet BC Presents Royal Winnipeg Ballet Nutcracker: In this special addition of a holiday classic, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet creates a memorably unique performance. Follow Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and Sugar Plum Fairy in this imaginative ballet.
Date: December 7-9
Time: Times vary based on the date
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Christmas at Canada Place: “Capture the spirit of the season with Christmas at Canada Place presented by the Port of Vancouver. Experience the nostalgic tradition of the Woodward’s Windows, Canada’s North light display, the Sails of Light, and the festive Avenue of Trees.”
Date: December 7- January 3
Time: 8:00 AM- 11:00 PM *December 31 will close at 6:00 PM
Location: Canadian Trail (West Promenade) and North Point, Canada Place, Vancouver. Find out more on their Facebook page.
Got Craft? Holiday Edition: Come out for Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair with 80 local artists, makers, and small shops! There will be a full range of goods including clothing, baby and kid items, jewelry, artisanal food, paper goods, fibre arts, ceramics, and more. In addition, there will be food trucks and tasty treats for all!
Date: December 8-9
Time: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Location: Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver. Find out more details on their website.
2018 Weirdos Holiday Market: “The Weirdos Holiday Market unites Vancouver’s most outlandish local artists and vendors to showcase an eclectic array of all things unusual, unique, and out of this world. We aim to celebrate Vancouver’s weirdos, the love of collecting, the skill of up-cycling and the thrill of finding the perfect gift!”
Date: December 8-9
Time: 11:00 AM- 6:00 PM
Location: THE HALL, 1739 Venables Street, Vancouver. See more here.
Whooville Tree Workshop: Join in for a whimsical workshop where you can create your own Grinch tree! Use for your own home or gift it to a friend.
Date: December 12
Time: 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: Juice Truck, 28 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver. See details on their Facebook.
Fridays on Front- Holiday Edition: Come out for this family friendly event featuring some of the best food trucks, beer, and holiday drinks. Find festive activities, an artisan market, local live music, and more. Check it out here.
Date: December 14
Time: 4:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: Under the Downtown New West Parkade on Front Street, access via 6th Street
Mixed Nuts: “Families and kids of all ages can enjoy AUDC’s modern and engaging retelling of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”. Mixed Nuts is more than just a ballet with a variety of dance styles from hip-hop, to ballroom, to the classic grand pas-de-deux.”
Date: December 14-16
Time: December 14, 7:00 PM; December 15, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; December 16, 2:00 PM
Location: Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Fatale Fridays- All Ladyish Stand-Up Comedy: “Vancouver’s ONLY weekly all-female-identifying stand-up comedy showcase! On the first, second and third Friday of every month at The Comedy Basement at Goldies, we feature the most hilarious femme and non-binary acts in the city. Grab some friends and come on down for some great drinks and huge laughs!”
Date: December 14 and 21
Time: 7:00 PM- 8:45 PM
Location: Goldies Plaza, 605 West Pender, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Holiday Heights at Bloedel: Experience a winter wonderland at Bloedel Conservatory this season! With over 150 free flying tropical birds, magical lights, holiday plant displays, festive music, photo ops, a scavenger hunt, and much more, this is not an event to be missed.
Date: December 14- January 6
Time: 10:00 AM- 9:00 PM
Location: Bloedel Conservatory, 4600 Cambie Street, Vancouver. Check this out for more.
English Bay Beach Cleanup and Christmas Social: Join Surfrider for the last beach cleanup of 2018! Head to English Bay and do your part to preserve and protect this iconic Vancouver spot. Remember to wear your best ugly Christmas sweater for a potential prize!
Date: December 15
Time: 11:00 AM- 1:00 PM
Location: English Bay, Vancouver. See here for more.
Story Party Vancouver- True Dating Stories: “At Story Party you will hear true dating stories that will make you feel better because it could be worse. Story Party has toured over 50 countries because the dating struggle is real, worldwide. You’ll hear stories about ghosting, unwanted pictures, splitting the bill, cat-fishing, heart-break, and “I can’t believe these are true stories” from our professional storytellers.”
Date: December 16
Time: 7:00 PM- 10:00 PM
Location: Rickshaw Theatre, 254 East Hastings, Vancouver. Check it out on Facebook.
A Fort Langley Christmas: Take a trip to Fort Langley for a day of magical Christmas delights. Hear stories by the fire, taste a chestnut roasted over the fire, and take a guided tour. Full of charming holiday ambiance, this is a go-to Christmas day-trip!
Date: December 21-23 and 27-30
Time: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Location: Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, 23433 Mavis Avenue, Fort Langley. See their website for more.
Cirque Musica Wonderland: This winter, Cirque Musica Holiday presents Wonderland- an all-new concert experience featuring your favourite holiday songs performed by the cast of Cirque Musica and a live symphony orchestra.
Date: December 22
Time: 8:00 PM- 11:00 PM
Location: The Orpheum, 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver. See more here.
Christmas Day Run: Join in for a run this Christmas Day in beautiful Stanley Park! 5K and 10K options available.
Date: December 25
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Morton Park, English Bay, Vancouver. Find out more here.
NYE Skytrain Party: The third annual NYE skytrain party is back, and it’s off the rails. Join in on a fun commute, no matter where you need to go!
Date: December 31
Time: 7:30 PM- 9:30 PM
Location: Waterfront Canada Line Skytrain Station, Vancouver. Find out more details on their Facebook page.
New Year’s Eve Glitz and Glamour Gala: Melo Productions presents a New Year’s dinner and dance party. Come celebrate the new year with delicious food and fabulous party!
Date: December 31
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, 6083 McKay Avenue, Burnaby. Find tickets here.
Kristi and Brittany are the co-founders and co-editors of Loose Lips Mag. Together with intern Tayvie, they’re building their feminist media empire—leaving the patriarchy, charcuterie boards and empty bottles of wine in their wake. Loose Lips Media is grateful to operate on the unceded Coast Salish territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
