what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | December 18, 2008
Sunday is the longest night of the year, and you can celebrate it with the Winter Lantern Solstice Festival. Plus you’ll find a few more renditions of the Nutcracker, lots of pantomimes and bright lights and music, and we’re thrilled to be able to mix things up a little with some Chanukah events as well. Many of these activities go beyond the weekend, and for ongoing events, like Santa’s appearance at the Aquarium, visit our first weekend guide of December.
Peak of Christmas
ongoing to December 24th, different times, Grouse Mountain
With Santa’s Workshop open daily, outdoor ice skating, mountaintop sleigh rides, a parade of trees, scavenger hunts and breakfast with Santa, you could easily while the day away very festively at Grouse. In fact there’s so much to do you may have to go twice: www.grousemountain.com
Holiday Turkey Tasting
Thursday, December 18th, 3 pm – 6 pm, Capers Market, 1675 Robson Street, Vancouver
Taste test Capers’ holiday dinner fixings, all for a $1 donation that benefits the YWCA’s Crabtree Corner: www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Panto of the Rings
Friday, December 19th, 7 pm & December 20th & 21st, 2 pm & 7 pm and December 26th, 7 pm & December 27th & 28th, 2 pm & 7 pm, Presentation House Gallery, 333 Chesterfield Ave, North Vancouver
This musical panto for all ages packs all three of the Lord of the Rings books into one two hour extravaganza that includes heaps of audience participation: www.phtheatre.org
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 20th, 9:30 am – 11:30 am, Killarney Community Centre, 6260 Killarney Street, Vancouver
Join the big guy for a pancake breakfast, holiday crafts, face painting, games and a bouncy castle. Be sure to pre register to hold your spot: vancouver.ca/parks/cc/Killarney
Twelve Days of Christmas
Saturday, December 20th, 2008 – Sunday, January 4th, 2009, 10 am – 5 pm, Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Avenue, Vancouver
Come in from the cold and enjoy the Maritime Museum’s annual Twelve Days of Christmas family activities each day from 1 pm to 4 pm including boatbuilding, crafts, storytelling, and gallery tours. The Museum will be closed on December 24th, 25th & January 1st: www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com
Nutcracker 3D
Saturday, December 20th, 10 am, IMAX @ Canada Place, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Featuring a wonderful enchanted kingdom of spun sugar ruled by a wooden soldier prince, it all comes alive in 3D. And the show is specially priced at $5, with all proceeds going to charity: www.canadaplace.ca
A Completely Bonkers Christmas
Saturday, December 20th, 1 pm, Babyeats, 143 – 1233 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
The wacky guys from Bonkers will be rocking babyeats this Saturday with their great Christmas celebration. The show is free for babyeats members and $10/person for non-members and space it limited so be sure to get there early: www.babyeats.ca
A Magic Show!
Saturday, December 20th, 2 pm, Vancouver Public Library, South Hill Branch, 6076 Fraser Street
The fabulous, and magical, Juan Garcia will be entertaining tots at the South Hill Branch of the VPL: www.vpl.ca
A Christmas Reprise
Sunday, December 21st, 2 pm, St. James Anglican Church, 303 East Cordova Street, Vancouver
This annual concert from the Vancouver Cantata Singers is a much-anticipated holiday tradition that includes Christmas carols, both traditional and contemporary and it’s regular closing – Franz Biebls beautiful Ave Maria: www.vancouvercantatasingers.com
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
Sunday, December 21st, 6 pm – 10 pm, various locations around Vancouver
Whether you’re near the West End, Yaletown, Granville Island, Strathcona/China Town or Eastside/Commercial Drive you can help illuminate the longest night of the year with lanterns, fire, singing, drumming, music, dancing and skating. Check out each neighbourhood’s site for details on local lantern-making festivals, processions, labyrinths of lights and more. Oh, and bundle up, it’s going to be chilly: www.secretlantern.org
Chanukah on Ice in the West End
Monday, December 22nd, 6 pm – 7:30 pm, West End Ice Rink, 1750 Haro Street,
Vancouver
The Vancouver Downtown Jewish Community and Chabad of Downtown are holding a Candle Lighting on the one-of-a-kind metre high Ice Hockey Menorah, plus there’ll be Chanukah music, latkes and doughnuts. Check out their Facebook Group for more details too: www.jfgv.com
Farther Afield:
CPR Holiday Train
Friday, December 19th, 7:45 pm, Maple Ridge and 8 pm, Port Moody
CPR’s Holiday Train is making its last two stops of 2008 in Maple Ridge across from Billy Minor Pub and then Port Moody on Queen Street at Clark Avenue. Entertainers on the train include Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame member Tracey Brown and Canadian Country Music Awards winner Johnny Reid. The train doesn’t arrive in Port Moody ‘til 9:15 pm but the displays, entertainment, hot apple cider, hot chocolate, crafts and more start at the plaza at 8 pm. Look for Mr. Claus too: www8.cpr.ca
Holiday Tea on the Venosta
Saturday & Sunday, December 20th – 21st, 11 am – 3 pm, 2734 Murray St, Port Moody
Settle into their vintage 1921 refurbished railcar for tea, treat and Nigel Tucker’s holiday music: vcn.bc.ca
Mother Goose
Wednesday, December 17th – Sunday, December 28th, various times, Surrey Arts Centre, Main Stage, 13750 – 88 Avenue, Surrey
The Royal Canadian Theatre Company’s annual panto includes magic, music, merriment and mayhem, as well as corny jokes and panto traditions like the Dame. Don’t forget, as an audience member you’re required to boo the bad guys and cheer the good guys: www.rctheatreco.com
Victorian Reading of “A Christmas Carol”
Friday, December 19th, 6:30 pm, The Fort Langley Community Hall, 9167 Glover Road, Fort Langley
Enjoy actor Al LePage and Fort Langley National Historic Site interpreter Nette Plant’s reading from the script Charles Dickens used for public readings. Not only will they be in period costume but there’ll be music, singing and a few other surprises in store: www.fortlangley.com
Skate with Santa
Saturday, December 20th, 12:45 pm – 3:15 pm, Bill Copeland Sports Centre, 3676 Kensington Avenue, Burnaby
Strap on your skates and take a turn around the rink with Santa. Regular admission and rental rates apply: www.city.burnaby.bc.ca
Winter Wonderland
Saturday, December 20th – Tuesday, December 23rd, 2 pm – 9:30 pm, Pitt Meadows Arena, Red Rink, 11435 Bonson Road, Pitt Meadows
The rink will be decorated with holiday cheer and festive lights, plus there’ll be toys, sleds, cars and snow for the little ones to play with. But you’ve gotta wear skates to go on the ice, although you can skate and push a stroller or buggy. Now that’s something we’d like to see: pittmeadowsarena.com
Celebrate the Season
Tuesday, December 23rd, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, : Inlet Theatre, 100 Newport Drive, Port Moody
Celebrate the season with Christmas stories and song followed by refreshments and a surprise visitor – we have an inkling of what that might be. They’re also asking for donations of non-perishable food items or new or gently used books for the SHARE food bank. And if you want to make the holiday greener do bring your own mug: library.portmoody.ca
Chanukah on Ice
Tuesday, December 23rd, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Richmond Oval, River Road & Hollybridge, Richmond
This family Chanukah skating party will include lively Chanukah Music, Menorah lighting, arts and crafts, hot latkes and warm drinks: www.chabadrichmond.com
The Nutcracker
Friday December 19th, 7:30 pm & Saturday, December 20th, 2 pm & 7:30 pm, Clarke Foundation Theatre, 33700 Prentis Avenue, Mission
This version of the classic Christmas ballet is choreographed by John C. Carney and stars Anton Lykhanov and Olena Zakharova of the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada: www.heritageparkcentre.com
Looking for sales and other great deals? Be sure to visit our Facebook Group.
And we wanted to remind you to always call or visit the website for event info before you head out just in case any changes have been made since we posted it. And of course, have fun!
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