vancouver: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | December 9, 2010
This list is a little lighter than usual because of all the ongoing holiday happenings (we’ve added even more) including the launch of this year’s Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden which starts this Friday. We’ve been hitting as many ongoing events as possible and adding our reviews to the listing so be sure to check it out. We’ve also added a few more craft fairs to that crafty list.
Sponsored Event:
Kinder Cafe Grand Opening Celebration
Saturday, December 11, 10 am – 6 pm, #112 – 2020 Oxford Connector, Port Coquitlam
Check out the Grand Opening Celebration of Kinder Café, a new indoor playground and café for the under six set. Let your little ones play the day away while you enjoy a signature latte, a snack or a treat or two. Everyone will get a free cupcake and balloon with admission, celebrated children’s performer Will Stroet will be hitting the stage at 10:30 am and Joyelle Brandt will be performing at 1:30pm. Please note: regular admission rates will apply: www.kindercafe.ca
VSO Tiny Tots: Holiday Hooray!
Friday, December 10th, 10 am, 11:30 am & 1:30 pm, Saturday, December11th, 10 am & 11 am, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre & Terry Fox Theatre (southeast corner of Hamilton and Dunsmuir Streets), Vancouver
Linda and Lisa of “Let Your Music Shine” will be featuring Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and a sing-a-long with frosty faves played by a brass trio: www.vancouversymphony.ca
Terra Madre Day
Friday, December 10th, 6:30 pm, Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street (at Grandview Highway between Renfrew and Nanaimo), Vancouver
Yum! Slow Food Vancouver will be celebrating local food and the people who produce it at this event where you can meet the people who grow your veggies, enjoy samples, learn about this year’s international Terra Madre conference held in Torino, Italy from some local delegates and more: www.slowfoodvancouver.com
Christmas Bureau Toy Drive
Saturday, December 11th, 10 am – 4 pm, Northshore Auto Mall at Cam Clark Ford Lincoln, 833 Automall Drive, North Vancouver
This is your chance to be Santa for a day. Bring a donation of unwrapped toys to this first annual event and enjoy hot chocolate and treats: www.northshoreautomall.com
North Shore Chorus at Maplewood Farm!
Saturday, December 11th, 11 am, Maplewood Farm, 405 Seymour River Place, North Vancouver
The North Shore Chorus will be singing at the Farm and you can drop in for a hearty dose of Christmas spirit: www.maplewoodfarm.bc.ca
Fit 4 Two® Vancouver Westside First Annual Partner Bootcamp – A Fundraiser For The Vancouver Food Bank
Saturday December 11th, 3 pm – 4 pm, Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch Street, Vancouver
Dads, friends, aunties and sisters are welcome to join mums in this fun and challenging bootcamp class. Admission is a minimum $10 cash donation to the Vancouver Food Bank and pre-mobile babies are welcome: www.fit4two.ca
North Vancouver Carol Ship Celebrations at Panorama Park
Saturday December 11th, 8 pm, shores of Panorama Park, North Vancouver
At this North Van tradition the Carol Ships in all their lighted glory sail past Panorama Park where there’ll be live music, warm refreshments, roving performers, free holiday craft workshops, a blazing bonfire and quite possibly a visit from Jolly Old St. Nick. Please bring toys or food to support the Family Services of the North Shore Christmas Bureau and the Harvest Project: www.vancouversnorthshore.com
A Holiday Celebration with Bobs & Lolo, Fred Penner and Norman Foote
Sunday, December 12th, 1 pm & 4 pm, Vancouver Playhouse, Hamilton & Dunsmuir, Vancouver
There are still tickets left for this benefit concert for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. This is your chance to catch your children’s faves – Fred Penner, Charlotte Diamond, Bobs & Lolo and Norman Foote in one fabulous musical extravaganza: tickets.vancouverplayhouse.com
Vancouver Children’s Choir Annual Christmas Concert
Sunday December 12th, 4 pm – 6 pm, Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Enjoy the heart-felt sounds of young voices as they lead us through carols and their stories on the theme of Tell Me The Story One More Time. The female trio Kallisto will be featured: www.vancouverchildrenschoir.ca
Breakfasts with Santa:
Every year we find such a proliferation of breakfasts with Santa that it makes sense to consolidate them in a short list so they don’t take over the what to do guide. Be sure to get your tickets in advance:
- Ron Andrews Community Recreation Centre Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 11th, 9:30 am – Noon, Ron Andrews Community Recreation Centre, 931 Lytton Street, North Vancouver
- Douglas Park Community Centre Breakfast with Santa Breakfast With Santa, Saturday December 11th, 10 am – 11:30 am, Douglas Park Community Centre, 801 West 22nd Avenue, Vancouver
- West Point Grey Community Centre Breakfast With Santa, Saturday December 11th, 10 am – 12 noon, West Point Grey Community Centre, Vancouver
- Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 11th, 9 am – 11 am, Wilson Centre, Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex, 2150 Wilson Avenue, Port Coquitlam
Farther Afield:
15th Annual Seasonal Celebration
Thursday, December 9th, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Catch Bobs & Lolo and Kellie Haines at this jam-packed event where there’ll also be activities involving pinecones and clay, an ice sculptor, lucky red envelopes and more. And feel free to bring donations for the Burnaby Christmas Bureau: shadboltcentre.com
Old-Fashioned Musical Christmas @ Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada
Thursday, December 9th, 7 pm – 9 pm, Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, 23433 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley
Partake in caroling around the fire, local musicians, festive lights and greenery. This year you can also enter your homemade lantern into their contents and parade and pick up some delicious holiday baking. Be sure to get your tickets in advance, unless you’re an annual pass holder, in which case you’re golden: www.pc.gc.ca
Tot Tour: Festive Fun
Friday, December 10th, 11 am – Noon & 1 pm – 2 pm, Surrey Museum, 17710 – 56A Avenue, Surrey
Little ones will get a chance to explore Surrey’s many cultures and then make their own Christmas decorations to take home. Be sure to pre-register: www.surrey.ca
Jelly Bean Dance
Friday, December 10th, 6:15 pm – 9:15 pm, Hyde Creek Recreation Centre , 1379 Laurier Avenue, Port Coquitlam
Come out for a fun-filled night including door prizes, carnival games and supervision for kids in grades 4, 5 or 6. Get your tickets in advance: www.portcoquitlam.ca
Firefighters for Families Food & Toy Drive
Saturday, December 11th, 10 am – 4 pm, various locations in Pitt Meadows
The Pitt Meadows Fire & Rescue Service will be out in force around the community collation food and toys for local charity organizations. Check out their site for info on where to find them: www.pittmeadowsfire.com
Christmas Open House 2010
Saturday, December 11th, 12 noon-4 pm, Historic Stewart Farm, 13723 Crescent Road, Surrey
The Farmhouse has been transformed into an old-fashioned Christmas setting where you can make holiday crafts and sample woodstove-baked treats and hot spiced apple cider: www.surrey.ca
A Pioneer Christmas
Saturday, December 11th, 1 pm – 3 pm, Surrey Museum, 17710 – 56A Avenue, Surrey
Families can explore Christmas customs from the days of yore by getting crafty, sampling traditional punch and treats, checking out vintage Christmas cards and watching holiday films: www.surrey.ca
Holiday Under The Sea
Saturday, December 11th, 1 pm – 3 pm, Hyde Creek Recreation Centre , 1379 Laurier Avenue, Port Coquitlam
It’s an underwater holiday happening with lots of game to celebrate the season and Santa himself may even don his swim trunks: www.portcoquitlam.ca
The Pacific Ice Annual Christmas Gala
Saturday, December 11th, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm, South Surrey Arena, 2199 148th Street, Surrey
If you like watching Battle of the Blades than you may want to check out this event where hundreds of skaters will be debuting their competitive programs to an appreciative crowd. There’ll also be synchronized skating, a bake sale, prizes and more: www.pacificice.org
Do you have an event you would like to see in our weekend guide? Then send us your details and we’ll help you get the word out. Looking for a feature listing? Contact Erin, our Director of Sales and Marketing, for more information.
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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