vancouver: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | December 22, 2011
Welcome to yoyomama’s weekend guide! Your go-to list of family friendly fun things to do with kids in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
The kids are off school and excitement builds in the air as we count down the last few days before Christmas. There are many ongoing Christmas happenings, but the craft fair season has run its course, and many organizations are closed for a Christmas break. But the River District and Science World have you covered for keeping kids active. You can also still catch one of many theatre and pantomime productions around the city. And of course, we’re updating our holiday events guides as fast as we can!
Please note: This is your last yoyo until December 29th, when we’ll be sending out a New Years What To Do! And we’ll be doing something we’ve never done before in 2012, taking a week (almost) off. That’s right, we’ll be taking the first week of January to recharge our editorial batteries and get organized for a great year! But we’ll still send out a What To Do that week too. Happy Holidays to all, we hope you have a wonderful time with your families and friends!
Mamas & Movies At River District
Thursday Dec 22nd, 11 am – 1 pm, River District Centre 8683 Kerr Street, Vancouver
Mamas with babies in tow can enjoy a “chick flick” at the River District, where there will be lower volume, dimmed lights, and a change table available to make it as baby friendly as possible. Today’s viewing is The Devil Wears Prada: www.riverdistrict.ca
Kids Movie Marathon
Monday, December 19th – Friday, December 23rd, 2 pm, River District Centre, 8683 Kerr Street, Vancouver
School is on winter break, and The River District is helping keep kids busy with a movie marathon. Each afternoon there is a different movie, as well as popcorn and other light refreshments. Bring pillows and blankets for a cozy good time: www.riverdistrict.ca
Special Holiday Programs At Science World
Wednesday, December 21st – Friday, December 23rd, 10 am – 6 pm, and Saturday, December 24th, 10 am – 3 pm, Science World at Telus World of Science, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Science World is helping keep kids busy this winter with special pre-Christmas activities. Kids can be creative and eco-friendly at the same time when making junk mail jewelry and other upcycled crafts: www.scienceworld.ca
Ali Baba At The Metro Theatre
Ongoing to Saturday, January 7th, see site for times, The Metropolitan Cooperative Theatre Society, 1370 Southwest Marine Drive, Vancouver
True to the holiday pantomime tradition, The Metropolitan Cooperative Theatre Society brings you Ali Baba, including all the crazy characters, a pantomime dame, a forgotten demon, animals, and even a fairy nerd. Sounds like too much fun to pass up: www.metrotheatre.org
The Wizard Of Oz, The Waterfront Theatre
Ongoing to Saturday, December 31st, see site for times, The Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
Come for a fun and fresh take on the classic, The Wizard of Oz. You’ll see the feisty heroine Dorothy travel to faraway lands with her little dog Toto, and watch as they meet some interesting friends along the way. But be warned, there are a couple of potentially scary parts in this production (the Wicked Witch and her monkeys), and there will be a non-toxic strobe light used. Appropriate for ages 4+, and no babes in arms please. See site for times and tickets prices: www.carouseltheatre.ca
Farther Afield:
Sword In The Stone
Ongoing to Friday, December 23rd, Surrey Arts Centre, 13750-88th Avenue, Surrey
Come see the legend of King Arthur through a new and humorous pantomime telling. You’ll see all the characters you know and love, like King Arthur, Guinevere, and Merlin, as well as trolls and dragons: www.rctheatreco.com
Mother Goose
Ongoing to Monday, December 26th, see site for show times, Coast Capitol Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Road, White Rock
The White Rock Players present Mother Goose, a holiday Pantomime for the whole family. Shows run Wednesday to Saturday nightly, with some special presentation matinees sprinkled in the mix: www.whiterockplayers.ca
The Sound Of Music
Ongoing to Friday, December 30th, see site for times, Gateway theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond
How do you solve a problem like Maria? Does that sentence make you hum the tune? Come enjoy the familiar tunes of The Sound of Music at the Gateway Theatre. Show runs until December 30th, when they say ‘auf wiedersehen, good night.’ See site for times and ticket prices: www.gatewaytheatre.com
Here’s a sample of what’s happening in holiday crafts, storytimes, and activities:
Night Tree
Thursday, December 22nd, 10 am – 5 pm, Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art, 3696 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver
Kids aged 5 -10 can come for an all day adventure. They’ll create natural good ornaments, some to leave behind, some to take home, and some to bring to Jericho Beach and hang on the trees, as gifts for the animals. There will be carol singing and other holiday fun. Please bring a packed lunch: www.christiannehayward.com
Christmas Drop-in Crafts
Thursday, December 22nd, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, New Westminster Public Library, 716 6th Avenue
The library will have craft supplies out all day for a causal, drop in holiday craft experience. Appropriate for ages 4-10: www.newwestpcr.ca
White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Thursday, December 22nd, 7 pm – 9 pm, JB’s Candy Shoppe, 2617 Pauline Street, Abbotsford
Come make some tasty peppermint bark at the candy shop. Workshops start at 7 pm until you are finished. All ages welcome, cost is $5 per person. Call to register at 604.504.2462: www.tourismabbotsford.ca
Here’s a sample of what’s happening in holiday celebrations, parades, festivals and parties:
Sweet Soul Gospel Christmas
Thursday, December 22nd, 7:30 pm, Saint Andrews Wesley Church, 1022 Nelson Street, Vancouver
Come listen to a six-part, energetic, toe tapping, and soulful harmony sung by women and men, crossing all ages, ethnicities, and religions. They’ll sing songs of love, joy, peace, and hope this holiday season, with a goal of uniting people of different cultures and beliefs.
Chanukah On Ice
Monday, December 26th, 5 pm – 7 pm, Sunset Ice Rink, 390 East 51st Avenue, Vancouver
There will be a hot dinner, latkes and donuts to eat, dreidels for the kids, music, entertainment, and fun for everyone at this Chanukah celebration. Tickets just $5, including skate rental. Please RSVP: www.chabadeastvan.com
And here’s a sample of what’s happening in holiday trains, lights, and other ongoing events:
Luminescence
Thursday, November 24th – Monday, January 2nd, 9:30 am – 5 pm daily, Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver
Head to the Vancouver Aquarium where you can learn how animals create and reflect light. There is a tree partially powered by eels, a light installation inspired by jellyfish, and daily demonstrations to learn about bioluminescence, an organism’s ability to produce its own light. You can also catch The Polar Express in 4D, and see Scuba Clause swim among the fish: www.vanaqua.org
Potters Christmas Light Show
Nightly until Christmas Eve, 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Potters Farm & Nursery Incorporated, 19158 48th Avenue, Surrey
The staff at Potter’s have decked the top of the store with trees built of lights, and have programmed them to dance to holiday music. Sit in the warmth of your car and tune into 105.5 FM to hear the songs as you watch the lights dance: www.pottersonline.ca
Bear Creek Train
Saturday, December 3rd – Sunday, January 1st, 10 am – 4 pm, The Bear Creek Park Train, 13750 88th Avenue at King George Highway, Surrey
The Bear Creek Train will be decked out in it’s annual Christmas splendour, including Santa’s Golden Reindeer tunnel exhibit: www.bctrains.com
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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