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Things to Do in Vancouver this Weekend

Published by todocanada On December 10, 2018 7 Responses

A digest of What’s On in and around Vancouver during this weekend including free fun family activities, live music, performing arts & theatre, festivals and sports events –  December 14 to 16, 2018

Contents: 

  • Family Activities
  • Live Music/ Concerts & Music festivals
  • Live Theatre & Theatre Festivals
  • Sports
  • All Other Events

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Christmas & Holiday Events in Victoria

Family New Year’s Eve in Vancouver

I. Family & Kids Activities this Weekend 

The Robson Square 12 Days of Christmas

This winter, renew a classic Vancouver tradition and enjoy some old-fashioned fun. Robson Square’s outdoor skating rink is open, so celebrate winter in style with free skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver. It’s a magical place to enjoy the holidays with your friends, family and loved ones.

 More Details

December 13 to 31, 2018

Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver

Free

VSO at the Movies: Home Alone

A true holiday favourite, this beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score performed live to picture by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

 More Details

December 14 – 15, 2018

Orpheum Theatre
601 Smithe Street, Vancouver

$37.75 – $115.00 + Applicable Charges

Christmas & Holiday Lights

Christmas & Holiday Lights in Metro Vancouver

  1. Carol Ships Parade of Lights: Carol Ships Shoreside Celebration North Vancouver: Enjoy a warm and festive evening filled with musical entertainment, roving performers, free craft workshops, a blazing bonfire and beautiful lights. Santa himself may even stop by! December 15 | 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm @ Panorama Park, North VancouverCarol Ships Parade of Lights Burnaby: December 14, 2018  | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM @ Barnet Marine Park, Burnaby
  2. Holiday Heights at Bloedel: Experience a winter wonderland inside the Bloedel Conservatory with 150 free flying tropical birds, magical lights, holiday plant displays, festive music, photo ops, a scavenger hunt and much more. December 14 – January 6  @ Bloedel Floral Conservatory
  3. Christmas at Canada Place: You are invited to experience the nostalgic tradition of the Woodward’s Windows, a magical holiday lighting display, the Sails of Light, and the festive Avenue of Christmas Trees.
  4. VanDusen Festival of Lights: Experience VanDusen Festival of Lights, sponsored by Vancouver International Airport and Air France. A magical winter wonderland with over one million lights will decorate 15 acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden. December 1st – January 6, 2019  @ VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
  5. Hi-Light Festival: Month-long Christmas celebration will feature brilliant light display, live entertainment, and festive activities for the whole family.  November 30- December 31, 2018 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM @ Park & Tilford, 333 Brooksbank Ave., North Vancouver
  6. Heritage Christmas: Join us this Heritage Christmas for a season of old-fashioned fun and spectacular light displays.November 24 – January 4, 2019 @ Burnaby Village Museum
  7. Canyon Lights: Re-capture the feeling of wonder and excitement of the holiday season and be amazed by the hundreds of thousands of lights throughout the park. November 22, 2018 to January 27, 2019 @ Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
  8. Christmas Glow: Bring together the people you love to stroll, laugh and play under the twinkle of a million lights. Our playgrounds and interactive features will entertain the kids for hours, while the adults kick back at our licensed bar and enjoy some seasonal beverages and live music.November 22, 2018   January 19 2019 @ Milner Village Garden Centre, 6690 216th St, Langley
  9. Peak of Christmas: Enjoy the natural beauty of Blue Grouse Lake, lit by breathtaking light installations. Stroll through the light tunnel and marvel at new additions including a magnificent lit deer. Be awestruck by the glow of light against a majestic mountain backdrop. November 23, 2018 – January 6, 2019  @ Grouse Mountain Resort – 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver
  10. Lights at Lafarge: This year’s kick-off event will take place entirely outdoors with live entertainment on two stages so visitors should dress in warm clothing and waterproof, durable footwear as they take in all the festivities.
  11. Lights of Hope: November 16 – January 8, 2019  @ 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver
  12. Dundarave Festival of Lights: The largest outdoor display of Christmas Trees in coastal British Columbia, the Forest of Miracles shines bright with the true spirit of West Vancouver at Christmas time. December 1 to 31 @ Dundarave Park, West Vancouver
  13. Festival of Trees: Saturday, Dec 1, 2018 to Monday, Dec 31, 2018 @ Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
  14. Christmas in Williams Park: Friday, November 30 to Saturday, December 22 | 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM  @ Williams Park, 238 Street & 68 Avenue, Langley
  15. Canadian Pacific Holiday Train:  West Coast Express Station, Port Coquitlam  on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 | 7:00 PM, Show: 7:15 PM – 7:45 PM

Holiday & Christmas Activities

Holiday Events in and around Vancouver

  • Holiday on Ice: Come and join us for a fun-filled Holiday-themed Community Ice Skating event and get into the spirit of Christmas by participating in one of Canada’s traditional winter activities. Saturday, December 15, 2018| 10:00 AM-12 PM @ West End Rink, 1750 Haro St, Vancouver
  • Seasonal Celebration – Burnaby on Join us in celebrating the festive season through arts, entertainment, culture and food. on December 15, 2018 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM @ Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby
  • Winter Carnival – Richmond: Join this winter family event that includes fun activities, interactive games, arts and crafts, music performances, a photo with Santa and yummy treats.  Saturday, Dec 15, 2018 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM @ City Centre Community Centre, 5900 Minoru Blvd, Richmond
  • Christmas in Kerrisdale: Join in the holiday festivities during the month of December. There will be horse and carriage rides, Santa and his elf, Christmas Quartets, Tubas & Brass Bands, free village skating and more. December  8, 15, 22, 23 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM @ Kerrisdale Village, West 41st Avenue, Vancouver
  • Christmas In the Village: Annual festival event and again we will be featuring Santa Claus and his Elves, live Christmas Music & Singing, Lights, a Christmas Farmers’ Prize Basket, and much more! December 14 to 16, 2018 | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM @ Fort Langley Community Hall, 9167 Glover Road, Langley
  • Petey’s Country Christmas: Peteys Country Christmas Hosted by Fantasy Farms Inc. is a family owned and operated Magical display of What Christmas was like as a Child and it’s become one of Santa’s Favorite places to visit in between his stops to the North Pole. Children feel the Magic of the Holidays and build Memories here that last a life time.  December 8 to 31, 2018 @ Fantasy Farms Inc

  • Breakfast with Santa @ Various Community Centres, Surrey.
  • Skate with Santa @ Various Community Centres, Surrey.
  • Gingerbread Village: The Downtown Surrey BIA Is hosting their 2nd annual Gingerbread Village. Gingerbread Village is a charity event that adds creative fun to the holidays and raises money for the Surrey Christmas Bureau. Shoppers, locals and gingerbread enthusiasts will have a chance to admire various Surrey-inspired gingerbread creations and can even vote for their favourites.  December 8-16 @ City Central Shopping Centre Mall, Surrey
  • Christmas In the Village: Annual festival event and again we will be featuring Santa Claus and his Elves, live Christmas Music & Singing, Lights, a Christmas Farmers’ Prize Basket, and much more!  December 14 to 16, 2018 | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM @ Fort Langley Community Hall, 9167 Glover Road, Langley
  • Bright Nights Christmas Train: During the holiday season, the Bright Nights Christmas Train and Stanley Park Train Plaza sparkle with three million twinkling lights. Experience the lights, breathtaking displays, and live performers along the train route.Thursday, November 29, 2018 to Saturday, January 5, 2019 @ The Stanley Park Train, Pipeline Road in Stanley Park
  • Timberline Country Christmas: Here you will be enchanted by beautiful trees, interactive scenes, lovely music, and delightful activities that remind us of times when Christmas was a lot simpler . . . and a lot less commercial. It’s all priced so reasonably that you’ll want to return with your friends!  December 1 & 2, 7 to 9, 13 to 19, 2018 @ Timberline Ranch, 22351 144th Ave., Maple Ridge
  • Christmas at FlyOver Canada: Fly with Santa and his elves on a magical flight across Canada and onto the North Pole! After meeting some of Santa’s elves, Chestnut and Pinecone, you’ll join them as they take flight across Canada looking for their fellow elves. November 22 – January 6 @ FlyOver Canada – 201 – 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
  • Sea of Lights: This festive season, immerse yourself in a mesmerizing display of lights, bubbles, movements and sounds inside our new interactive experience. November 23, 2018 – January 6, 2019 @ Vancouver Aquarium
  • Loft Country Christmas: Loft Country Christmas will welcome you into a night where you can enjoy a live horse carousel, bumper cars, horse-drawn sleigh, hot food, coffee & cocoa, caroling, live entertainment, carnival games, and much more.  November 22nd–December 30th, 2018 @ 2640 248 Street, Langley
  • BC Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees: Tour an enchanted forest of decorated trees to raise funds for the most urgent needs at BC Children’s Hospital. November 21, 2018 until January 1, 2019 @ Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver/Level M2 of CF Pacific Centre Mall
  • The Polar Express™ Train Ride:  November 24 to  December 16, 2018 @ West Coast Railway Heritage Park – 39645 Government Road, Squamish
  • Aurora Winter Festival:  The Aurora Winter Festival inspires the festive spirit through magical winter experiences.  November 23rd to December 30, 2018 @ Concord Pacific Place, 811 Carrall St.

Article continued below
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Holiday Theatre for Families

Holiday Theatre for Families

  1. King Arthur’s Court – Annual Christmas Pantomime: Join Arthur in a whimsical tale as he grows from a boy to a king. His interactions with Merlin and Guinevere, as well as his Knights of the Round Table, keep this energetic musical moving faster than you can say “Lancelot”. December 14 – January 5, 2019 @ Metro Theatre Vancouver
  2. 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. December 14 to 16 @ Vancouver Playhouse
  3. Robin Hood – A Christmas Panto: SPECC-tacular Productions Theatre Group presents Robin Hood – a fun-filled pantomime for the whole family! December 13 to 15, 2018 @ ACT Arts Centre
  4. The Nutcracker – Ballet Bloch Canada: The Nutcracker is reimagined in collaboration with Monica Proença, world renowned choreographer. December 15 & 16 @ Kay Meek Arts Centre
  5. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: In this lively Christmas classic, the six Herdman kids, or “the worst kids in the history of the world”, take over the annual Christmas pageant. Filled with mayhem and fun, this hilarious and heartwarming story is sure to be a favourite part of your holiday season! December 6 to 16, 2018 @ Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
  6. East Van Panto: WIZARD OF OZ: Poor Dorothy! When a pipeline bursts, Dorothy and Toto are flung to the magical Land of Oz, aka Nanaimo and Hastings. November 28, 2018 To January 6, 2019  @ York Theatre, Commercial Drive, Vancouver
  7. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe: One rainy day, the Pevensie children discover that an old wardrobe is actually a doorway to the enchanted land of Narnia. November 30, 2018 to December 29, 2018  @ Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Ave, Vancouver
  8. 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?  December 1, 2018 To January 6, 2019 @  The Stanley Theatre, 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver
  9. 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. November 24 – December 30, 2018 @ Waterfront Theatre – 1412 Cartwright St, Vancouver
  10. Nutcracker – Royal City Youth Ballet: This traditional ballet has beautiful sets, extravagant costumes, and features a cast of young, dedicated dancers. November 25 to December 23, 2018 @ Various Venues, Vancouver

More Family Activities

1. Vancouver Public Library holds plenty of fun events throughout the year! Have fun times for free!

2. See a movie at the theatre!

Cineplex Family Favourites: Visit participating Cineplex theatres near you on Saturdays at 11:00 AM and watch a family favourite film each week for only $2.99.; Upcoming Movies

3. Every Sunday, Vancouver Art Gallery offers FREE admission for children 12 & under when accompanied by an adult. Sundays at the Gallery offers a unique art experience for children and their families to have free and regular access to all of the Gallery’s exhibitions as well as the Weekly Family Programs, which feature family-geared programming that explores themes and activities related to the current exhibitions.

II. Live Music & Concerts This Week in Vancouver

Weekday Events/EDM Concerts & Concert Tours

Concert Tours in Vancouver – 2019 

Christmas/Holiday Concerts

Christmas/Holiday Concerts

  1. A Traditional Christmas: The VSO’s Traditional Christmas concerts, feature heartwarming music associated with Christmas, carols, and plenty of audience sing-alongs. December 12 – 22, 2018 @ Various Venues
  2. Dreams and Wishes: Sunday, December 16, 2018 | 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM @ Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
  3. Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas: December 14 & 15, 2018 @ Christ Church Cathedral
  4. Vancouver Chamber Choir: A Joyful Christmas: December 14, 2018 | 8:00 PM @ Pacific Spirit
  5. All is Bright: A VYC Family Christmas: Saturday, December 15th, 2018 | 3:00pm  and 7:30pm @ Shaughnessy Heights United Church, Vancouver
  6. Christmas with Chor Leoni: December 14 to 17 @ Various venues
  7. Ding Dong! – Music Intima: December 13, 2018 | 8:00 PM @ The Anza Club &  Thursday December 20 | 8:00 PM @ St. James Community Square, 3124 West 10th Ave, Vancouver
  8. Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir: Sounds of Christmas: November 28 to December 15, 2018 @ Various Venues, Metro Vancouver
  9. Van Django presents Cool Yule: A Swingin’ Christmas Show: Sunday, December 16, 2018 | 7:30 PM @ Evergreen Cultural Centre
  10. A Phoenix Christmas:  Sunday, December 16, 2018 | 4:00 PM @ St. John’s Shaughnessy Church
  11. Winter Harp: December 2 to December 16, 2018 @ Various Venues, Metro Vancouver
  12. Langley Community Chorus Christmas Concert: December 8 & 15, 2018
  13. A Christmas Story – Musica Intima: December 8 to 21 @ Various Venues, Vancouver
  14. A Hollywood Christmas: Saturday, Dec 08, 2018 | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM @ City Centre Community Centre, Richmond

Winter Breakout

Lineup:Lill Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Killy, Flipp Dinero, Valee, Killumantii, Illyminiachi, AC, Rude Nala, Yurmsauce

 More Details

Friday, December 14, 2018 | 6:00 PM

Pacific Coliseum
Vancouver

$99 to $149

Christmas Presence

With poems and prose that range from the heartfelt to the hilarious, mixed in with songs both old and new, Christmas Presence is an intimate and warm way to usher in the holiday spirit.

 More Details

December 10 to 11 and 16 to 18, 2018

Pacific Theatre – 1440 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver

$15.75 to $38.35

Singing Christmas Tree

This year, the Vancouver Singing Christmas Tree celebrates its 51st Anniversary. Join  for one of the 10 entertaining and inspiring family-friendly performances where we celebrate festive Christmas memories with our 100+ voice choir, ensembles, orchestra, actors, dancers and acrobats.

 More Details

December 7 to 16, 2018

Broadway Church, 2700 East Broadway, Vancouver

Free

Music in the Morning: Pedja Muzijevic

Hailed by critics as a “thinking” musician with engaging stage presence and a gratifying combination of virtuosity and eloquence, pianist Pedja Muzijevic has defined his career with creative programming, unusual combinations of new and old music, and lasting collaborations with other artists and ensembles. The London Financial Times eloquently sums him up as “a virtuoso with formidable fingers and a musician with fiercely original ideas about the music he plays.”

 More Details

 December 12 to 14, 2018

Vancouver Academy of Music & Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver

$38-$42

III. Live Theatre

Christmas/Holiday Theatre

Christmas & Holiday Theatre in Vancouver

  1. Little Dickens: The Daisy Theatre: In Ronnie Burkett’s Little Dickens, the cast of The Daisy Theatre take on the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, in the merriest marionette mash-up ever. Faded Daisy diva, Esmé Massengill, plays the role of miserly, drunken, bitter Esmé Scrooge, encountering all your Daisy favourites (as Dickens’ familiar characters!) on her journey to redemption. December 4 to 22, 2018 @ Historic Theatre, The Clutch
  2. Bah Humbug!: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol comes to life in modern-day east Vancouver under the direction of Renae Morriseau, one of Vancouver’s leading writer, director and a previous recipient of the City of Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award. December 6 to 22, 2018 @ Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
  3. It’s a Wonderful Life: It’s a Wonderful Life, set to soaring songs from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, is a timeless holiday classic. With a little help from his guardian angel, George Bailey, is brought back from despair on Christmas Eve to see how he has truly touched all the people in his life. December 6 – 31, 2018 @ Gateway Theatre
  4. Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley: A holiday confection filled with classic Jane Austen charm, Miss Bennet is a modern sequel about the bookish middle child of the Bennets. November 15–December 30, 2018 @ Granville Island Stage, Vancouver
  5. Merry Kiss-mas: Merry Kiss-mas is a shiny new Christmas parody show packed full of rib-tickling Yuletide mirth. November 21 through December 24, 2018 @ The Improv Centre on Granville Island

Commencing, a Comedy in One Act

1997. Kelli is impatiently awaiting the arrival of a hot blind date set up by a colleague. The evening, however, does not pan out how she’d hoped, and instead of spending a lovely evening on her first date in a long time, she finds herself arguing her values with Arlin, a disappointed lesbian. More Details

December 5 to 16, 2018

Dusty Flowerpot Theater, 2050 Scotia Street, Vancouver

$15-$20

Blind Date

Experience all the exhilaration and excitement of new love as Mimi goes on a blind date with a different man every night—plucked right out of the audience! Straight from sold-out runs in New York, London’s West End, and Toronto, this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants fusion of clown, improv, theatre, and social experiment is sure to make you fall in love with Mimi and celebrate her audience-member-turned-Romantic-Hero! More Details

November 22–December 30, 2018

Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre, Vancouver

$29 & up

Bombay Black

Bombay Black is a searing play set in the bitter reality of present-day India. The iron-willed Padma (Nimet Kanji) takes money from men who watch her daughter, Apsara (Arshdeep Purba), perform an exotic dance. When a blind man named Kamal (Munish Sharma) arrives for an appointment, his secret threatens to change their lives forever. More Details

December 5 to 15, 2018

 Firehall Arts Centre, 280 E. Cordova, Vancouver

$20 & up

IV. Sports

Vancouver Canucks

vs. Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, December 15, 2018 | 07:00 PM
vs. Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, December 16, 2018 | 07:00 PM

Rogers Arena, Vancouver

Tickets

Big Elf Run

1km Wee Elf Run, a 5km Big Elf run/walk, or a 2 loop 10km run/walk

Saturday, December 15, 2018 | 11:30 AM

Lumberman’s Arch, Stanley Park, Vancouver

Tickets

V. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events

2019 New Year’s Eve Parties for Adults in Vancouver

You may like:

  • Salsa Tuesdays — Every Tuesday | 9pm to 10pm @ Studio Nightclub 919 Granville St. Vancouver
  • Tech & Startup Weekly —  Every Friday between 7 to 9 pm @ Tungsten-Moly Room 14th Floor- 1040 W Georgia St, Vancouver

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Charity Gift Wrap Centre: 100% of the proceeds from the service benefit the Surrey Food Bank and elementary school breakfast program.December 7, 2018 –  24, 2018 @ Central City, 10153 King George Blvd., Surrey

Christmas & Holiday Markets

Christmas Markets and Craft Fairs in Vancouver

  • Make It Vancouver: Over 215 of your favourite Makies (and some brand new ones, too!) are bringing their beautiful handmade goodies back to the PNE Forum for our fabulous holiday show! With clothing, accessories, art, home decor, gourmet goodies, baby and kid items and other unique treasures – you’ll be sure to find gifts for everyone on your list. December 12 to 16 @ PNE Forum – 2901 East Hastings St, Vancouver
  • Vancouver Christmas Market: November 21 to December 24, 2018 @ Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place
  • The Christmas Boutique — November 13 – December 21  @ Place des Arts’ Artisan Shop, 1120 Brunette Avenue Coquitlam

  • Winter Gift Gallery — November 13 – December 23, 2018 @ Seymour Art Gallery, 4360 Gallant Ave, North Vancouver
  • The Eastside Flea Holiday Markets —  December 1 – 2, 8-9,  & 15 – 16, 2018 @ Eastside Studios at 550 Malkin Ave

Indigenous Winter Solstice Dinner

Warm up with mulled wine, Indigenous song, and a full-course dinner as we celebrate the longest night of the year with Coast Salish flair. This fundraiser evening’s narratives tell the story of solstice through a First Nations perspective. Have a night with your significant other… or meet someone new!

This event has a set menu with locally-sourced, Indigenous dishes. Details

December 14  | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Stanley Park Nature House on Lost Lagoon, Stanley Park, Vancouver

$75

Christmas by Candlelight

Join in a magical evening of carols, musical performances and a Dickens reading inside Fort Langley’s historic walls. Admire the large Christmas tree and join costumed interpreters for a guided, holiday-themed tour. Lelem’ at the fort café will be open with espresso, drinks and food. Rain, snow or shine!
Details

December 15, 2018 |  6 PM. to 9 PM

Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada
23433 Mavis Ave, Langley

$15.32 to $18.60

Story Party Vancouver

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.
Details

Sunday, December 16, 2018 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Rickshaw Theatre, 254 East Hastings Street
Vancouver

$25

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    1. Anonymous

      Yeah Bill settle down piglet

      October 8, 2018 at 3:00 PM

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