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What are you in the mood for this week, Vancouver?
Perhaps you’re looking for a hilarious comedy show or festive holiday lights? Or maybe you need a festive cocktail?
We’ve got you covered with our checklist of 20 fantastic things to do from December 9 to 15 around Metro Vancouver. Enjoy East Van Panto, Steveston Holiday Dog Parade, and more.
Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town.
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PNE Winter Fair
What: PNE’s popular Winter Fair returns this December with holiday-themed food and drinks, light displays, live entertainment, and more.
BCAA presents the most unique winter fair in BC, which will run from December 6 to 8 and 12 to 23. It promises to delight guests of all ages once again with the return of familiar favourites like the WinterLights, the enchanting illuminated train, the Nutcracker on Ice, Ice Bumper Cars, and more.
When: December 6 to 8 and 12 to 23, 2024
Time: 4 to 10 pm
Where: Hastings Park – 2901 E Hastings Street, Vancouver
Cost: PNE Winter Fair tickets are $7.50-$20 in advance, purchase online. Group rates and BCAA discounted tickets are also available.
What: Gingerbread Lane, the sweetest street in Vancouver, is back for its 32nd year as the Hyatt Regency once again plays host to the popular festive tradition.
As per tradition over the past three decades, the free event features delightful gingerbread creations designed by secondary school students, amateur culinary artists, and professional bakers.
In addition to providing a welcome dose of holiday feels, the event also helps to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of BC and the Yukon, which is celebrating its 41st year of granting wishes to children living with critical illnesses.
When: Now until December 27, 2024
Time: Regular hotel hours
Where: Hyatt Regency Vancouver — 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free
What: The festive season is just around the corner, and The Polygon Gallery is making sure that your holidays are ready to shine bright.
The vibrant public art institution in North Vancouver is hosting its annual Holiday Shop until January 5. Throughout the season, visitors to The Polygon Gallery’s main floor will discover a huge selection of unique gifts by independent makers and artists. There will also be weekly interactive activities for guests to enjoy.
When: Now until January 5, 2025 (Closed Monday and Tuesday)
Time: 10 am to 5 pm (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), 10 am to 9 pm (Thursday)
Where: The Polygon Gallery — 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver
Cost: Free
East Van Panto
What: East Van Panto’s latest all-ages theatrical extravaganza follows Robin Hood and the Merry-Thems as they attempt to foil the Sheriff’s plans to privatize Vancouver’s parks. The grand adventure stretches from Trout Lake to Britannia as the festive crew tries to steal back the neighbourhood from the rich and powerful.
When: Now until January 5, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: York Theatre – 639 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
What: Harrison Hot Springs will be overflowing with Christmas spirit this season, thanks to the return of its annual holiday lights festival.
The village’s annual Lights by the Lake will happen until Sunday, January 7, 2024. Visitors will enjoy magical holiday displays that transform the Harrison lakefront into an enchanting world of lights celebrating the local wildlife as well as the elusive Sasquatch.
When: Now until January 12, 2025
Time: Dusk to 11 pm
Where: Harrison Hot Springs
Admission: Free
What: Tits the Season! by Helvetica Productions at the Rio Theatre is an over-the-top festive extravaganza featuring the city’s best drag, burlesque, circus, and variety performers. There are two shows hosted by Miss Kiss and headlined by global sensation Landon Cider, winner of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula.
Other acts that will bring the holiday cheer to the stage include Batty Banks, Ariel Helvetica and Chelsea Hart, Elektra + The Soul Star, Monday Blues, Skim, Arabella Boop, Helvetica’s Follies, Misty Blue, and VBC’s Fatlesque.
When: December 14, 2024
Time: 6 pm (early show), 10 pm (late show)
Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 E Broadway, Vancouver
Cost: $40-$75, purchase online
What: Create the perfect custom gift for the holidays by heading to BCLIQOUR Richmond Brighouse for a unique and personalized experience. Get your purchased bottle of Mission Hill engraved in–store to keep as a one–of–a–kind keepsake or as the perfect gift for that special someone on your list.
When: December 14, 2024
Time: 3 to 7 pm
Where: BCLIQUOR Richmond Brighouse — 8100 Ackroyd Rd Unit 100, Richmond
Cost: Free
Cirque du Soleil/Submitted
What: Cirque du Soleil is returning to Vancouver this fall with its newest big top show, and it promises to be an experience worth shouting about!
The internationally acclaimed acrobatic circus is back in the city with Echo. Described as a story about connection and intention, the production will take over Concord Pacific Place with an exploration of the “symbiotic unions between humans and the animal kingdom.”
When: Now until January 5, 2025
Time: Performance times will vary based on the date
Where: Concord Pacific Place — 88 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
What: Head to VIFF Centre – Vancity Theatre for encore screenings of some of the most well-received movies from the 2024 festival lineup.
And not only is it your chance to see these amazing films once again or for the first time, you’ll also be doing it in the comfort of VIFF Centre’s newly upgraded theatre.
When: Various dates in December, 2024
Time: Various times. See the full schedule online.
Where: VIFF Centre – 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, including $11 for students and accessible pricing, $14 for seniors, and $16 for adults. Purchase online
What: Comedy After Dark hosts a hilarious lineup of female pro and amateur comics in Vancouver. Join the fun every Tuesday with host Amber Harper-Young.
When: December 10, and 17, 2024 (no show Christmas Eve)
Time: 8 pm
Where: Comedy After Dark – 117 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $12.60, purchase Taco Tuesday – All Ladies Comedy Show
Vancouver Story Slam
What: The 18th annual Vancouver Story Slam Storytelling Championship is the grand finale of the 2024 Vancouver Story Slam season. Ten storytellers bring their best stories to the longest-running storytelling event of its kind in Canada.
The winner, selected by an anonymous audience ballot, will receive a share of $2,000 in cash prizes as well as the title of the year’s Vancouver Story Slam Champion. Stories are not pre-screened and are as unique and entertaining as the people telling them.
When: December 12, 2024
Time: 8 pm
Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $25.75 plus fees. Purchase online
What: Xmas in Skaville is bringing high-energy holiday cheer to the Wise Hall in December. The lineup for the 21st edition includes Balkan Shmalkan, Brehdren, Mivule, The Wavebirds, and Bobbi-Jo Moore. The show promises to heat up the cold winter’s night, so make sure to bring your dancing shoes.
When: December 13, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: The Wise Hall — 1882 Adanac Street. Vancouver
Tickets: $25 plus fees in advance, purchase online
What: Vancouver Foodie Tours invites all Swifties to embark on a special Eras Food Tour around Granville Island. Bring an appetite as you visit Benton Brothers Local Cheeses, Oyama Charcuterie Platter, Pad Siew, Lee’s Honey Dip Donut, and more.
When: December 13, 2024
Time: 1 to 3 pm
Where: Meeting place at Granville Island Public Market
Tickets: Various, purchase online
Steveston Merchants Association
What: Your favourite canine companions don’t have to feel left out of the festive fun this holiday season, thanks to the Steveston Christmas Dog Parade.
Dozens of paw-dorable dogs and puppies will dress up in holiday attire and parade along Imperial Landing on Saturday, December 14.
The event starts at 11 am at Phoenix Pond bridge arch and ends at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, where there is more seasonal fun for the community to enjoy from 11:15 am to 1 pm.
When: December 14, 2024
Time: 11 am start
Where: Starts at Phoenix Pond bridge arch and ends at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
Cost: Free
What: The Comedy Department presents candy cane chaos and mistletoe mayhem in their holiday comedy offering! The North Pole’s top three elves face off in a hilarious Christmas competition. Who will get to bring joy to children all over the world? The audience will decide with their suggestions and votes.
Make sure to send off 2024 and welcome in 2025 with a blast of laughs with Year-End Update: Hindsight is Hilarious. Take a funny look back at the year that was, including Swifties, AI, shocking headlines and more. Each show will also include a “fake midnight” countdown.
When: December 7. 14 and 21, 2024 (Rumble), December 27 and 28 (Update)
Time: 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm (Vancouver),
Where: The Show Cellar – 1755 Davie Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
What: Explore a winter wonderland of lights, art, magic, and stories. Squamish at Dusk is a stunning light experience at Rose Park with immersive installations for all ages to enjoy this holiday season.
Bring the whole family and enjoy the mesmerizing tunnel of lights, a sparkling grotto, an enchanted forest, and more.
When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday until December 14, 2024
Time: 4:30 to 9:30 pm
Where: Rose Park – 38550 Loggers Lane, Squamish
Cost: $10-$15, plus fees; free for children four and under. Purchase online
Daily Hive
What: The pop-up, Kringle’s, is your stop destination for festive bites and sips set against Instagram-worthy backdrops.
On the menu, you can find tasty cocktails like the Yuletide Rose Fizz (Empress Elderflower gin, apple cider, winter syrup, lemon, egg white), Holiday Smores (Northern Keep vodka, Baileys, crème de cacao, caramel toffee, cream) and Frosted Margarita (Tres Generaciones Blanco tequila, Cointreau, lime, coconut syrup, cream, rosemary).
When: Until December 31, 2024
Time: Tuesday to Saturday evenings from 5 pm to midnight
Where: Lower Lobby at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver — 900 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Reservations: Online
What: The Centre Vancouver is screening Home Alone 2 on its giant 52-foot screen with surround sound. There will even be free concessions during the event.
When: December 15, 2024
Time: 4 pm
Where: The Centre — 777 Homer Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $5, register online
What: Mastercard has teamed up with local small businesses of Fort Langley to create the original storybook, Cranberry & Crumm. Discover the immersive small business shopping experience on Glover Road to receive your free copy of the book at Fort Langley Community Hall or one of the participating shops.
You can also receive an exclusive gift when paying with Mastercard at participating small businesses in Fort Langley. Collect all eight pieces to complete a wooden puzzle of the community’s landmarks. And you can warm up with free hot chocolate in Gasoline Alley from 9:30 am to 6 pm on weekends.
When: Now until December 15, 2024
Where: Various locations in Fort Langley
Cost: Free
Temporary Christmas lights on the Trestle Bridge of the Mountain Path. (British Pacific Properties)
What: Dazzling holiday lights in a pocket forest on the mountainside of West Vancouver have returned by popular demand for the Christmas season.
The lighting on the 200-metre-long Trestle Bridge within British Pacific Properties’ (BPP) Cypress Village area will come to life nightly until the end of February 2025.
When: Now until February 2025
Time: Until 10 pm daily
Where: 3757 Cypress Bowl Road, West Vancouver (location of the pop-up village and
primary vehicle parking site)
Cost: Free
What: A Taylor Swift celebration that’s fun for the kids. Vancouver Public Library is hosting three Swifties Fan Parties that will include crafting, trivia, and more.
When: December 12 and 13, 2024
Time: 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Where: Vancouver Public Library West Point Grey Branch(December 4), Oakridge branch (December 12) and Hastings branch (December 13)
Cost: Free, register online