Moving into mid-December, those folks with kiddies are probably feeling the excitement (and stress) of the season building. Hopefully you can take a break from the preparations, and enjoy some of the many entertaining picks of the week:
Fair: Opening today until December 23rd, The PNE Winter Fair is 10 days of entertainment and activities for the whole family with festive fun around every corner; nightly Christmas-themed concert series, an indoor skating rink, a family-friendly holiday pageant sure to be a hit with the little visitors, a winter market, tasty food and beverages, and a walk-thru Winter Lights display!
Ginger: Canada’s most iconic redhead comes to Gateway Theatre, as Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, starring Kyra Leroux (Riverdale) brings the story of Anne Shirley to the stage from December 15 to 31.
Piggy: Until December 30th, Carousel Theatre for Young People is presenting the Canadian Premiere of Stiles & Drewe’s The 3 Little Pigs – a smash-hit musical for all ages!
Festival: The 2nd Annual Vancouver International Black Film Festival returns next weekend, December 16-20, with a hybrid line-up (in-person and online) to amplify the voices of Afro-descendants in British Columbia with innovative, diverse and bold programming.
Canyon: The brilliant Canyon Lights brighten up the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park with thousands of lights illuminating the bridge, trails and trees until January 22nd
Carol: Opening today until December 24th, The Firehall Arts Centre celebrates the holiday season with the Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre production of A Christmas Carol with all 40 characters in this one-man version performed by Stratford/Shaw stalwart Sanjay Talwar for a whirlwind show that will make your heart twinkle.
Market: There’s just 10 more days to get your shopping done at the Vancouver Christmas Market The traditional German Christmas Market runs until December 24 at Jack Poole Plaza with holiday cheer and new many features for 2022.
Stage: Reminisce with your favourite moms as The Arts Club Theatre Company‘s comedy Mom’s The Word: Talking Turkey about the Holidays and sharing heartwarming memories is already held over to January 1, 2023
Sun: If you can’t get away to the sun, you can still take off at FlyOver Canada to experience Hawaii From Above, until December 16th then Soar with Santa until January 3, 2023
Cantatas: Early Music Vancouver lets the spirit of the season soar with Festive Cantatas: J.S. Bach Magnificat & Cantata BWV 110 (Let Our Mouth Be Full of Laughter) with a quintet of soaring voices backed by The Pacific Baroque Orchestra at Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver on December 17, and at Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC on December 18
Hills: The hills are alive, as the Arts Club brings its brilliant rendition of Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic musical The Sound of Music to the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, running until December 24th
Bingo: Until January 1st, The Arts Club Newmont Stage at The BMO Theatre Centre Me Love BINGO! Best in Snow! part variety hour, part game night, and part Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, this is not your average trip to the theatre.
Solstice: December 14 & 15 at Heritage Hall, Music on Main prepares to warm our souls with Music for the Winter Solstice concert featuring Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (piano) Robyn Jacob (vocals & keyboard), Asitha Tennekoon (tenor), and Jonathan Lo (cello)
Special: In addition to the in-person performances, mentioned above, Music on Main is also releasing an Online Winter Solstice Special, filled with heart-warming performances from the past eight years, the online special will be available for free from December 16, 2022 to January 6, 2023 at MusicOnMain.ca. This year’s specially made video features highlights and hidden gems from past live concerts, including performances by Grammy winner Caroline Shaw, singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane, violinist Chloe Kim, Vancouver’s legendary Veda Hille, theatre maker Corey Payette, and other beloved musicians.
Panto: To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the East Van Panto, The Cultch is taking audiences somewhere its never been before: under the sea, with East Van Panto: The Little Mermaid on stage until January 1, 2023
King: Commemorating the 100th anniversary of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time, this Winter’s not-to-be-missed event, the Canadian premiere of National Geographic’s Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience continues until January 8 at Vancouver Convention Centre East
Hope: Downtown Vancouver brightens up as Lights of Hope at St Paul’s Hospital kick off on November 17 with entertainment from St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church Choir and Sarabande, from the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs.
Nuts: December 16-18 at Vancouver Playhouse, Arts Umbrella Dance Company presents Mixed Nuts, a modern and engaging twist on Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, bringing together a flavoursome assortment of dance styles for an extra-special holiday treat.
Garden: Immerse yourself in the illuminations of Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden running until January 2, 2023 as the magical winter wonderland of 15 acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden is decorated with more than one million lights