Just two weeks left in 2020, and while it’s certainly been memorable, I’m sure many of us won’t be sad to see the end of it. Before it ends, let’s see what entertainment picks we find on this last weekend before Christmas.
Light: Celebrate the last nights of Chanukah by joining the community for Zoom events on most nights of Chanukah.
Drive: From December 12 – 27, visit PNE Winter Lights, a 2km drive-thru experience exploring nine illuminated lands on the journey to find Santa all from the comfort, and safety, of your car, as allowed by public health guidance.
Opera: The holiday classic Amahl and the Night Visitors, composed by Gian Carlo Menotti, has debuted as part of the Vancouver Opera digital season.
Theatre: Gateway Theatre has curated the aptly titled Home for the Holidays, premiering December 18 and streaming until January 1, Home for the Holidays plucks favourites from Gateway’s 35 years of beloved and most successful Holiday productions.
Stage: While live performances at The Arts Club Theatre Company are on hold due to public health restrictions you can still purchase tickets to view the recorded stream of Buffoon performed at the Granville Island Stage, and enjoy streaming 12 Dates of Christmas from the Newmont Stage at BMO Theatre Centre.
Choir: For many Christmas with Chor Leoni has become a festive tradition. This year, Chor Leoni is coming home with an online musican event filled with holiday favourites, luminous carols, and festive surprises sung by the JUNO-nominated Men’s Choir. RSVP to access your free ticket to view Dec 18 to Jan 1
Panto: The Cultch and Theatre Replacement are keeping the holiday tradition of East Van Panto alive for 2020 with Panto Come Home!, a live-streamed remixed holiday extravaganza that combines the best of all seven East Van Pantos.
Pod: Western Gold Theatre’s Virtual Gold is bringing a series of podcasts over the holidays, starting with “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” Dylan Thomas’ classic read by Russell Roberts
Symphony: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is joined by guest Christopher Gaze for a performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on December 19th, available for free streaming on concerthall.ca .
Glow: Until January 2, 2021, visit Glow Langley for a safe, 15 minute drive-thru light experience at Milner Gardens in Langley.
Drive: Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge is a-Glow with lights for you to enjoy as you drive-thru the site until January 8, 2021.
Pop-Up: Drive-by and pick up your holiday shopping at the Sweet Thea Holiday Pop-Up! the store is located at 4305 Main Street, (at 27th) until Sunday, December 27.
Boxed: One of Vancouver favourite holiday craft markets, Christmas at Hycroft, may not be able to open but they have assembled curated boxes for you to take home, filled with goods from local artisans.
Market: The Vancouver Christmas Market may not be open for browsing but you can still bring the market home for the holidays with curated Market Boxes on sale now.
Bridge: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park‘s Canyon Lights is cancelled but the Park is open for visits during the daytime from 11am to 6pm, booking timed entry is required.
Garden: Van Dusen Botanical Gardens has also had to cancel Festival of Lights but the gardens can still be enjoyed during the daylight hours, 10am – 2pm, with timed entry booking.
Dome: Step into the tropical warmth of Bloedel Conservatory and take in the 120 free-flying exotic birds, hundreds of exotic plants and flowers. Open 10am – 3:45pm with timed entry.
Centennial: The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Art continues its celebration of the artist’s extraordinary life and legacy, To Speak With a Golden Voice, run until April 11, 2021
Anthropologie: MOA at UBC Kent Monkman’s timely exhibition, Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience is on display until January 3, 2021