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Christmas 2013
Well the holiday
season is upon us..... and we get so worked up with all of the christmas
baking, work parties, dinner parties, decorating the house and buying Christmas
presents to put under the tree. That we
forget to take the time to slow it down a bit and spend it with the family and
enjoy all of the different festivities that are happening around town.
Like who doesn’t
want to have breakfast with Santa or even see real live reindeers????
So here are just
some of the events and activities that are happening around that are appealing
for both families and a group of friends
Top 9 free activities/events downtown
1.Free Ice Skating at Robson Square - November 15, 2013 - February 28,
2013
Since reopening for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, the free outdoor
ice skating at Robson Square has become one of Vancouver's most popular winter activities. Located at 800 Robson Street (just across from the Vancouver Art Gallery in the heart of
downtown Vancouver), the Robson Square Ice Rink is open Sunday - Thursday from
9am - 9pm and Fridays & Saturdays from 9am - 11pm. Skating is free; skate
rentals are $4, helmets and ice cleats are $2.
Yaletown hosts the its second-annual free
Christmas event in Vancouver: a festival on Mainland Street (between Davie and
Nelson) that includes a "All I want for Christmas" street market,
horse-drawn carriage rides, reindeer, ice skating, and Santa. (Bring your own
camera for pictures with Santa!)
One of the Top 5 Vancouver Holiday Attractions, the
Rogers Santa Claus Parade features over 60 marching bands, dance troupes,
festive floats and community groups, attracting over 300,000 spectators along
its route through downtown Vancouver.
One of Vancouver's more unique holiday traditions is the parade of
"Carol Ships"--ships decked out with elaborate Christmas lights--that
take to Vancouver's waterways for nightly processions. To go aboard the Carol
Ships costs money, but it's free to watch the spectacle at any of the shoreside
Carol Ship events, including Carol Ship watching and bonfires in North Burnaby
and West Vancouver's Dundarave Park.
Sponsored by Amacon, the sixth annual Vancouver Tree Lighting
Celebration is a free party at the Jack Poole Plaza at the Convention Centre in
downtown Vancouver. The celebration includes the ceremonial lighting of a
50-foot Christmas Tree, plus live music from the Vancouver Children’s Choir and
Christmas soloists, and special guest appearances by the BC Lions along with
the Felines and Bro Jake from Rock 101, as well as Santa himself.
Kerrisdale Village--a picturesque shopping district in the southern
Vancouver--celebrates the season with lots of free fun, including free horse
and carriage rides (Saturdays only and December 23), live Christmas music in
the streets, and a chance to meet Santa and his elves.
Every year, the residents of East Vancouver's Trinity Street join together
to create one of the best displays of Christmas lights in Vancouver.
Houses along Trinity Street go all-out for the holidays with incredible light
displays and festive decor, inviting their neighbours (and all of Vancouver) to
enjoy a free stroll down the street.
Take part in one of the world's oldest traditions at this annual event
that celebrates the return of the light after the year's shortest day, the
Winter Solstice. The Festival includes lantern displays, live musical
performances, and events in five Vancouver neighbourhoods, including Yaletown,
the Downtown Eastside, Granville Island, and at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in
Chinatown. All Festival events are free, but donations are requested.
Unmissable Christmas Events
Grouse Mountain’s Peak of Christmas, ongoing
through Dec. 24Walk in a winter wonderland a thousand metres above the city at Grouse’s annual holiday celebration, Peak of Christmas. The festivities include Santa’s workshop, an 8,000-square-foot outdoor skating pond, real reindeer, sleigh rides, Christmas choirs – all set against an alpine backdrop. The Peak of Christmas is in included in the price of an Alpine Experience Ticket ($39.95 for adults, $35.95 for seniors, $23.95 for youth 13-18, $13.95 for children 5-12).
Bright Nights – Stanley Park Christmas Train, ongoing through Jan. 1
Come on, it’s lovely weather for a train ride together. Parents of small kiddos consider Bright Nights to be one of the most enjoyable Vancouver holiday traditions. But make no mistake, grown-ups will melt like Frosty in summer over the view of 2 million twinkly lights illuminating Vancouver’s 1000-acre Stanley Park, visible as you ride the park’s Mini Train. Don’t forget to finish with cocoa, roasted nuts, and Christmas carols in the plaza. Rides run 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Afternoon matinees run Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. It’s closed on Christmas. Adults are $10, children and seniors are $7. Matinee train tickets are $5.50.
Vancouver Chamber Choir’s Britten: Saint Nicholas, Dec. 7
Tenor Ben Heppner brings classical Christmas to the Orpheum. The colourful Saint Nicolas cantata by Benjamin Britten tells the stories of the real saint using choir and orchestra. The companion piece for this joyous holiday concert is a rousing rendition of Gloria by Vivaldi. Tickets start at $10. Can’t make this show? Check out VCC’s other Christmas concerts including A Dylan Thomas Christmas.
Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 9; 15-24
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I’m telling you why: Santa Claus really is coming to town. While Vancouver is a brunch kind of place, Kris Kringle can only make it for breakfast. He gets pretty busy around this time of year, if you can imagine. Join Santa for a nosh from 9am-11am on Grouse Mountain. Breakfast includes a sing-a-long, reindeer crafts and admission to Peak of Christmas. Tickets are $49.50 for adults, $29.90 for youth (13-18), $18.40 for children (5-12).
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden , ongoing Dec. 7-Jan. 1
Vancouver’s award-winning botanical garden transforms into sparkly eye candy every year as gardeners deck the boughs with thousands of strings of coloured lights. The big draw is the enthralling “Dancing Lights” on Livingstone Lake, which burst into action every 30 minutes. Kids can also meet Santa in his living room, and high five Svend and Jens, the Scandie Christmas gnomes. Dec. 7 – Jan. 1, 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Closed Christmas. Adult $14.25; Senior and Youth $10.50; Child $7.75.
White Christmas: The Musical, ongoing through Dec. 23
ArtsClub Theatre Company presents this beloved holiday classic with a new roster of crooners that do Bing justice. Based on the classic film, this tap-dancing delight is full of festive tunes: “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” and the ever-popular “White Christmas”— that will fill you with the spirit of the season. The play runs at Stanley Theatre (2750 Granville St.). Tix range from $25 to $74.
Vancouver Christmas Market, ongoing through Dec. 24
The holidays Vancouver Christmas Market-style are romantic, aromatic and twinkly. Stroll inside the village gate into a world of rustic wooden huts surrounding a soaring Tannenbaum. Partake in Glühwein, brats, stollen, and gingerbread. Browse Christmas decor and gifts. Kids will enjoy the old fashioned carousel, gingerbread decorating at the Kids Centre. The market is in Queen Elizabeth Sq. Plaza in downtown Van. Tickets are $5 for adults, except weekdays 11am-4pm, when it drops to $2. Youth (7-12) are $2. Kids (0-6) are free.
The Nutcracker at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Dec. 14-16
For many, attending the Nutcracker is an irresistible annual holiday tradition that began when their kids danced in it. Join Clara on her adventures with princes, sugarplum fairies, evil rat kings and cossacks. In the Royal Winnipeg Ballet version, you may recognize iconic Canadian imagery (a snowy hockey game and a battle on Parliament Hill) in Clara’s fantasy land. Tickets start at $30.25.
Luminescence at Vancouver Aquarium, ongoing through Jan. 22
Perhaps the most creative display of lights this holiday season, Vancouver Aquarium has put together an aquatic light show featuring the incredible world of fluorescent and bioluminescent ocean light. Find out why and how aquatic animals like anemones, cuttlefish, jellies and corals glow in the deep. Don’t go home without a meet-and-greet with Scuba Claus – underwater Santa. The show is included with the price of admission: $21 for adults; $16 for youth 13-18, students and seniors; and $13 for children 4-12.
Lights of Hope at St. Paul’s Hospital, ongoing through Jan. 7
This lovely cavalcade of rainbow stars is a free Christmas attraction you can spot riding buses that run across Burrard Bridge. Every year, Vancouver’s downtown hospital is decked out in 10 kilometres (that’s seawall length) of Christmas lights. The volunteer-built display aims to inspire hospital donations.
Carol Ships Parade of Lights, ongoing through Dec. 23
Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light as you join a floating parade of 50 decorated boats on a nightly excursion through Vancouver waters including Inner Harbour, Outer Harbour and False Creek to as far as West Vancouver, Port Moody and Deep Cove. Vancouver’s cruise ship companies offer many tpes of holiday adventures that offer dinner, carols and dancing.
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival, Dec. 21
Participate in old school winter traditions by celebrating the return of light after the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year. This romantic community event takes place across five Vancouver neighbourhoods including Chinatown, Granville Island and Yaletown. As the name suggests, illumination comes from lantern displays, not bulbs. And it’s free! Learn more here.
The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, ongoing through Dec. 29
Feeling, naughty rather than nice? ArtsClub presents the wickedly funny confessions of an elf on duty at a big box retail store during the holiday season. The show runs at the Revue Stage (1601 Johnston St., Granville Island. Tickets start at $29. “For mature elves only.”
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge, ongoing through Jan. 5
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling, “Yoo hoo” from the stunning, 137-metre long suspension bridge that swings 70 metres above the Capilano River. While the bridge is always a jaw-dropper, it’s exponentially more magical when it’s decked out in twinkly white Christmas lights. There’s also a scavenger hunt, gingerbread cookie decorating and sing-along carols. Open daily 4pm. – 9pm It’s closed Christmas. Adults are $31.95, children are $12, and it’s $65 per family (2 adults and 2 kids).
Surrey/Langley/Delta
Area
Surrey Tree Lighting Festival
November
23, 2013 Surrey Tree Lighting Festival The City of Surrey will illuminate
Central City Plaza and light the City’s official Christmas tree at the annual
Tree Lighting Festival presented by Coast Capital Savings. The highlight of this
spectacular family event will involve Mayor and Council joining Frosty and
Santa as they turn the switch to light the City’s official Christmas tree and
kick off the holiday season in Surrey. - See more at: http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation
Bear Creek Park-Christmas Train
Friday, Dec. 6 till
Sunday January 5 2014 – Closed December 25th
Adults $5.50 Child
$7.00
Open 10am to 4pm
daily
Santa is at the
station Dec 6 to Dec 24. Bring your camera!
Closed Christmas
day
Visit with Santa & receive a
candy cane, Christmas Activity kit and Train ride through the Christmas forest
Magic of
Christmas Parade Langley - Dec 7
Photos with Santa
Want to have a picture taken with
santa??? Then checkout some of the shopping malls as they will have Santa come
and visit, and has some time before the big day to have a photo op with your
little one or as a family
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