Downtown
The Four Seasons Hotel Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and the upper lobby of the Pacific Centre Mall are aglow once again with the annual Festival of Trees. Basically its a Christmas tree decorating smackdown that allows businesses and individuals to show what they can do with handfuls of tinsel, a few snowmen and twinkling lights.
Visitors can vote for their favourite tree by making a donation to the B.C. Childrens Hospital Foundation. From personal experience, I can promise you the little ones will be mesmerized. The Festival of Trees will be on display until Jan. 1.
Hillcrest Park
Its Hands-On Hanukkah at Hillcrest Community Centre thanks to the Jewish Outreach Institutes Public Space Judaism program.
On Dec. 2, the Jewish Community Centre is hosting the free event with a dreidel magic scratch activity, Colour-Me Calendar and holiday music with Josh Neihaus.
The goal of the Jewish Outreach Institute is to make Jewish experiences more accessible by bringing the culture and traditions of Judaism to people where they gather, such as at malls and parks. The family-friendly event takes place Sunday, Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hillcrest, 4575 Clancy Loranger Way, next to Nat Bailey Stadium.
Kerrisdale
Yes Virginia, there are aliens in Kerrisdale.
At least there will be Friday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Monday Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. for a seniors matinee of Above and Beyond This Galaxy at the Kerrisdale Community Centre.
This family-friendly play is a comedy with an environmental message that tells the story of a crew from earth on a Christmas mission to save our planet and its people. The SS Lifesaver, with its Captain Enduring Hope and Commander Divine Joy, land on an unknown planet, encounter the Queen and aliens, meet a god and return to earth.
The cast of 12 ranges in age from six to 70, all members of Characters, the theatre troupe that performs out of the Kerrisdale Community Centre. This is the ninth original play written and directed by Angel Drummond for the Kerrisdale Community Centre.
North Vancouver
Canyon Lights, Capilano Suspension Bridge Parks popular holiday light display, opens Dec. 1 with thousands of lights twinkling throughout the rainforest, across the suspension bridge and on Cliffwalk, the parks newest attraction. Back by popular demand, Canyon Lights will also feature a scavenger hunt for children, gingerbread cookie decorating, glass-blowing demonstrations with Malcolm Macfayden and sing-a-long carols with a holiday band. This season the Capilano Suspension Bridge has extended hours and dates. Canyon Lights tickets are valid all day, with holiday activities taking place from 4 to 9 p.m. daily from Saturday, Dec. 1 to Saturday, Jan. 5.
New this year, Capilano is operating its free shuttle service from Canada Place every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on a first come, first served basis.Proceeds from admission will be donated to the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund, with a goal of raising $20,000 for the organization to support Burn Awareness Week in elementary schools across the province.
Over the past five years, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has donated more than $112,000 to support the fund. For more information on event times, dates and shuttle service schedules, visit capbridge.com or call 604-985-7474.
Oakridge
Join the Chalice Choir for a concert of seasonal music featuring Bachs Cantata No. 63 and a sing-along of Christmas favourites Sunday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, located at the corner of West 49th Avenue and Oak Street. Tickets are $15 at the door and a reception follows the concert.
Email me with any upcoming community events (not all of which have to be Christmas-related.)
Twitter: @sthomas10
