Thursday, Dec. 17
Music
Pugs & Crows Juno Award-winning experimental jazz outfit celebrate the release of Everyone Knows Everyone, Part 2, featuring guest guitarist Tony Wilson with special guests Inhabitants, and Lee Hutzulak. 8pm at The Western Front. Tickets $15 at Front.bc.ca
The Naughty & Nice Show An evening of live music from Spectregates, Eric Campbell & The Dirt, and Pink Licorice hosted by the fierce and fabulous Tiffany Ann Co. 9:30pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $8 at TicketFly.com
Theatre/Dance
Goh Ballet鈥檚 The Nutcracker Experience Clara鈥檚 dream come to life as she embarks on a magical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets in this traditional rendition of the classical masterpiece, performed to the live music of the 麻豆传媒映画Opera Orchestra. 7:30pm at The Centre in Vancouver. Tickets at GohNutcracker.com
Ebeneezer 鈥� A Christmas Ghost Story The holiday classic get a dark and twisted rewrite with an entertaining new musical score in a vividly re-imagined story celebrating the grim and macabre aspects of the original. 8pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com. Runs until Jan. 2.
Art
Streetscapes By Carol McQuaid 麻豆传媒映画artist shows a series of recent cityscapes and townscapes in relief printmaking and watercolour, a series focussed on our built environment and how we inhabit it. Opening reception at 6pm at 麻豆传媒映画East Cultural Centre. Runs until Jan. 25.
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Friday, Dec. 18
Music
Keithmas VI The annual food bank fundrager returns for its sixth year celebrating the legendary Stones guitarist on his 72nd birthday, featuring Rick Hope & His Evil Doers, the Jolts, the Vicious Cycles MC, Elliot C Way & The Wild North, the Rentalmen, the Ballantynes, La Chinga, the Dahle Brothers, and the Tranzmitors. 8pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $15 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife, Neptoon, and TicketWeb.ca
A Gypsy Jazz Christmas Van Django presents a festive Christmas mix of nostalgic favourites, jazz standards, pop tunes, and sing-a-longs all delivered in swinging gypsy-jazz style with a few holiday surprises. 8pm at St. James Community Hall. Tickets $20 at Red Cat, Rufus鈥� Guitars, Prussin Music, Highlife and RogueFolk.bc.ca
A Dylan Thomas Christmas 麻豆传媒映画Chamber Choir鈥檚 performance of A Child鈥檚 Christmas in Wales features the narrartion of Russell Roberts and a special appearance from the 麻豆传媒映画Youth Choir. 8pm at Shaughnessy Heights United Church. Tickets $27.50+ at Ticketmaster.ca
Christmas with Chor Leoni The 麻豆传媒映画men鈥檚 chorus captures the joy and beauty of the festive season with carols and sing-a-longs with a dash of doo-wop and barbershop in their quintessential glorious sound. 4:30pm at St. Andrew鈥檚-Wesley Church. Tickets $30+ at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com. All ages show.
Comedy
Kevin Banner A rising talent in Canadian comedy, having performed with Doug Stanhope, and Norm MacDonald, Banner has appeared at Northwest Comedy Fest, with self-professed 鈥渄ark鈥� sense of humour tackling tough topics with personable storytelling. 8pm & 10:30pm at Comedy Mix. Tickets $18 at TheComedyMix.com
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Saturday, Dec. 19
Music
A Christmas Reprise 2015 A treasured yuletide-season tradition returns as the Cantata Singers celebrate the holidays with a matinee performance featuring a repertoire that includes Poulenc, de Victoria, Tallis, Mendelssohn, and Franz Biebl. 2pm at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Tickets $30 at VancouverCantataSingers.com
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Find The True Meaning 麻豆传媒映画Chamber Choir presents this lively concert performance of the classic, complete with live actors, a jazz duo, and a special appearance from the 麻豆传媒映画Youth Choir. 8pm at Shaughnessy Heights United Church. Tickets $27.50+ at Ticketmaster.ca
Bottom Shelf Bourbon Trio The urban folk-infused bluegrass band hits the stage with special guests the Soots, and Buffalo Jones. 9:30pm at Pat鈥檚 Pub. Tickets $10 at the door only.
JPNSGRLS 麻豆传媒映画garage-pop band play songs from their latest LP Circulation, with special guests The Written Years, and Hawking. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $10 at Red Cat, and TicketFly.com
Nick Lowe鈥檚 Quality Holiday Revue British singer-songwriter arrives to spread some holiday cheer featuring some new Christmas Classics from Quality Street, both solo and with Los Straitjackets. 9pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $35 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife and TicketWeb.ca. All ages show.
soft serve 麻豆传媒映画rockers celebrate the release of their self-titled album in an early show with special guests painted fruit. 8pm at The Cobalt. Tickets $5 at the door only.
Pistolfish Hard rock with funk, reggae, and ska influences from the rock outfit out of Port Moody as they celebrate the release of their EP with special guest Mellt. 8pm at Studio Records. Tickets $12 at the door.
Comedy
Tommy Campbell Stand-up comic, and actor with appearances on The Hour, Canada AM and digital sketch creator whose shorts have been featured on Funny Or Die with an opening set from Greg Kettner and Katie Westman. 7pm & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk鈥檚. Tickets $20 at YukYuks.com
Theatre/Dance
Mixed Nuts Tradition with a twist! Families and kids of all ages can enjoy this modern and engaging retelling of Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥淭he Nutcracker鈥� combining ballet, hip-hop, ballroom and classic grand pas-de-deux. 2pm & 7pm at 麻豆传媒映画Playhouse. Tickets at ArtsUmbrella.com
The Daisy Theatre Returning after two sold-out runs, this production is different, daring, and ridiculous as puppeteer provocateur Ronnie Burkett and his resident company of 40 marionettes ensure no two shows are ever the same. 8pm at 麻豆传媒映画East Cultural Centre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com. Runs until Dec. 20.
Christmas Queen 2 鈥� You Better Watch Out The Christmas Queen saga continues as the larger-than-life, blue-haired lady drops in on ol鈥� Santa at the North Pole to create a little chaos before the big day. 7:30pm at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. Tickets at VTSL.com. Runs until Dec. 20.
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Sunday, Dec. 20
Music
Black Breath Hardcore influenced death, black, and thrash metal band out of Bellingham play tunes from Slaves Beyond Death, with special guests Burning Ghats, Waingro, and Hopeleus. 8pm at The Astoria. Tickets $14 at TicketFly.com
Rock Till You Drop! Uncle Sid, Chilled Clarity, Strip, and Mike Machado put on a rockin鈥� show to raise food for the 麻豆传媒映画Food Bank. 8pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $10 with a nonperishable food item or $15 without at the door only.
Blues for Christmas Vancouver鈥檚 blues community comes together in its 30th year to celebrate the holiday season and raise funds for musicians in need featuring Jim Byrnes, David Gogo, Gary Comeau & the Voodoo Allstars, Billy Dixon鈥檚 Soul Train Express, and many more. 7:30pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $25+ at Ticketmaster.ca
The Singing Heart A magical, heartfelt, powerful performance of holiday favourites including original works as well as choral numbers from Daniel Elder and Jonathan Rathbone. 7:30pm at Ryerson United Church. Tickets $25 at PhoenixChoir.ca
Theatre/Dance
Love Musically Off Key Improv presents this heart-warming, musical tribute to the holiday movie Love Actually exploring the equally romantic, comedic, and musical moments of love, inspired by stories of the audience. 2pm & 8pm at Studio 1398 on Granville Island. Tickets $18 at LoveMusically.BrownPaperTickets.com. Final performance.
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Monday, Dec. 21
Music
A Very Purple Christmas! Join Chin Injeti and a host of others (The Lifetimes, Tonye Aganaba, Dawn Pemberton, Buckman Coe, Kyprios) for live performances echoing the timelessness of Prince, partying like it鈥檚 1999 in support of refugee initiatives. 9:30pm at Guilt & Co. Admission by suggested donation of $20.
Theatre/Dance
Goh Ballet鈥檚 The Nutcracker Experience Clara鈥檚 dream come to life as she embarks on a magical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets in this traditional rendition of the classical masterpiece, performed to the live music of the 麻豆传媒映画Opera Orchestra. 7:30pm at The Centre in Vancouver. Tickets at GohNutcracker.com. Runs until Dec. 22.
Cheap & Fun
Christmas at Canada Place Capture the spirit of the season and stroll along the waterfront to experience the nostalgic tradition of the Woodward鈥檚 windows, Christmas tree displays, crafts, a holiday movie tent and the 15 ft. snow globe you can take a snapshot inside. Visit CanadaPlace.ca听for details.
Festival of Lights VanDusen Botanical Garden lights up the night with their annual holiday festival where thousands of twinkling lights decorate the gardens turning it into a magical winter wonderland, fun for the whole family with holiday treats and photos with Santa. 4:30pm at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Tickets at VanDusenGarden.org. Runs until Dec. 31.
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival The 22nd annual holiday celebration transforms the Classical Chinese Garden into a magical place with hundreds of hand-made lanterns, live music, shadow puppets and hot aromatic tea 鈥� a perfect spot for the family or for a fun date night. 6pm at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Tickets $8+ at EventBrite.ca
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Tuesday, Dec. 22
Music
VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Christmas Checo Tohomaso and the dynamic VOC SSGC mix together the sounds of soul, reggae, Hawaiian, Calypso, jazz, and R&B for an animated evening of toe-tapping, sing-a-long, dancing holiday fun. 7:30pm at St. Andrew鈥檚 Wesley United Church. Tickets $20 at the door only.
Pity Sex Indie rockers out of Ann Arbor, Michigan hit the stage in support of their upcoming release White Hot Moon, with special guests Colleen Green and Eskimeaux. 8pm at The Cobalt. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu, and TicketWeb.ca
Funk The Halls ft. The Funk Hunters 麻豆传媒映画based electronic duo, aka Nick Middleton and Duncan Smith bring their signature bass heavy sound and stunning custom-curated visuals to the stage for the first of two shows with Moontricks, and Exmag. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $32.50 at LiveNation.com听and Ticketmaster.ca
Comedy
Ho! Ho! Ho! The Fictionals present the Christmas Comedy Show, a holiday-themed soire茅 featuring local improv troupes. 8pm at Caf茅 Deux Soleils. Tickets $7 at TheFictionals.com
Theatre/Dance
Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen A special holiday run of the smash hit musical - a powerful and inspirational production of the songs of the Canadian icon from six performers playing seventeen different instruments. 7pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FirehallArtsCentre.ca. Runs until Jan. 9.
Ebeneezer 鈥� A Christmas Ghost Story The holiday classic get a dark and twisted rewrite with an entertaining new musical score in a vividly re-imagined story celebrating the grim and macabre aspects of the original. 8pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com. Runs until Jan. 2.
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Wednesday, Dec. 23
Theatre/Dance
Nothing But Treble: A Vaudeville Affair Join Little Miss Risk as she hosts the ultimate holiday extravaganza, with live jazz from Rossi Gang and vaudeville performances from Burgundy Brixx, Vixen Von Flex, and Frankie Faux. 9pm at Fox Cabaret. Tickets $15 at EventBrite.com
A Christmas Carol: On The Air A tale as old as time breathes new life as the beloved holiday story is transformed into a live 1940s radio show in this stage production from Peter Church. 8pm at Pacific Theatre. Tickets at PacificTheatre.org听or at 604-731-5518. Runs until Jan. 2.
Hansel and Gretel: An East Van Panto This year鈥檚 edition of the weird and wonderful panto is the story of the infamous brother-sister duo, complete with a gingerbread house, and a cute little cannibal witch. 2pm & 7pm at York Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com. Runs until Jan. 3.
Cheap & Fun
Enchanted Nights Bring your imagination to explore the whimsical wonders of a miniature world of artisan fairies and sprite villages donned with magical lights and set to holiday music and live entertainment amongst the dome鈥檚 tropical plants and exotic birds. 4pm at Bloedel Conservatory.Tickets $8.50+ at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com. Runs until Jan. 3.
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Thursday, Dec. 24
Theatre/Dance
A Christmas Story The classic holiday favourite gets a musical spin on the tale familiar to anyone who has ever been a kid. For nine-year-old Ralphie, only an Official Red Ryder BB gun will do under the tree, and this Canadian premiere is a holiday gift for the whole family. 1:30pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until Dec. 27.
It鈥檚 A Wonderful Life The acclaimed holiday production is back, with the story of George Bailey and the townsfolk in Bedford Falls, who with the help of guardian angel Clarence Odbody, are reminded that faith, hope, love, and family are what make life truly wonderful. 1:30pm at Granville Island Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until Dec. 26.
Peter And The Starcatcher The story of the celebrated character traces his journey from lonely orphan to beloved boy hero, on an adventure taking him aboard the decks of the Neverland ship. 1:30pm at Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until Jan. 10.
James and the Giant Peach Back by popular demand, the family-friendly musical invites you to watch as James is shipped off to live with his wretched aunts, and all seems lost until he discovers a magical peach inhabited by fantastical creatures. 2pm at Waterfront Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.CarouselTheatre.ca. Runs until Jan. 3.
