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.
Cheap & Fun
Christ Church Cathedral听Celebrate Christmas with two of the church鈥檚 most popular services of the year. At 1pm, Gospel Christmas for the City, with music by the Good Noise 麻豆传媒映画Gospel Choir. And at 4pm, Carols for the City, with music by the Salvation Army Band. TheCathedral.ca
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Friday, Dec. 25
Cheap & Fun
麻豆传媒映画Aquarium听Drop by the aquarium for some festive fun with the 4-D Polar Express experience, electric eel-powered Christmas tree, LED-lit origami jellies and Pete Clarkson鈥檚 educational marine debris tree, built entirely from trash collected from BC shorelines. Throughout the galleries you鈥檒l find plenty of holiday activities, shows and interactive displays to engage the whole family. Open Christmas Day from 11:30am-4pm.
Ice Skating at Robson Square Glide along the ice at Vancouver鈥檚 only outdoor ice rink, with skate rentals available and group rates for large parties. Open Christmas Day from 12-5pm at Robson Square.
St. Paul鈥檚 Hospital Lights of HopeBring the whole family for a walk-by of Vancouver鈥檚 most cheerful light display 鈥� 100,000 colourful bulbs, shining a light on the hospital鈥檚 biggest fundraiser of the year. From dusk til dawn at 1081 Burrard.
Merry Christmas!
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Saturday, Dec. 26
Music
Greg Beamish Boxing Day Bash 麻豆传媒映画hip-hop artist brings his energizing brand of rap to a post-holiday show with special guests Michael Rushden, Lord Diamonds, Tyler Skyy, Rhymeztein, and Joey Beams. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $10 at TicketFly.com
Syre 麻豆传媒映画DJ/producer performs with special guests Momantix, Thomas Workshop and Wmnstudies. 10pm at Alexander Gastown. Tickets $10 at TicketWeb.ca
Jake Touzel Acoustic folk musician plays in his hometown to celebrate the release of his EP Bad Faith, with special guests Gravity Pistol, Tylor David, and Cassandra Bangel. 7:30pm at Studio Records. Tickets $10 at TicketWeb.ca听or $12 at the door.
Poor Holiday Decisions Unwind from family holiday time with DJs JJEVVV, Con$sent, Akanak, Crazy Boy, and Mookie. 10pm at The Astoria. Tickets $5 at the door only.
Boxing Day Rave-Up!! A perfect cure for your holiday hangover with I, Braineater, Full Leather Jackets, and Shadooby Rats. 9:30pm at LanaLou鈥檚 Rock 鈥榥鈥� Roll Eatery. Tickets $10 at the door only.
Contact Winter EDM music fest features two days of live performances from Above & Beyond, Hardwell, Steve Angello, DJ Snake, Klingande, and many more. 5pm at BC Place Stadium. Tickets $150+ at Contact-Festival.com. Runs until Dec. 27.
Comedy
Ron Vaudry A headlining favourite with appearances at Just For Laughs, Edinburgh Comedy Fest and on network TV, Vaudry鈥檚 cynical, angry and controversial comedic talent is savoured worldwide; with opening sets from David Maclean, Ryan Lachance, and Kevin Foxx. 8pm & 10:30pm at Comedy Mix. Tickets $18 at TheComedyMix.com
Theatre/Dance
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.
Cheap & Fun
Spike & Mike鈥檚 Festival of Animation At long last, Spike & Mike鈥檚 returns to The Rio to your stuff your stocking with a very special sick & twisted Christmas show featuring some filthy old seasonal chestnuts and a few new nuggets of wicked goodness thrown in for good measure. 9:30pm at Rio Theatre. Tickets $15 at RioTheatreTickets.ca
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Sunday, Dec. 27
Music
Jon and Roy Folk rock-reggae outfit from Victoria play in support of their new album Riverside, with special guests Kandle, and Luca Fogale. 7pm at The Imperial. Tickets $17 at TicketWeb.ca
Jazz Vespers The 17-piece 45th Avenue jazz band brings together some of the grooviest musicians in the lower mainland to present the best swing and jazz from Bassie to Goodwin. 4pm at St. Andrew鈥檚 Wesley United Church. Admission by donation.
Match Box Blues Band Local blues musicians perform for the Sunday series featuring Jhan Dudley, the King of the Blues accompanied by John Burton, Bruce Mortimer, Martin Eade, and special guests Bob Voytcheff, and David Friedman. 8pm at Cottage Bistro. Admission by donation.
Comedy
Crafty Comedy Open-mic format comedy from some of Vancouver鈥檚 best; seasoned vets, bright-eyed newbies, a joke contest, 鈥淩oast The Host鈥� challenge and drink specials, brought to you by Jonny Paul. 9pm at 12 Kings Pub (395 Kingsway). No cover.
Theatre/Dance
Kitty Nights: Happy Nude Year As the year comes to a close, usher it in with a big burlesque bash with performances from Burgundy Brixx, Rebel Valentine, Socratease, Dalliance Nyx, and Mz. Harla Quin followed by a glittery dance party with DJ Evilyn. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $7 at the door.
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. 3pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FirehallArtsCentre.ca. Runs until Jan. 9.
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Monday, Dec. 28
Theatre/Dance
Sleeping Beauty Panto A modern approach to the beloved fairy tale from writer/director Catherine Morrison maintains the magic and romance of the original while injecting a little contemporary comedy. 7pm at Metro Theatre. Tickets at MetroTheatre.com. Runs until Jan. 2.
Comedy
2015 Year In Review A year full of laughs all packed into one show as the 麻豆传媒映画Theatre Sports League鈥檚 improvisers take you on a journey through the biggest, hottest headlines of 2015. 7:30pm & 9:15pm at The Improv Centre. Tickets at Tickets.VTSL.com
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. 12-6pm daily. Visit CanadaPlace.ca听for details. Runs until Dec. 30.
Festival of Lights听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.
Events
Youth Poetry Slam Feeling haggard and low on batteries? Come recharge and reinvigorate at December鈥檚 slam devoted to poets 13-20 years of age with feature performer Maya Hersh, of Seattle. 8pm at Caf茅 Deux Soleils. Tickets $4+ at the door.
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Tuesday, Dec. 29
Music
Hot Chip British electronica band performs a DJ set with support from local spinsters My Gay Husband! and Kalibo. 8pm at Fortune Sound Club. Tickets $25 at BPLive.ElectroStub.com
Nero British electronica trio - featuring producers Dan Stephens and Joe Ray with vocalist Alana Watson - performs a DJ set. 9pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $42.50+ at LiveNation.com听and Ticketmaster.ca
Comedy
Novelty Act Sara Bynoe and Riel Hahn are back with a night of comedy, and storytelling with half priced cocktails in a fabulous intimate setting. 8pm at The Emerald. Tickets $8 at EventBrite.com听or $10 at the door.
Reminisce: A Comedic Look Back at 2015 The last Hot Improv Tuesday of 2015, with The Fictionals and friends takes a comedic look back at the biggest headlines, and hottest stars of the year 鈥� all powered by your suggestions. 8pm at Caf茅 Deux Soleils. Tickets $7 at TheFictionals.com
Theatre/Dance
The Nutcracker Alberta Ballet presents their exquisite production of the holiday classic, set in turn of the century Imperial Russia, an era of opulent grandeur magnified by the costume design of Zack Brown, and choreography of Edmund Stripe. 7:30pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca. Runs until Dec. 31.
Art
Works from Dorothy Doherty and Anne Gaze An examination of the (sometimes devastating) effects of human kind on the natural world surrounding us in a variety of mediums from two Canadian artists. Opening reception 6-8pm at 麻豆传媒映画East Cultural Centre (In The Gallery). Runs until Jan. 23.
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Wednesday, Dec. 30
Theatre/Dance
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. Special talk back performance. Tickets at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com. 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.
The Rivals Blackbird Theatre celebrates a decade on the stage with this wickedly witty, joyfully irreverent production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan鈥檚 comic masterpiece, a tale of mistaken identity and overwrought romance. 8pm at 麻豆传媒映画East Cultural Centre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com. Runs until Jan. 23.
Cheap & Fun
Bright Nights Christmas Train All aboard the Christmas train as it travels the Stanley Park Train plaza to see the sparkle of over three million twinkling lights, breathtaking displays, and live performers along the route. 10am-2:30pm, and 3-10pm daily at Stanley Park. Tickets at TicketLeader.ca. Runs until Jan. 2.
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. 31
Family First New Years Eve Cozy up to the warmth of the fire pits for hot apple cider and s鈥檓ores after snow tubing, tobogganing, and a family-friendly show from Tickles & Yowza the Clowns, Shmendrick the Wizard and Vesta fire entertainers, and stay for an early countdown at 9pm. 6pm at Mount Seymour. Tickets at $15+ at WebSales.MountSeymour.com
Family New Year鈥檚 Eve on Grouse Kick off 2016 at the peak of 麻豆传媒映画with a glide on the outdoor mountaintop pond, a snow carpet down the new Sliding Zone, or be awed by the magical outdoor light walk around Blue Grouse Lake or the live family-friendly performances all followed by a special 9pm countdown for the littlest revelers. 5pm at Grouse Mountain. Tickets $7-$20 at GrouseMountain.com
Family New Year鈥檚 Party Ring in the new year with the whole family this year with a fun packed evening full of entertainment, face painting, pizza making and dinner with an early countdown for the wee ones. 4pm at Rocky Mountain Flatbread (1876 West 1st Avenue). Tickets $20 at RockyMountainFlatbread.ca
New Years Eve Van 麻豆传媒映画finally gets its own outdoor party, fun for the whole family. Visit the 102.7 PEAK stage at Canada Place Way for live music from Bed of Stars, Current Swell, We Are The City, The Matinee and more! Kid-friendly countdown at 9pm, in conjunction with the east coast and again at midnight complete with fireworks over the harbour. 6pm at Waterfront (Coal Harbour).
New Year鈥檚 Eve at Ten Ten Tapas Vancouver鈥檚 own horn ace Gabriel Hasselbach hosts a New Year鈥檚 Eve dinner bash, with guest vocalists Lisa Fennell and Cecile LaRochelle, and pianist-singer Rob Weaver. 5:30pm & 8:30pm at Ten Ten Tapas (1010 Beach Avenue). Tickets $65+ at EventBrite.ca
