Thousands of Vancouverites are expected to kick off the Christmas season on Saturday at the city鈥檚 sweetest family festival 鈥� but this year there鈥檚 a little more for adults to enjoy too.
听is making its听seventh annual return to Downtown Vancouver, transforming the heritage听district听of Yaletown into a winter wonderland.听 Lights and candy canes will adorn lamp poles and costumed characters will parade down the street as the area comes alive with holiday cheer for one special day.
More than 15,000 revellers packed Mainland Street for the free outdoor bash last year, but there鈥檚 a few new additions to the festive event you might want to know about.
Firstly, CandyTown will be even bigger. It鈥檚 expanding onto听Hamilton and Davie streets.
Secondly, adults will have their听own set of attractions to听choose from on Hamilton Street.
Festivalgoers can dance the听day away at an听interactive public disco decked out with a glitter station, take a stroll听through a听life-sized inflatable igloo, or enjoy live ice sculpture听demonstrations. 听
Also on-site will be Aunt听Leah鈥檚 Christmas Tree Lot pop-up, and听environment enthusiasts can check out the Vancouver听Aquarium AquaZone Program听and Science World鈥檚 鈥楽cience on the Spot鈥� demonstration听station.
If you want to have a cocktail...
If you鈥檙e 19 plus you can听eat, drink and be merry with a self-guided ,听kicking off听at the Vietnamese hot spot, House Special.
There are 13 Christmas cocktails to enjoy at participating restaurants and bars along the tour 鈥� you can look forward to sipping on the Candy Fizz, Tipsy Toffee, and S鈥橫ore Please!
If you鈥檙e hungry鈥�
Hearty appetites can flock to a听diverse听array of food trucks that will satisfy every craving, including Gary's听Kettle Corn, Sable听Shortbread, Cannoli King, Damien鈥檚 Belgian Waffles, Sweet听Thea Bakery and more.
If you want to start Christmas Shopping鈥�
The听excitement continues onto Davie Street, where there听will be an extension of artisan vendors听and gift tents.
There鈥檚 more鈥�
听
The list of things to do and see is almost as long as most Christmas wish lists. There鈥檒l be lots of crafts and gifts,听a life-sized Santa sleigh ice carving, dancing gingerbreads,听live music, and roving musicians.听 Kids can create their own candy kebobs at the Candy Hut or visit听jolly old Saint Nicholas and the听Ice Queen.听 Plus, guests can enjoy听visits to Engine 374 鈥� Canada鈥檚 most historic steam听locomotive 鈥� decked out in听twinkling Christmas lights for the holiday season.
Or you can really get in the Christmas spirit and embark on a magical horse-drawn carriage ride outside the Roundhouse听Community Centre听Turntable for a suggested $2 donation to the B.C.听Children鈥檚 Hospital.
One things for sure, CandyTown definitley has something to ignite the festive spirits of even the most stubborn听of scrooges...
Featured events:
- 鈥淎ll I Want for Christmas鈥� Gift Market
- Food Trucks
- Live Ice Carving
- Horse Carriage Rides by donation听 (in front of )
- Visits with Santa and the Ice Queen
- Live Music
- Candy Making at the Candy Hut
- Christmas Tree Lot
- Inflatable Igloo
Attendees are encouraged to听bring cash for donations that will benefit听,听听and the听.
Donations will be accepted for horse-drawn carriage听rides and听visits with Santa and the Ice Queen.
When: November 24, noon 鈥� 7 pm
Where:1152 Mainland Street,听Vancouver
Cost: Free
