21 free things to do in Vancouver in November

That distinct nip in the air can only mean one thing, winter is coming! Slowly immerse yourself into the season by taking in some of the free things to do in Vancouver on our affordable events list for November.

Concerts and Shows

Cartems Acoustic Vol 1

• What: Listen to intimate acoustic tunes by Divided Heaven, Dadweed, and special guests along with your specialty coffee and donut.
• When: Saturday, November 5, 3 – 6 pm
• Where: Cartems Donuterie Main Street – 2190 Main Street, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Arts

Shed Yr Skin

• What: The first solo show for local tattoo artist and illustrator Nomi Chi, Shed Yr Skin features new drawings and paintings from the artist. Themes of transformation, desire, and death, and sex are manipulated and explored with an air of humour, as images hint at a broader narrative beyond the picture frame.
• Where: Hot Art Wet City – 2206 Main Street, Vancouver
• When: November 3 – 26
• Price: Free

Taiwanese Puppet Festival

• What: As a part of the playful and insightful Taiwanese Puppet Festival, The Museum of Anthropology has invited two award-winning puppetry ensembles from Taiwan to share their unique traditional and contemporary approaches to puppet theatre.
• Where: Museum of Anthropology at UBC – 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouve
• When: Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6
• Price: Free with museum admission

Rewrite History: A Theatre Creation Workshop for Youth

• What: Whether you’re an aspiring playwright, composer, songwriter, performer, director or choreographer, join professional theatre makers Deneh and Julie for this theatre creation workshop for youth aged 14-25.
• Where: Museum of Anthropology at UBC – 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver
• When: Saturday, November 6, 2:30 – 4:30 pm
• Price: Free with RSVP on Eventbrite

Vancouver Art Guild 16th Annual Show & Sale

• What: Head to the Vancouver Art Guild 16th annual show and sale where over 30 artists will be showcasing their work.
• Where: Jericho Hill Centre – 4196 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
• When: Saturday, November 6, 11 am – 5 pm
• Price: Free

Ulterior Motif Art Series

• What: Ulterior Motif is a photography series based around women’s alter egos; and ego that has been suppressed, that is yet unknown, that we want to fulfill, a dream, or a manifestation of our concentrated self – one that we choose to not show out of fear, lack of confidence, or restrictions within our society.
• Where: 1755 W 3rd Avenue, Vancouver
• When: Wednesday, November 9, 8 – 11 pm
• Price: Free

Dance Allsorts: Hong Kong Exile and Mahaila Patterson O’Brien

• What: Experience a contemporary dance performance and workshop that’s open to all ages and abilities.
• Where: 1755 W 3rd Avenue, Vancouver
• When: Sunday, November 13, 2 – 4:30 pm
• Price: Pay what you can on Eventbrite

Eastside Culture Crawl

• What: The Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver’s highly anticipated four-day festival of visual arts, design, and crafts, celebrates its milestone 20th anniversary this year with nearly 500 artist studios, homes, and garages participating throughout Vancouver’s Eastside.
• When: November 17 – 20
• Where: Various locations
• Price: Free

Shopping

SCRAPE Records Final Pop-Up Shoppe

• What: The final SCRAPE records inventory clear out is set to go down coincidentally in the same month as what would’ve been their 19th Anniversary. Head back in the evening for a final pop-up show featuring both local and international bands.
• When: Saturday, November 19
• Where: Venue – 881 Granville, Vancouver
• Price: Free during the day, $25 for the late shows

Odds and Ends

Groundswell SocialS

• What: Groundswell SocialS is a weekly gathering featuring local folk (including entrepreneurs, leaders, activists, professionals, & other inspiring people), who are making on-the-ground, real positive change and are eager to share their experience and knowledge with the greater community.
• When: Tuesday, November 1, 5 – 8 pm
• Where: Groundswell Cafe & Learning Space – 566 Powell Street, Vancouver
• Price: Free with RSVP on Eventbrite

MAKE IT POP!

• What: Join in on a night of pub trivia with a design-nerd twist.
• When: Thursday, November 3, 7 – 9:30 pm
• Where: The Cannibal Café – 433 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Price: Free with RSVP on Eventbrite

National Girls Learning Code Day Game-Making with Scratch

• What: On National Girls Learning Code Day, Girls Learning Code is hosting a beginner level workshop for girls 8-13 years old and their parent/guardian/aunt/older sibling to learn how to create a website with Scratch!
• When: Saturday, November 12, 1 – 4 pm
• Where: Unbounce – 401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
• Price: Register by donation on Eventbrite

Ninjutsu Sundays

• What: Ninjitsu is the ancient art of the ninja shadow warriors of Japan. It is a unique method of moving and thinking which developed a system often referred to us the art of winning.
• Where: Vital Health Medical Clinic Kitsilano – 1855 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
• When: Sunday, November 13, 10:30 am – noon
• Price: Register for free on Eventbrite

Chakra Sound Bath

• What: Relax, de-stress, purify, release, heal, transform, connect, re-align, and ascend into a chakra sound bath played by sound healer and recording artist Colin Hillstrom.
• Where: 4795 W 6th Avenue, Vancouver
• When: Thursday, November 17, 7 – 8:30 pm
• Price: Free by donation

Lights of Hope

• What: Join thousands of Vancouverites on Thursday, November 24 to experience the 2016 fireworks display at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver.
• When: Thursday, November 24, 6 – 8 pm
• Where: St. Pauls’s Hospital – 1081 Burrard Street
• Price: Free

Mathom Mashup Swap Meet

• What: Some people will drop in, leave some mathoms (hobbit word for things you no longer need but would have value for someone else), pick up some items to give a new home to; others will come and stay for arts activities for all ages, converse, and visit with neighbours.
• When: Sunday, November 27, 2 – 5 pm
• Where: MLA David Eby’s Community Office – 2909 West Broadway, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Christmas

Merry & Bright Holiday Party Pop-Up

• What: Join the ladies from Make Merry Party Shop as they ring in the holiday season at Chorus & Clouds Studio with pop-up featuring products for the holiday season and New Year’s Eve, plus birthday parties, weddings and more.
• When: November 17 – 20
• Where: Chorus & Clouds – 197 East 17th Avenue, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Kimono & Japanese Gifts Xmas Sale

• What: Pick up a unique and beautiful Japanese gift for someone special or for yourself. There will be kimomos, yukatas, obis, tabi socks, geta sandals, cute charms, hair accessories, jewelry, noren, purses, and more to purchase.
• When: November 19, 11 am – 4 pm
• Where: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre – 100–6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby
• Price: Free

Christmas Benefit Concert

• What: Enjoy an evening of holiday music featuring Christian recording artists Michael Hart and Garth Bowen.
• When: Friday, November 25, 7 pm
• Where: First Lutheran Church – 5745 Wales Street, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Xmas Cultural Market

• What: Join the Latinos in Action Society for a daytime holiday market for all ages featuring Latin and Caribbean food for sale including tacos, empanadas, patties, and plantains.
• When: Saturday, November 26, 1 – 7 pm
• Where: The Legion Grandview – 2205 Commercial and 6th, Vancouver
• Price: Free

CandyTown 2016

• What: See Yaletown’s heritage district transform into a winter wonderland complete with visits from Santa, arts and crafts, and tons of sweet treats. Between the ice sculptures, gift market, and Christmas themed cocktails, we don’t know what we’re most excited for this year.
• Where: Mainland Street (Yaletown), Vancouver.
• When: Saturday, November 26 from 12 to 7 pm
• Price: Free