10 Christmas performances to get you in the holiday spirit

Get into the holiday spirit by attending one of these 10 great Christmas performances happening in Vancouver this season. Check out The Nutcracker, Chor Leoni, and more with family and friends.

For more things happening around town, check out our events section.

Bah Humbug 2019

What: Jim Byrnes stars in the 10th annual and final edition of the modern re-telling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, set in the Downtown Eastside. Scrooge, played by JUNO-award winning Byrnes, is a pawnshop operator and hotel landlord who renovicts his tenants. The production is part of SFU Vancouver’s 30th Anniversary.

When: December 5 to 21, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: SFU Woodard’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts — 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley

What: Written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley is the festive followup to Pride and Prejudice. The Bennet sisters get together for Christmas at the home of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy. An unexpected visitor could be a an awkward attempt at a set-up, or a Mary’s chance at romance.

When: December 5, 2019 to January 4, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: The Arts Club Granville Island Stage — 1585 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Yule Duel Vancouver: Carolling for a Cause

What: Hundreds of voices from dozens of Vancouver’s best choirs will sing at the North Plaza, Vancouver Art Gallery, during Yule Duel: BC’s largest outdoor carolling competition. Donations will be collected for May’s Place, which delivers hospice care to vulnerable and marginalized people in the Downtown Eastside.

When: December 5, 2019
Time: 5:30 to 9 pm
Where: North Plaza, Vancouver Art Gallery — 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free, with donations to May’s Place being collected

Vancouver Men’s Chorus: Making Spirits Bright

What: Vancouver Men’s Chorus presents their annual holiday tradition, Making Spirits Bright. Everyone is welcome to enjoy Christmas classics at St. Paul’s Anglican Church as VMC celebrates the Colours of Christmas.

When: December 7 and 8, December 11 to 14, 2019
Time: Doors 7:15 pm, show 8:00 pm (plus matinees at 3 pm on December 7, 8 and 14)
Where: St. Paul’s Anglican Church – 1130 Jervis Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Carolling with Carousel 

What: Carousel Theatre hosts a holiday singalong for the whole family. The Gingerbread Men and special guests will lead attendees in a festive evening of song and holiday celebration.

When: December 14, 2019
Time: 7 pm
Where: The Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island — 1412 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Good Tidings: A Good Noise Gospel Christmas

What: The Good Noise Gospel Choir is the Gospel Choir in residence at Christ Church Cathedral. This holiday season the group is putting on a series of concerts with guest jazz vocalist Maureen Washington.

When: December 14 and 15, December 17, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Christ Church Cathedral — 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver (December 14 and 15); St. John’s Shaughnessy Church — 1490 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver (December 17)
Tickets: Online

Christmas with Chor Leoni: Angels Dance

What: Chor Leoni and the Arts Umbrella Dance Company team up for Angels Dance at the Orpheum on December 21. Featuring traditional Holiday music from the Southwest, Appalachia, Europe, and Canada, Chor Leoni, an ace band, and modern ballet dancers will make the music come alive in a magical holiday experience.

When: December 21, 2019
Time: 4 pm and 8 pm
Where: Orpheum Theatre — 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet – The Nutcracker

What: Ballet BC presents Alberta Ballet in the holiday tradition, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Featuring choreography by Edmund Stripe and sets and costumes designed by Emmy Award-winning designer Zack Brown, The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the evil Mouse King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Musical score performed live by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

When: December 28 to December 30, 2019
Time: 1 pm (December 28, 29, 30), 6:30 pm (December 28, 29)
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre — 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Merry Kissmas – A Royal Romance

What: Enjoy seasonal mirth and merriment at Vancouver TheatreSport’s Merry Kissmas – A Royal Romance. The show’s first half takes suggestions from the audience to parody well-known holiday TV specials and films. That’s followed by a completely improvised, audience-driven rom-com parody in the second half.

When: Now until December 24, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: The Improv Centre – 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

East Van Panto: Pinocchio

What: East Van Panto returns for their seventh year with Pinocchio, created by playwright Marcus Youssef, composer Veda Hille, and director Stephen Drover. When a lonely old ice-cream seller named Gelato is given a puppet by the mysterious Beckwoman of Commercial Drive, his dreams of having a child suddenly come true. Join a locally famous cricket, an angry orca, and a dastardly fox as poor Pinocchio does his best to tell everyone the truth and become a real boy. But why are Pinocchio’s limbs always growing?

When: Now until January 5, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: York Theatre – 639 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: Online