35 things to do in Vancouver this week: December 4 to 8

The first week of December is upon us, and we’re here to help you make the most of it with our 35 things to do from Monday, December 4 to Friday, December 8. Concerts, Hockey, and more.

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

Monday, December 4

Pixies with The Orwells

• What: Pixes have been rocking out for over 30 years, and they’re in Vancouver on December 4 with special guests The Orwells.
• When: Monday, December 4, 2017
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 649 Cambie Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online

Gathering of Meetups Holiday Social

• What: A fun evening with a diverse group of local Meetup groups in Tech, Tech Sales, Design, Finance and more. This will be a great opportunity to connect with other community builders, learn about what different groups are doing, and discuss ways to collaborate.
• When: Monday, December 4, 2017
• Time: 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• Where: Mahony & Sons – 601 Stamps Landing, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, Free

Canning for the holidays with Benedetta

• What: Join Benedetta Diamanti, a graduate of the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy, in this intimate hands-on class to learn everything about the boiling water bath canning technique, from the most useful tools to the best ingredients and the safest practices. Benedetta will teach you how to make a red wine jelly and a cinnamon-scented pear and cocoa jam. You will bring home a delicious jar and some nice ideas for tasteful and homemade Christmas gifts!
• When: Monday, December 4, 2017
• Time: 6:30 to 9:30 pm
• Where: Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre – 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver
• Register: Online, $55 or $50 for ICC members

20th Annual European Union Film Festival

• What: The Cinematheque’s annual showcase of new cinema from the European Union is presented with the Vancouver consulates and the Ottawa embassies of the member states of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Union to Canada. This year’s festival features entries from 25 EU members.
• When: Now to December 4, 2017
• Time: Various times
• Where: The Cinematheque – 1131 Howe Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online

Lean Into Financial Success & Independence

• What: An informative and inspiring discussion on how to create and maintain financial success and independence in your life. Featuring a presentation by Cathy Derksen.
• When: Monday, December 4, 2017
• Time: 6 to 8:30 pm
• Where: Big Rock Urban Brewery & Eatery – 310 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $7

Beautiful Scars: Tom Wilson

• What: In Beautiful Scars, Canadian musician Tom Wilson recounts his search for the truth about his family from the shores of the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk Reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline. Outgoing Vancouver Writers Festival Artistic Director Hal Wake converses with Wilson about family, music, class, secrets and survival.
• When: Monday, December 4, 2017
• Time: 7:30 pm
• Where: Vancouver Public Library – Alice McKay Room – 350 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, Free

ManTalks Vancouver: Resilience & Expanding Your Edge

• What: ManTalks is a growing community of men having bold conversations and redefining what it means to be a man in this day and age. Featuring speakers
  Dr. Jeff Almon, Dov Baron, and Tyrell Mara.
• When: Monday, December 4, 2017
• Time: 7 to 10 pm
• Where: Vancouver Nissan – 2430 Burrard Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $30-$40

Tuesday, December 5

Little Dickens: A Christmas Carol

• What: The crew at the Cultch are taking on A Christmas Carol with a big twist! Ronnie Burkett’s hilarious version of the Charles Dickens classic features magic, mayhem, and marionettes in a production that needs to be seen to be believed. Led by Miss Esme Massengill, the grand dame of the Daisy Theatre, this adults-only show is sure to be a raucous treat.
• When: December 5 to December 22, 2017
• Time: Various time
• Where: The Cultch – 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: At The Cultch; $22-$69

Vancouver Giants versus Portland Winterhawks

• What: Vancouver Giants face off with Portland Winterhawks in Western Hockey League action
• When: Tuesday, December 5, 2017
• Where: Langley Events Centre – 7888 200 Street, Langley
• Tickets: Online

Franz Ferdinand

• What: Franz Ferdinand’s second single, Take Me Out, arrived in early 2004. The single propelled them to greater popularity in the UK and laid the groundwork for the band’s debut album. Their most recent project, 2013’s Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, featured collaborations with Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and Alexis Taylor, Peter Björn & John’s Björn Yttling, Veronica Falls’ Roxanne Clifford, and DJ Todd Terje.
• When: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 and Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Time: Doors open at 8 pm, showtime is 9 pm
• Where: The Commodore Ballroom – 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Via Live Nation, $49.50

Connecting Communities: Evolving our coastal ferry service

• What: Destination BC CEO Marsha Walden will speak to the influence of the tourism sector, and following her keynote will be joined by a panel of industry experts to further discuss the industry and its benefits.
• When: Tuesday, December 5, 2017
• Time: 11:30 am
• Where: Pan Pacific Hotel – Crystal Pavilion Ballroom – 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $69-$138

Dunkirk at Science World OMNIMAX

• What: One of this year’s best-received films is making a limited engagement at the giant OMNIMAX theatre inside the dome of Science World. Dunkirk directed by Christopher Nolan has been highly regarded for its realistic and accurate depiction of the historic evacuation event in World War II.
• When: Now to Thursday, December 7, 2017 (no screening on Monday, December 4)
• Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm. The film runs 107 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.
• Where: Science World – 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
• Admission: $18 for adult; $15 for child and senior. Available here.

VABF Monthly Open Studio: Zine Culture Clash

• What: Vancouver Art Book Fair’s Monthly Open Studio presentation of Zine Culture Clash, a panel discussion on the past, present and possible futures of zine culture presented in collaboration with ArtsScene Vancouver.
• When: Tuesday, December 5, 2017
• Time: 7 to 11 pm
• Where: 236 East Pender Street, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Arc’teryx Winter Workout

• What: A workout with fitness coach Zack MacDermottand to keep your mind and body strong at the start of the winter season. Zack will be focusing on high intensity interval training, with an emphasis on full body functional movements so you are feeling set whether you’re a shoulder season trail runner or gearing up for epic skiing days.
• When: Tuesday, December 5, 2017
• Time: 7:30 to 8:15 pm
• Where: Arc’teryx – 813 Burrard Street, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Wednesday, December 6

How Star Wars Saved My Life – Some Assembly Theatre Company

• What: Lightsabers meet… memories of childhood sexual abuse? Breaking the silence through the power of Star Wars, this Canadian play confronts our hangups around abuse and blame. Jedi mind tricks are put to the test in this journey of healing and transformation. Take note, Disney.
• When: December 6 to 10, 2017
• Time: Various times
• Where: Performance Works, Granville Island – 1218 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: At Brown Paper Tickets; $20-$25

O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy 

• What: When catastrophe strikes at James and Jamesy’s Christmas tea party, the friends leap into action, finding innovative and hilarious solutions to keep them afloat. These masters of physical comedy—with over 20 comedy awards to their name—sweep the audience out to sea in a jolly aquatic escapade brimming with whimsy, action, and ingenuity in a celebration of friendship at Christmas.
• When: Wednesday, December 6 and Thursday, December 7, 2017
• Where: Kay Meek Centre – 1700 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, $19.40-$39

The Killers

• What: The Killers are touring their newly released album Wonderful Wonderful, the band’s first album in five years. The Killers, named after a fictional band referenced in the music video for the New Order song Crystal, were formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by frontman Brandon Flowers. They quickly became known for their arena-pleasing anthems in songs like Somebody Told Me, Mr Brightside, and All These Things I’ve Done.
• When: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Time: Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm
• Where: Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre – 6066 Thunderbird Blvd, Vancouver
• Tickets: On Ticketmaster, $55-$95

No Respect – A Donut Homage

• What: U-Feast Vancouver latest hearty serving of edu-tainment will be during the No Respect – A Donut Homage at Cartem’s Donuterie. Cartems’ owner and Executive Chef Rags Narine will be creating a donut-centric feast with a combination of savoury and sweet dishes throughout the night. Take a seat at the communal tables at the shop’s West Pender location and enjoy a five-course menu boasting dishes like Accras Fritters, Tomato Dumpling Chowder, Stuffed Duck Confit, Donut Ice Cream, and Brie Donuts.
• When: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Time: 7 pm
• Where: Cartem’s Donuterie – 534 W Pender Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: $60 per seat; buy online

Free iOS Essentials Workshop

• What: A free iOS Essentials Workshop, where members of the Lighthouse Labs education team will help you piece together your first mobile app. This workshop will give you an introduction to the building blocks of iOS development, and you’ll be creating a simple music player similar to Spotify or Apple Music. Throughout the 3 hour workshop, you’ll be introduced to the the elements of building apps for iOS, including storyboarding, user experience design, and Apple’s programming language Swift. No coding experience is required, and the workshop is free to attend.
• When: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Time: 6 pm
• Where: Lighthouse Labs – #350 128 West Hastings, Vancouver
• Register: Online, Free

A Jann Arden Christmas with the VSO

• What: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra plays host to songstress Jann Arden for one night only on December 6. With conductor William Rowson at the helm, the show will feature festive tunes including “Silver Bells” and “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”.
• When: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: Orpheum Theatre – 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: At Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; $31-$90

Vancouver Christmas Market

• What: The 8th annual authentic German-inspired Christmas Market creates the perfect atmosphere to get into the holiday spirit. Experience a selection of traditional food and beverages, and browse vendors offering authentic wood carvings and toys, knitted goods, nutcrackers, pottery, and other unique gifts. There will be tons of kids activities and the opportunity to ride downtown Vancouver’s only Christmas Carousel.
• When: Now to Sunday, December 24, 2017
• Time: Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm (closes at 6 pm on Christmas Eve)
• Where: Jack Poole Plaza – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
• Price: $10 per person and $4 for kids, all varieties of tickets available online

Thursday, December 7

Yule Duel

• What: Hundreds of voices from over 20 of Vancouver’s best choirs will again echo through the streets of Gastown on Thursday, December 7, 2017 during Yule Duel: BC’s largest outdoor carolling competition.
• When: Thursday, December 7, 2017
• Time: 6 to 9 pm
• Where: Gastown
• Admission: Free, but a $5 donation to May’s Place is suggested.

The Realistic Joneses

• What: Keeping up with the Joneses goes to new extremes, as two couples with identical homes battle it out through domestic mundanity. When your last name has become emblematic of the struggle to keep up appearances, then what’s left at the end of the road?
• When: December 7 to 17, 2017
• Time: Various times
• Where: The Cultch – 1985 Venables Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: At The Cultch; $20-$33

Ten Things I Hate About Yule

• What: A night of anti-Xmas comedy cheer from Dylan Rhymer, Simon King, Jenny Toews, Harris Anderson, Valerio Miconi, host Brett Martin and more.
• When: Thursday, December 7, 2017
• Time: 9 pm
• Where: Morrissey Pub – 1227 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door

Make It! Vancouver 2017 

• What: Vendors from all over Canada coming to Vancouver this month to sell their handmade wares at the PNE Forum’s holiday-themed Make It! show this December. The unique event is kicking off on Thursday, December 7 and runs until Sunday, December 10. And you’ll be able to shop from more than 265 vendors selling beautiful items made by hand, with love.
• When: Thursday, December 7 to 10, 2017
• Time: 11 am to 9 pm (Thursday and Friday), 10 am to 6 pm (Saturday), 11 am to 5 pm (Sunday)
• Where: PNE Forum – 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
• Price: $8, available at the door. Kids 12 and under are free

Bah Humbug!

• What: A unique take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this production is a local-flavoured, modern-day version set in East Vancouver. It addresses current social issues such as the housing crisis, poverty, addiction and the struggle for reconciliation. Featuring a cast of diverse talent, including many First Nations artists, Bah Humbug! is celebrating its eighth year.
• When: December 7 to 16, 2017
• Time: Various times
• Where: SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts – 149 W Hastings St, Vancouver
• Tickets: From Eventbrite, $20-$35

A Christmas Carol – Gateway Theatre

• What: There have been many versions of Charles Dicken’s classic tale, but the original Christmas Carol never goes out of style. Join Gateway Theatre and be transported back to Christmas Eve in 20th Century London, where an old miser by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, when three spirits lead him through his past, present and future. A poignant tale of family, love, forgiveness and redemption, this perennial Christmas story will give you all the feels.
• When: December 7 to 24, 2017
• Where: Gateway Theatre – 6500 Gilbert Rd, Richmond
• Tickets: From Gateway Theatre, $27.62-$52.38

One Hitter Quitter Grand Finale

• What: The One Hitter Quitter Grand Finale brings all the winners of all the 2017 One Hitter Quitter Competitions together for a massive showdown. Featuring headliner Steev Letts and MC John Guy.
• When: Thursday, December 7, 2017
• Time: 9 pm
• Where: Seven Dining Lounge – 53 West Broadway, Vancouver
• Tickets: $7

Friday, December 8

VSO presents: A Traditional Christmas

• What: Far removed from the crowded malls and busy streets, a special performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) awaits those who are looking to slow things down, even just for a few hours this Christmas season. The music is conducted by William Rowson, an accomplished composer, whose work has been featured at at the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, UBS Verbier Festival, the Banff Centre’s Summer Music Series, and Niagara on the Lake International Chamber Music Festival.
• When: Friday, December 8 to Sunday, December 10, 2017
• Time: Times vary by date, check the website for details
• Where: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church –1022 Nelson St, Vancouver
• Tickets: Available online

Vancouver Singing Christmas Tree

• What: A beloved Vancouver Christmas tradition returns to town this December with the Vancouver Singing Christmas Tree. And while tickets to the event’s 50th Anniversary are now sold out, those who did manage to purchase a ticket can look forward to the family-friendly festive atmosphere the event has become so well-known for. Taking place at Broadway Church on select dates in December, the event features a choir of over 100 singers, as well as ensembles, an orchestra, actors, dancers and acrobats.
• When: Select dates from December 8 until December 17, 2017
• Time: 3 pm and 7 pm and 7:30 pm, depending on the date
• Where: Broadway Church – 2700 East Broadway, Vancouver
• Tickets: Sold out. Those who do have tickets to any one of the performances are reminded that all tickets expire 30 minutes before each show begins, at which point others who have not pre-purchased a ticket are allowed to enter.

Ofenbach

• What: Garnering support from the likes of Tiësto and Robin Schulz, French duo Ofenbach brings their tropical grooves to Celebrities for #StereotypeFridays.
• When: Friday, December 8, 2017
• Time: Doors 10 pm
• Where: Celebrities– 1022 Davie Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Online, Free RSVP – valid till 11:30 pm

Vancouver Stealth

• What: Vancouver Stealth kicks off their National Lacrosse League season on December 8 against the Colorado Mammoth
• When: Friday, December 8, 2017
• Where: Langley Events Centre – 7888 200 Street, Langley
• Tickets: Online

How I Met My Mother: A Back to the Future Parody Musical – Geekenders

• What: A burlesque homage to Back to the Future, featuring talented performers of all shapes and (tassel) sizes. Featuring original parodies of your favourite showtunes, escape the season with a trip through time.
• When: December 8 to 10, 2017
• Time: 8 pm
• Where: The Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver
• Tickets: At Rio Theatre; $20-$25

Party in the Plaza

• What: Heat up from the winter cold by joining a hundred of your new friends on the dance floor, at Lumiere Vancouver. Party in the Plaza is a giant winter dance party featuring limbo, dance battle, trampoline, conga line, sing-a-longs, slow dance, soul train, and a walk off. Brought to you by Party4Health, Vancouver Pride Society, and Lumiere 2017.
• When: Friday, December 8, 2017
• Time: 8 to 11 pm
• Where: Jim Deva Plaza – 1200 Bute Street, Vancouver
• Price: Free

Jhené Aiko

• What: Songstress Jhené Aiko will be bringing her sultry tunes to Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre as she embarks on her Trip tour. The 29-year-old R&B star is known for her airy vocals and poetic lyrics. Her musical journey took off with the release of Sail Out (2013), and she rose to stardom after featuring on Drake’s hit “From Time” from his 2013 album Nothing Was the Same. Aiko has since gone on to release Souled Out (2014) and Twenty88 (2016) which was a collaboration EP with her boyfriend, rapper Big Sean.
• When: Friday, December 8, 2017
• Time: Doors at 7 pm
• Where: Vogue Theatre – 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
• Tickets: Via Ticketfly.com