Enjoy the first weekend of 2020 with our list of 27 things to do in Vancouver from January 3 to 5. Enjoy Vancity Comedy Extravaganza, Brackendale Eagle Festival, and more.
And for more things happening around town, be sure to check out our events section.
Friday, January 3
The Jim Cuddy Band
What: The Jim Cuddy Band brings the Countrywide Soul Tour to Commodore Balltoom on January 3. Expect to hear re-imaginings of solo and Blue Rodeo hits, plus classic covers. Featuring special guest Oh Susanna.
When: January 3, 2020
Time: 9 pm
Where: Commodore Ballroom — 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
2020 Year of Predictions at Vancouver TheatreSports
Vancouver TheatreSports League
What: Vancouver TheatreSports’ ensemble takes a comedic look into the future with predictions of the top news stories of 2020.
When: Now until January 4, 2020
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: The Improv Centre – 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Heritage Christmas
What: Take a trip back to holidays past at Burnaby Village Museum with Heritage Christmas. See vintage-themed displays, listen to live music, and enjoy theatre performances. There will also be crafts for children, baking in the Farmhouse, and more.
When: Now until January 3, 2020
Time: 1 to 9 pm
Where: Burnaby Village Museum – 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Admission: Free, carousel rides $2.65
Festive Set Menu at TWG Tea Salon & Boutique
What: The Festive Set Menu at TWG features a festive special mocktail, a main course of lightly seared foie gras and duck breast, and a choice of two desserts also with the Magic Christmas Tea, among other things.
When: Daily until January 3
Where: TWG Tea Salon & Boutique – 1070 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Reserve: Online
Festivale Tropicale at Bloedel Conservatory
What: Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park will host Festivale Tropicale – a celebration of the city’s indoor tropical paradise that first opened its doors on December 6, 1969. Already a popular year-round attraction for its 150 free-flying birds, lush gardens, and exotic plants and flowers, Bloedel Conservatory is decorated for the holiday season with tropical-themed décor, lights, and music.
When: Daily until January 5, 2020
Time: 10 am to 9 pm
Where: Bloedel Conservatory – Queen Elizabeth Park — 4600 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tickets Info: Online
Transits and Returns at Vancouver Art Gallery
Vancouver Art Gallery/Shutterstock
What: Transits and Returns showcases local First Nations artists and those from communities throughout the Pacific region. Transits and Returns explores wide-ranging experiences that are inclusive of both global connections and ancestral knowledge.
Participating artists include Edith Amituanai, Christopher Ando, Natalie Ball, BC Collective with Louisa Afoa, Drew Kahuʻāina Broderick with Nāpali Aluli Souza, Hannah Brontë, Elisa Jane Carmichael, Mariquita Davis, Chantal Fraser, Maureen Gruben, Bracken Hanuse Corlett, Taloi Havini, Lisa Hilli, Carol McGregor, Marianne Nicolson, Ahilapalapa Rands, Debra Sparrow, and T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss.
When: Now until February 23, 2020
Time: Daily 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesdays until 9 pm, and the first Friday of each month until 9 pm
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery – 750 Hornby 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 an awkward attempt at a set-up, or Mary’s chance at romance.
When: Now until January 4, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: The Arts Club Granville Island Stage — 1585 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Saturday, January 4
Vancity Comedy Extravaganza
Eventbrite/Vancity Comedy Extravaganza
What: Vancity Comedy Extravaganza features comedians Dino Archie (Jimmy Kimmel Live), Dave Merheje (CBC’s Mr. D, Hulu’s Ramy, and Netflix’s Half Hour), Ivan Decker (2018 Juno Award winner for Comedy Album of the Year), Yumi Nagashima (Just for Laughs), and Gavin Matts (2017 SiriusXM Top Comic).
When: January 4, 2020
Time: Doors at 7 pm; show at 8 pm
Where: Vogue Theatre — 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Try Freestyle at Grouse Mountain
What: Confident skiers between the ages of seven to 17 are invited to try freestyle skiing at Grouse Mountain on January 4 with a professional coach. Hosted by Freestyle Vancouver.
When: January 4, 2020
Time: 7:30 am to 2 pm
Where: Meet at base of Grouse Mountain, across from Starbucks
Admission: Free, register online
We Will Rock You: The Musical on Tour
What: An original story musical set to the songs of Queen, and written by Ben Elton. We Will Rock You takes the audience to iPlanet, a distant future earth where revolutionaries Galileo and Scaramouche go on an epic quest to save Rock N’ Roll. Featuring more than 24 Queen hits including We Are the Champions, Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, and We Will Rock You.
When: January 4, 2020
Time: 8 pm
Where: Abbotsford Centre — 33800 King Road, Abbotsford
Tickets: Online
Walk Richmond – King George Park
What: Go on a guided walk of King George Park, a 30-acre urban park in East Richmond, and discover the many amenities, including community gardens and a waterplay area. Attendees are invited to stop by the Richmond Public Library pop-up table afterwards to learn about library resources and free community classes.
When: January 4, 2020
Time: 10 to 11 am
Where: Meet at main entrance to Cambie Community Centre — 12800 Cambie Road, Richmond
Admission: Free
Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea
What: Available daily until March 22, Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea features eats like a ruby chocolate lace lollipop, mont blanc cream puff, and a roasted spice duck slider, to name a few.
When: Daily until March 22, 2020
Time: 12 to 4 pm
Where: The Trump Champagne Lounge – 1161 W Georgia Street, Vancouver
Price: $65 per person or $118 for an additional box of macarons and a glass of bubbles; reserve online
Surrey Fire Fighters’ Annual Tree Chip
What: Visit Newton Athletic Park or Guildford Town Centre on January 4 to recycle your Christmas tree. Service is by cash donation toward the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society
When: January 4, 2020
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Where: Newton Athletic Park – 7395 128 St, Surrey; Guildford Town Centre – 10355 152 Street, Surrey
Price: By cash donation
Christmas Glow Vancouver
Glow Edmonton/Facebook
What: Christmas Glow will take place inside the Harbour Convention Centre until January 5, 2020. Visitors will be able to enjoy nearly 50,000 sq. ft. of enchanting twinkling lights and holiday activities.
This year’s theme for Vancouver is “Santa’s Lost Presents.” Guests will be able to help the elves find Santa’s lost presents. Themed light-up structures, including Santa’s sleigh and his trusty reindeer, will be set up around the venue. Adults will be able to enjoy the licensed bars, seasonal beverages, and live music while interactive activities and festive playgrounds will keep the kids busy.
When: Now until January 4, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Harbour Convention Centre — 760 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Holidays at Vancouver Aquarium
What: Vancouver Aquarium has a variety of holiday favourite activities this season, including the electric-eel-powered Christmas tree (with feedings daily at 11:30 am), the tot-friendly kelp maze, and the picture-perfect jelly snow globe. Check out the “mistle-toad” near the Frogs Forever Gallery, and after wandering the galleries with cocoa in hand, it’s time for a journey to the North Pole in the Vancouver Aquarium’s 4-D theatre, where The Polar Express 4D Experience plays daily.
When: Now until January 5, 2020
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park — 845 Avison Way, Vancouver
Admission: Adults, $38; seniors/students, $30; child (four to 12), $21; child (four and under), $0 – available online
New West Winter Farmers’ Market
What: The market features farm-fresh produce, plants, quality crafts from local artists and artisans, gourmet prepared foods, community information, live entertainment, and more.
When:
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Where: Belmont Street, New Westminster
Admission: Free
There is Truth Here: Creativity and Resilience in Children’s Art from Indian Residential and Day Schools
What: There is Truth Here is the feature exhibition at the Museum of Vancouver. The exhibit showcases rare surviving artworks created by children who attended the Inkameep Day School (Okanagan), St Michael’s Indian Residential School (Alert Bay), the Alberni Indian Residential School (Vancouver Island), and Mackay Indian Residential School (Manitoba). Experiences of the survivors are shared through their childhood artworks. Curated by Andrea Walsh, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Victoria, and originally displayed at the Legacy Art Gallery in Victoria.
When: Now until January 5, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Museum of Vancouver — 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver
Admission Info: Online
Sunday, January 5
Grouse Mountain’s Peak of Christmas
Ice skating/Grouse Mountain
What: Visitors can take a spin on Grouse Mountain’s 8,000-sq-ft outdoor ice skating pond or zip down the multi-lane snow sliding zone. You can also take a sleigh ride through the mountain’s Winter Wonderland, meet magic reindeer, watch family Christmas movies, and write a letter to Santa. At Santa’s Workshop, believers young and old can share their special Christmas wishes and take a photo. Photos are pay by donation to BC Children’s Hospital.
Access to the Peak of Christmas is included with your Annual Local’s Pass, Y2Play or Winter Season Pass, as well as regular Alpine Experience tickets.
When: Now until January 5, 2020
Time: 9 am to 10 pm
Where: Grouse Mountain – 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver
Admission: Peak of Christmas activities are complimentary with Mountain Admission Ticket, Annual Membership, Winter Season Pass, or Lift Ticket. Tickets online. Discounted rates are also available for BC residents
Sunday Night Movie Series at Bells and Whistles
What: Enjoy movies every Sunday night at Bells and Whistles. January screenings include The Hangover on January 5. Enjoy the free popcorn.
When: January 5, 2020
Time: 9 pm
Where: Bells and Whistles – 3296 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free
VanDusen Festival of Lights
What: The dazzling botanical garden will be covered in more than a million lights to help ring in the Christmas season. Visitors can stroll through interactive themed areas, watch the famous dancing lights show on Livingstone Lake, take a photo with Santa, light a candle at the Make-A-Wish candle grotto, or simply warm up with a specialty beverage at the licensed fireside lounge. All tickets, which can be purchased online or at the gate, include a free ride on the carousel.
When: Now until January 5, 2020
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
Time: 4 pm to 9:30 pm
Admission: Adults: $19 online and $21 at the gate. Youth and seniors: $14.50 online and $16 at the gate.
Cats and Dogs
What: Presented by White Spot, and created by La Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, in partnership with Le Musée de la civilization, the Cats & Dogs exhibition is the first “large-scale” exhibition dedicated to these animals, according to officials. Visitors will learn about the cognitive and sensory world of cats and dogs, in what’s described as an “immersive environment” that is meant to show people how their pets have a “completely different perception” of the world around them.
When: Now until January 5, 2020
What: Various times
Where: TELUS World of Science — 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Always Growing Up
What: Improvisers Ese Atawo and Patrick Dodd perform a long-form relationship-based improv show at Havana Theatre on January 5.
When: January 5, 2020
Time: 8 to 9 pm
Where: Havana Theatre — 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Brackendale Eagle Festival
Bald eagle (Ian Duffield/Shutterstock)
What: The 34th annual Brackendale Eagle Festival is a celebration of eagles, featuring a special lineup of concerts, lecture series, art shows, group tours and the annual Bald Eagle Count held on the first Sunday in January.
When: January 5, 2020 (Eagle Count); January 11 (The Matinee concert); January 12, 13, 18, and 19 (Natural World Lecture Series).
Time: Various times
Where: Brackendale Art Gallery — 41950 Government Rd, Brackendale
More Information: Online
The Sound of Music
What: Arts Club Theatre brings the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to life at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Enjoy classics like “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” and more with the family.
When: Now until January 5, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage — 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online
Out of Concealment – Female Supernatural Beings of Haida Gwaii
What: Bill Reid Gallery presents the Vancouver premiere of Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson’s solo exhibition Out of Concealment. Williams-Davidson honours Indigenous feminine power by re-imagining supernatural figures from Haida tradition. Her vivid portraits — which feature Williams-Davidson herself — use creative design, photographic collage, and subtle integration of designs by celebrated Haida artist Robert Davidson.
When: Now until April 5, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art – 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Winter Ice Palace
What: The 22nd Annual Winter Ice Palace turns Cloverdale Ice Arena into a winter wonderland. Enjoy festive lights, decorations, and music while making laps on the ice.
When: Now until January 5, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Cloverdale Ice Arena – 6090 176 Street, Surrey
Admission: $4.50/person, $3.25 for skate rentals, $1.75 for helmet rentals
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
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