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December 2007 |  |
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| THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER | |||||||
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Always an exciting place to be, Vancouver becomes even more alive during the holiday season. You are guaranteed to be surrounded by twinkling lights, festive scents, inviting flavours and the sound of carols. Ride the tram up to Grouse Mountain to visit Santa and his reindeer and then go ice skating on the outdoor rink. Take in as many artful displays of twinkling lights as you can handle at Stanley Park, VanDusen Botantical Gardens or even on the water thanks to the Carol Ship Parade of Lights. Hit the stores on seasonally-decorated and bustling Robson Street, head inside to one of the many malls, or go upscale at the new Holt Renfrew flagship store and check off your gift list with the help of your own personal shopper. Take a load off at the end of the day with a hot toddy in front of the fireplace at your hotel and then indulge in some perfect festive fare at one of Vancouver's many top restaurants. | ||||||
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| SANTA DROPS INTO TOWN EARLY DURING THE ROGERS SANTA CLAUS PARADE | |||||||
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Sunday, November 25, 1:00pm
Santa Claus will make an early stop in Vancouver when the Rogers Santa Claus Parade marches through the centre of downtown on November 25. Grab a warm coat and hot chocolate and bring your family to this free and festive celebration. The parade route runs east along Georgia Street from Nicola Street, then south along Howe Street. www.2007rogerssantaclausparade.com |
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| BRIGHT NIGHTS IN STANLEY PARK | |||||||
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November 30 - January 3 (closed Christmas Day), 3:00pm - 10:00pm Nights of magic and illumination await visitors in the middle of Stanley Park. The Stanley Park holiday train has been a Christmas tradition for over 20 years with more than a million sparkling lights transforming the forest, train and children's farmyard. The train winds its way through the forest while the aroma of hot chocolate, fresh popcorn and roasted chestnuts brings back childhood memories. Kids can also visit Santa in his "living room" at the train station. Admission to the plaza is free. Tickets are required to ride the train and visit the farmyard: $7.50 for adults and $4.50 for children. www.vancouver.ca/parks |
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| YULETIDE TRADITIONS AT GRANVILLE ISLAND | |||||||
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Weekends in December Get into the spirit of the season at Granville Island this year. Experience the glimmer of island lights and enjoy a free ornament-making workshop. Marvel at the roving performers and sing along with the local musicians - all the while shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts that are sure to make your holidays sparkle. www.granvilleisland.com |
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| KARAOKE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TROLLEY TOUR | |||||||
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December 8 - 10 and December 15 - 24 Looking for a way to combine karaoke, Christmas tunes and spectacular holiday lights? Well, grab the mic and lead the chorus as the Vancouver Trolley Company offers a unique holiday journey. The evening begins at Canada Place and heads through the streets of Vancouver to Stanley Park for "Bright Nights in Stanley Park". The second stop is at VanDusen Botanical Gardens for the "Festival of Lights". It's enough holiday cheer to last you all the way to spring, and you don't want to miss it! Cost is $30 for adults and $20 for children. www.vancouvertrolley.com |
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| CAROL SHIPS PARADE OF LIGHTS | |||||||
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December 1 - 23 This annual Christmas tradition began over 45 years ago with one boat decorated with Christmas lights in Coal Harbour. On peak evenings, this holiday tradition has grown to more than 80 decorated boats gliding through False Creek, over 150,000 twinkling lights and more than 45,000 singing voices. Hop aboard a boat charter to watch the show. The spectacle from the shore is free, while boat cruise reservations range from $20 to $60. Be sure to check the route schedule online as it changes periodically. www.carolships.org |
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| CHRISTMAS AT CANADA PLACE | |||||||
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December 8 - January 1, 11:00am - 8:00pm Christmas at Canada Place is a Vancouver tradition. Take a stroll down the Holiday Promenade and view the historic Woodward's department store window displays, individually decorated Christmas trees, holiday lights and festive decor. Meet Santa in his workshop and post letters in Canada Post's "World's Largest Mailbox". Admission is by donation in support of children's charities. New this year is breakfast with Santa on December 8 and 16 - further details will be released soon on the website. www.canadaplace.ca/christmas |
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| HERITAGE CHRISTMAS AT BURNABY VILLAGE | |||||||
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November 24 - January 1 (closed December 24 and 25) Experience a traditional Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum. The village (circa 1925) is decorated with lights and traditional ornaments. Visitors can meet Father Christmas, tour the historical buildings, and enjoy crafts for kids, schoolhouse story time, Christmas baking and carolers. You can also catch a holiday performance of "Little Red Riding Hood" in the newly renovated Brookfield Hall on selected dates, included with admission ($10 for adults and $5 for children). www.city.burnaby.bc.ca |
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| HERE COMES SCUBA CLAUS | |||||||
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December 15, 16, 22, 23 and 24 Everyone knows Santa can fly, but did you know he scuba dives too? This holiday season take your family to the Vancouver Aquarium and look for Scuba Claus swimming in the Strait of Georgia exhibit. www.vanaqua.org |
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| FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDEN | |||||||
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December 7 - January 1 (closed Christmas Day), 4:30pm - 9:30pm The central acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden are transformed into a holiday wonderland every Christmas. The festival delights young and old alike with seasonal displays and close to a million sparkling lights wrapped around trees and trellises. Admission is $10.25 for adults and $5.25 for kids. www.vandusengarden.org |
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| THE PEAK OF CHRISTMAS | |||||||
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December 1 - 24 There is no better way to enjoy a white Christmas than 3,700 feet up in the mountain air. During the holiday season, Grouse Mountain comes alive with a multitude of festivities. Visitors can take sleigh rides through the forest, catch a Christmas classic at the "Theatre in the Sky", pay a visit to Santa and his reindeer, listen to carols in the chalet or don skates and glide around the ice skating rink. Finish your day by warming up inside with some hot chocolate in Altitudes Bistro. www.grousemountain.com |
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| HOLIDAY MAGIC ON STAGE | |||||||
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Get in the spirit of the season by checking out some of Vancouver's artistic performances this December. The Arts Club Theatre Company brings two Christmas favourites to the stage with Disney's classic "Beauty and the Beast" at The Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage from December 6 to January 6 and "It's a Wonderful Life" at The Granville Island Stage from November 29 to December 29. The Moscow Ballet will perform the dance classic "The Nutcracker" From December 28 to 31 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, while the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra offers a number of special holiday concerts from December 8 through 22. Tickets for all of these performances can be purchased through Tickets Tonight, Vancouver's community box office located in Tourism Vancouver's flagship Touristinfo Centre at 200 Burrard Street. www.ticketstonight.ca www.artsclub.com www.balletbc.com www.vancouversymphony.ca |
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| ANOTHER FREAKIN' HILARIOUS DAM CHRISTMAS SHOW | |||||||
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November 16 - December 29 The Giggle Dam Dinner Theatre is once again celebrating Christmas with a holiday romp that you'll never forget! The Giggle Dam has been entertaining audiences since 2001 with its outrageous musical skit comedy and this holiday season will be no exception. www.giggledam.com |
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| LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! | |||||||
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What better way to celebrate the season than high up in the mountain air enjoying some fun winter sports? Within 20 minutes of downtown Vancouver, you can be up on one of the three North Shore mountains: Cypress, Grouse or Seymour.
Make Fresh Tracks at Cypress
Skate Circles at Grouse
Night Magic at Mount Seymour |
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