Music - Classical
Christmas with the
Bach Choir
More than 400 voices from the Bach Choir, as well as the Vancouver Bach Children's and Youth choirs, perform a program of traditional Christmas music, culminating in a massed choir performance of O Holy Night.
Dec. 7, 2 p.m. $19.25-43.75. The
Orpheum, Smithe at Seymour. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
VSO Traditional Christmas
Bard on the Beach artistic director Christopher Gaze hosts as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, along with choirs EnChor and the UBC Opera Ensemble, perform holiday classics and lead the crowd in festive singalongs.
Dec. 11-21, various times,
prices and locations,
http://www.vancouversymphony.ca.
Singalong Messiah
Haul your vocal talents out of the shower and join the Bach Choir as well as the Vancouver Symphony in performing Handel's beloved oratorio.
Dec. 14, 2:30 p.m. $28.25. The
Orpheum, Smithe at Seymour. Tickets at Ticketmaster. The Vancouver Chamber Choir will also perform the work at the Orpheum Dec. 12 and 13.
Winter Harp
Enjoy the sound of harps, violins and medieval instruments at this favourite evening of traditional carols, songs, stories and poems by the Winter Harp Ensemble.
Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. $32. St.
Andrew's Wesley Church,
1022 Nelson St. at Burrard. Tickets
at 604-684-2787.
Chor Leoni's Yuletide Fires
The stunning Vancouver men's choir presents its annual Christmas concert, this year with mezzo-soprano Mariateresa Magisano and the wonderful Elektra
Women's Choir. Tickets sell out quickly.
Dec. 20, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $23-28. Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard St. Also Dec. 21, 3 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 2250 150th St., Surrey. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
Unsilent Night
Bring a tape or CD player, and join dozens of other music lovers in a walk through the West End to the ethereal sounds of Phil Kline's Unsilent Night.
Dec. 20, 6:45 p.m. Free. Meet at the tree of lights at Beach and Bidwell. Reserve at 604-875-9522.
MUSIC - POP, ROCK, SOUL
Gospel Christmas: The Sojourners with Jeff Bodner
Harmony-rich gospel group the Sojourners, the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir and Elvis impersonator Jeff Bodner, bring some serious soul to the holiday season.
Nov. 29, 8 p.m. $41. Red Robinson Show Theatre, 2080 United Blvd., Coquitlam. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
Mint Records Ridiculously Early Xmas Party
Vancougar, the Evaporators, the Pack A.D., Novillero, the Awkward Stage and Young and Sexy are just a few of the Mint Records bands that will help kick-start Christmas at this favourite annual two-night bash. Door proceeds to the ALS Society of Canada.
Dec. 5-6, 7 p.m. $10-12. The Cambrian Hall, 215 E. 17th Ave., http://www.mintrecs.com.
Jingle Bell Rock
Top indie bands including Metric, Tokyo Police Club, the Dears and Sebastien Grainger performing to raise funds for Covenant House, which helps at-risk youth. Bring non-perishable food items for local food banks.
Dec. 21-22, 7 p.m. The Vogue, 918 Granville St. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
Hard Rock Miners
Christmas Eve Singalong
Whether you're escaping family, celebrating with friends, or are a lonely Christmas orphan, this fun holiday singalong, led by legendary local rock band the Hard Rock Miners, has become as traditional as fruitcake and mistletoe.
Dec. 24, 8 p.m. $4-6. The Railway, 579 Dunsmuir St., 604-681-1625.
FILM
The Nutcracker 3D
Surround yourself with soldier princes, mouse kings and toys that come alive in this 3-D film version of The Nutcracker set in present-day London and featuring more than 150 characters.
Various dates and times. $11-12. IMAX Theatre, 999 Canada Place. Tickets at http://www.imax.com
vancouver. Special $5 charity screening on Dec. 20,
Polar Express 3D
Hop aboard the stunning 3-D version of the animated holiday story about a young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.
Various dates and times. $11-$12. IMAX Theatre, 999 Canada Place. Tickets at http://www.imax.com
vancouver.
Theatre
It's a Wonderful Life
The Arts Club presents a theatrical version of the timeless Christmas tale of friends, family, faith and a guardian angel named
Clarence.
Now until Jan. 3, various times. $25 and up. The Arts Club, Granville Island. Tickets at http://www.artsclub.com.
Jesus, My Boy
Jesus and Mary got all the press, but Joseph was the stepfather to the son of God - and this award-winning play promises his gently comic take on "parenthood, carpentry and the coming of the Messiah."
On now until Dec. 27, 8 p.m. Wednesdays -Saturdays; also 2 p.m. Saturdays. $11-$34. Pacific Theatre, 1440 W. 12th Ave. Tickets: tickets.pacifictheatre.org. Jesus Christ Superstar
Okay, so it's not exactly a holiday play, but where else will you get Jesus Christ's story plus some incredible rock and funk all at the same time?
Dec. 6, 8 p.m. and Dec. 7, 7 p.m. $45-$65. The Centre, 777 Homer St. Tickets at Ticketmaster.
DANCE
The Nutcracker
The award-winning Moscow Classical Ballet performs the Tchaikovsky classic, complete with Russian dancers and sugarplum fairies.
Dec. 28-30 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 29-31 at 1:30 p.m. $30-$79.25. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Hamilton at Georgia, http://www.balletbc.com. The ballet is also being performed by the Goh Ballet Dec. 12 and 13 at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby, and by the Royal City Youth Ballet Nov. 29 (matinee) at the Abbey Arts Centre in Abbotsford.
ET CETERA
The Vinyl Café Christmas Tour 2008
CBC Radio host Stuart McLean brings heart-warming holiday tales and live music by Russell deCarle and Dala to Vancouver on his annual Christmas tour.
Nov. 29, 8 p.m. and Nov. 30, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. $25-50. The Centre, 777 Homer St. Tickets at
Ticketmaster.
Canyon Lights
Decorate gingerbread men, blow glass-icicle ornaments, sing with carolers, and ooh and aah over 200,000 Christmas lights that bring a beautiful glow to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the snowy treetops below. Proceeds to B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund.
Dec. 6-Jan. 3, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
$5 for kids age 6-12, $10 for adults, $25 for a family of four. Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver,
Santa Claus Parade
Watch Santa and his elves, as well as dozens of other floats, musicians, jugglers, dancers, stilt walkers and more at the fifth annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade.
Dec. 7, 1 p.m. Free. Starts at
Georgia and Broughton, turns south on Howe, ends at Davie St.,
rogerssantaclausparade.com.
Karaoke Trolley Tour
Take in two of the city's top Christmas-light displays - Bright Nights in Stanley Park and the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Gardens - and sing carols in between on the annual Karaoke Christmas Lights Trolley Tour.
Dec. 12, 13 and 19-24. $20 children; $30 adults. Includes admission to VanDusen and a donation to the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund, http://www.vancouvertrolley.com.
Winter Solstice Lantern
Festival
Bring light to the darkest day of the year at this fun fest, which includes lantern displays and processions, live bands and more right around the city.
Dec. 21, various times. (Advance lantern-making workshops also available.) Free. http://www.secretlantern.org.