Saturday, December 12
A Traditional Christmas. Enjoy fine holiday music, audience sing-alongs, and narration by Bard on the Beach's Christopher Gaze as the VSO presents its yuletide concerts across the Lower Mainland (until Dec. 19, vancouversymphony.ca). And inject some extra soul into the season with the Universal Gospel Choir ( universalgospelchoir.ca ), or the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir with the Jazz Divas ( goodnoisevgc.com ).
Blink. Catch dozens of performances, each of them one minute or less, by top Vancouver theatre makers at this fun Leaky Heaven Circus show ( www.leakyheaven.com ).
Veda Hille. Don't miss local treasure Veda Hille performing with her kid-friendly band Duplex! by day and for grown-ups at night (also Dec. 13, thecultch.com ).
ADAM-EVE/Man-Woman. Explore themes of gender and identity in this new work by renowned choreographer Alvin Tolentino ( firehallartscentre.ca ).
Holiday Market. Pick up crafts, tasty prepared foods, fresh local produce and more from over 100 vendors at the Croatian Cultural Centre ( eatlocal.org ).
Sunday, December 13
Festival of Lights. Brighten the long, cold winter nights with over 1.4 million lights at this dazzling VanDusen Botanical Garden event. See dancing lights on Livingstone Lake, hear a community choir, make a wish at the charity Candle Shrine, enjoy sweet waffles and hot cocoa, and meet Santa himself (ongoing until Jan. 3, vandusengarden.org ).
Sing Along Messiah. Sing your heart out to the Hallelujah Chorus as the Vancouver Bach Choir presents its annual crowd favourite ( vancouverbachchoir.com ).
Dick Dale. Catch a rare appearance by surf guitar god Dick Dale at the Yale Hotel (early show, theyale.ca ).
North American Native Art and Craft Fair. Find weavings, masks, carvings and more (Dec. 12-13, 11-6, 1607 E Hastings), and don't miss Portobello West's stylish Holiday Market (Dec. 12-13, portobellowest.com ).
A Christmas Reprise. Get into the holiday spirit with the Vancouver Cantata Singers' lovely Christmas concert (also Dec. 19, vancouvercantatasingers.com ).
Monday, December 14
The Story. Treat yourself to a magical - if slightly chillier - re-telling of the nativity story at Caravan Farm Theatre's fantastic winter sleigh ride show outside Armstrong, where a horse-drawn sleigh transports the audience from scene to scene across snowy fields and through the forest. Sells out, so book ahead (ongoing until Dec. 31, caravanfarmtheatre.com ).
Global Lens Film Festival. Travel the world at this festival of top international films, chosen by famed directors (ongoing until Dec. 20, vifc.org ).
Snowshoe Fondue Tour. Enjoy a guided walk through the forest, then warm up with cheese and chocolate fondues and hot bevies (daily, cypressmountain.com ).
Bruce McClure. Check out a "projection performance" by this New York-based artist and architect, who whips up a visceral mix of projections and sound ( cinematheque.bc.ca ).
CP Holiday Train. See a beautifully lit train and enjoy live music by the Odds and Wide Mouth Mason's Shaun Verreault as this favourite charity event rolls across B.C. (until Dec. 18, www8.cpr.ca ).
Tuesday, December 15
Canadian Country Christmas Tour. Catch top country acts including Sean Hogan, Tonya Kennedy, Sue Medley and more at this down-home concert in Campbell River, a benefit for the food bank ( canadiancountrychristmas.net ). If you like a little more rock in your Jingle Bells, check out veteran Canadian indie band Sloan at the Commodore ( sloanmusic.com ).
Gordon Smith. Enjoy a retrospective exhibit of prints by this remarkable Canadian painter whose many honours include the Order of Canada and a GG (ongoing until March 7, burnabyartgallery.ca ).
Lives Were Around Me. Follow Battery Opera's roving theatre piece that explores history and evidence in heritage-heavy Gastown (by donation, ticketstonight.ca ).
Caroling Around The World. Sing along to carols from around the globe at this Vancouver Public Library event, hosted by pianist Karen Lee-Morlang ( vpl.ca ).
Charity Christmas Trees. Pick up a tree from an Aunt Leah's lot and help raise funds for youth at risk (ongoing until Dec. 23, auntleahs.org ).
Wednesday, December 16
Nordic Skiing. Make like an Olympian and ski the stunning cross-country trails of the Whistler Olympic Park and the adjacent Callaghan Valley ( crosscountryconnection.ca ). Don't feel like braving the pre-Olympic hullabaloo? Escape to Manning Park ( manningpark.com ) or to Silver Star outside Vernon, voted North America's top Nordic destination by Forbes ( skisilverstar.com ).
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Step through a magical doorway and into a theatrical take on this C.S. Lewis classic (ongoing until Jan 2, pacifictheatre.org ).
Starlight Cinema. Curl up under a warm blanket and enjoy a free Christmas movie under the stars at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort (also Dec. 15, 22 and 23, deltavictoria.com ).
Bright Nights in Stanley Park. Ride a tiny train through a winter wonderland and give a final holiday wish to the critters in the Children's Farmyard (ongoing until Jan. 2, vancouver.ca/parks ).
Winter Spectacular. Follow a little girl's adventures in a mythical coastal rainforest at this family-friendly show (until Dec. 19, masseytheatre.com ).
Thursday, December 17
The Nutcracker. Take a fanciful journey through a world of sugar plum fairies, toy soldiers, the Mouse King and the chivalrous Nutcracker Prince at the Goh Ballet's production of Tchaikovsky's beloved holiday classic, choreographed by Anna-Marie Holmes and featuring principal dancers from the National Ballet of Canada (until Dec. 20, gohballet.com ).
Peggy Lee's Film in Music. The HBO series Deadwood inspired this musical exploration by acclaimed Vancouver cellist Peggy Lee and her all-star collaborators ( coastaljazz.ca ).
Maritime Museum. Put the sea in seasonal at the Maritime Museum's 12 Days of Christmas. Bring a non-perishable food item and kids under 10 get in free ( vancouvermaritimemuseum.com ).
Zip Lines. Catch amazing views as you soar over the treetops along the mountain zip lines at Grouse and Whistler ( grousemountain.com , whistlerblackcomb.com ).
Winter Harp. Enjoy beautiful harps, violins, medieval instruments, poetry readings and more at these perennially popular concerts across B.C. (also Dec. 12, 16, 19 and 20).
Friday, December 18
Chor Leoni's Yuletide Fires. Warm up with the beautiful sounds of Vancouver men's choir Chor Leoni as they offer up a West Coast-inspired program of seasonal songs, from Haida chants to new carols by B.C. composers (Also Dec. 19, chorleoni.org ). And don't miss the Vancouver Chamber Choir's Dylan Thomas Christmas (also Dec. 20, vancouverchamberchoir.com ) or the Victoria Symphony's Messiah (also Dec. 20, victoriasymphony.ca ).
Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. Dredge up your worst from the depths of your closet, then make your way to the Commodore for this fun annual fashion disaster ( christmassweaterparty.com ).
Hey Ocean! Head to the Vogue for a harmony-rich all ages show by this darling Vancouver pop band ( heyocean.com ).
Vivaldi's Four Seasons. The Vancouver Symphony treats Vancouver and New West audiences to the seasonal Vivaldi classic (until Dec. 21, vancouversymphony.ca ).
Polar PJ Party. Get the kids into their coziest PJs, then head for Science World, where you can explore the Geee! in Genome exhibit and watch The Polar Express ( scienceworld.ca ).
Saturday, December 19
Skating With Champions. Pick up tips from the pros and watch a dazzling ice show at Grouse Mountain's Peak of Christmas (until Dec. 24, grousemountain.com ). For more icy fun, head for the rink at Robson Square (9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily), or at the Butchart Gardens' Magic of Christmas (until Jan. 6, butchartgardens.com ).
Michael Kaeshammer. Put a spring in your step with this high-energy holiday collaboration between B.C.'s boogie-woogie piano master and the Victoria Symphony ( victoriasymphony.ca ).
Victoria Christmas Lights Ride. Deck out your two-wheeled steed, then take a beautiful guided bike tour of Victoria's Christmas lights ( gvcc.bc.ca ).
Dress Like Santa Day at Whistler. Hit the hills dressed as the jolly old elf or Mrs. Claus. The first 50 whose costumes make the grade ski for free ( whistlerblackcomb.com ).
Carol Ships. Soak up the warmth of a bonfire and the music of the V.O.C. Soul Gospel Choir as you watch a parade of carol ships float by in North Van (other locations Dec. 18 and 20, carolships.org ).
Sunday, December 20
Christmas Theatre. Bring the pleasant kind of drama to your holidays with all kinds of seasonal theatre, including Irving Berlin's White Christmas (until Dec. 27, artsclub.com), It's a Wonderful Life (until Jan. 2, artsclub.com ), A Christmas Carol (until Dec. 23, jerichoartscentre.com ), Panto Wars (until Dec 20, phtheatre.org) and more.
Fire and Ice. Be wowed by fire spinners, fireworks, and ski and snowboard pros hurtling through a ring of flames at the base of Whistler (Sundays until April 4, whistlerblackcomb.com ).
Unsilent Night. Bring a boombox and be part of a roving West End performance of a shimmering Phil Kline composition ( unsilentnight.com ).
Christmas With The Fab Four. Head back in time with this Beatles tribute act, whose Vegas show has sold out for years (also Dec. 19, riverrock.com ).
Horse-Drawn Trollies. Step out of the fray and enjoy a free horse-drawn trolley ride around Victoria (downtownvictoria.ca) or book a holiday-themed carriage tour of the capitol ( www.victoriacarriage.com ).
Monday, December 21
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival. Light up the darkest day of the year with lantern processions and festivities across the city, including a Labyrinth of Light and a portable planetarium at the Roundhouse, house concerts on Commercial Drive, puppetry and swing jazz on Granville Island and much more. Don't have a lantern? Make one at a special workshop on Dec. 20 ( secretlantern.org ).
Jingle Bell Rock. Turn your holidays up to 11 with AFI, Jets Overhead and twin rockers Tegan & Sara ( jinglebellrock.ca ).
Vancouver Aquarium. Say hello to Scuba Claus, see Bobs & Lolo and climb aboard the Polar Express 4D Experience at the Aquarium's North Pole Adventure (ongoing until Jan. 3, vanaqua.org ).
Reifel Bird Sanctuary. Mark the official start of winter by sharing a little birdseed with the avian residents of this beautiful Lower Mainland spot ( reifelbirdsanctuary.com ).
Karaoke Christmas Lights Tour. Sing your heart out as you travel to light displays around Vancouver, including Stanley Park and VanDusen (ongoing until Dec. 24, www.vancouvertrolley.com ).
Tuesday, December 22
The North Pole. Hop aboard the North Pole Bus and be transported to a top-secret spot in the wintry woods along Sasamat Lake where little ones can help the elves make toys, sing carols with a choir, enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus, and get those last-minute requests in to Santa in his cabin. Reservations required (ongoing until Dec. 24, northpolebc.com ).
Bloedel Conservatory. Step out of winter and into a tropical paradise filled with beautiful plants, exotic birds, colourful fish and more ( bloedelconservatory.com ).
La danse. Get behind the scenes with the Paris Opera Ballet in this film by famed documentarian Fred Wiseman (Dec. 21-Jan.6, vifc.org ).
Christmas on the Coast. Be dazzled by West Coast imagery, twinkling stars and city lights, set to music by top Canadian artists (until Jan. 3, hrmacmillanspacecentre.com ).
Whistler Tasting Tour. Be efficient in your fine dining and treat your palate to a gourmet tour of Whistler's top restaurants (daily, whistlertastingtours.com ).
Wednesday, December 23
Old Fashioned Christmas. Celebrate the season the old-fashioned way with yuletide festivities at history-rich locales around the province, including Fort Langley ( fortlangley.com ), at Helmcken House in Victoria, and at the Burnaby Village Museum, where you can take a spin on the vintage C.W. Parker Carousel ( burnabyvillagemuseum.ca ).
Granville Island. Pick up unique last-minute gifts, treats and decorations at this favourite Vancouver destinatio ( granvilleisland.com ).
Bach Cantatas. Hear some of Bach's most beloved cantatas, including a selection from his beloved Christmas Oratorio ( chancentre.com ).
Grouse Sleigh Ride. Take an enchanting sleigh ride through the forests of Grouse Mountain, or be chauffeured down the hills in a Sno-Limo (daily, grousemountain.co m).
Carols by Candlelight. Join the North Island Choral Society on a snowy candlelit trail and welcome Christmas by singing carols under the stars ( mountwashington.ca ).