Holiday Entertainment at Brentwood

Comments 91 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Brentwood in Burnaby is hosting a full schedule of holiday entertainment, complete with choir music, live performers, and of course visits with Santa.

BrentwoodHolidays

Holiday Entertainment at Brentwood

Saturday Activities
Coming up on December 19th, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, enjoy aerial performances, balloon artisans, holiday stilt walkers, cotton candy artisans, live canvas painter, 2 DJs, and a live guitarist.

Free Santa Photos
Every Tuesday until December 22nd, get two free 4×6 photos when you visit Brentwood’s Santa set. Tuesday Santa hours are 10:30am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:00pm, and 6:00pm to 9:00pm*.

Regular Santa hours (with regular pricing) are:
December 16th to December 19th:
11:00am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:00pm, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
December 20th: 11:00am to 2:00pm, 3:00pm to 5:00pm
December 21st: 11:00am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:00pm, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
December 22nd: 10:30am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:00pm, 6:00pm to 9:00pm*
December 23rd: 11:00am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:00pm, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
December 24th: 11:00am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
*Note: The line may be cut off at 7:30pm to ensure all photos are done by 9:00pm.

Musical & Burnaby School Choir Performances
Located at the London Drugs Court
December 16th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Feature Pianist
December 17th 10:00am Taylor Park
December 17th 1:00pm Kitchener Elementary
December 17th 2:00pm Parkcrest Elementary
December 17th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Feature Pianist
December 18th 10:00am Nelson Elementary
December 18th 1:30pm Cascade Elementary
December 18th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Feature Pianist

Win a Brentwood Gift Card

To spread even more cheer this holiday season, Brentwood is giving one lucky Miss604 reader the chance to win a $100 gift card. Here’s how you can enter to win:

RT to enter to win a $100 @BrentwoodInfo #brentwoodholidays gift card from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/VZOjy

Brentwood, on the corner of Willingdon and Lougheed (and at Brentwood SkyTrain station) is home to 110 stores and services including Sears and London Drugs. Follow Brentwood on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their shops, services, and special events.

I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Saturday, December 19, 2015.

Update The winner is @pneves78!

Vancouver Gift Guide: Vancouver T-Shirts

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

I’m pretty sure that when I’m traveling you are able to tell where I’m from with just one look. My usual wardrobe consists of a Vancouver Whitecaps FC t-shirt, a local craft brewery hoodie, or my Ole Originals “VAN” shirt. If you also want to show everyone that you love where you’re from, here are some places to get some great local t-shirts:

Vancouver T-Shirts

TheHivePrinting

Shop: The Hive Printing / The Hive Printing on Etsy
About: The Hive Printing is a small artisan screen printing studio located in East Vancouver, run by Norbert Mantik and Rebekah McGurran. I am in love with their “Stanley Park 1911” t-shirt (it combines my love of Stanley Park, history, and old city maps).

Little_OleOriginals

Shop: Ole Originals
About: Shirts for men, women and children. Designed and individually hand-printed in Vancouver, featuring travel culture and the places we love.

VancouverBikeRouteShirt

Shop: Locomotive Clothing
About: Tees made in BC, featuring messages and some local designs like this Vancouver bike route shirt.

VancouverSpecialShirt

Shop: BLIM on Etsy / BLIM on E Pender.
About: BLIM is an independent, family-run art and craft facility, featuring works like Chantale Doyle’s iconic Vancouver Special t-shirt.

VancouverParklife

Shop: wuchild
About: Apparel for kids and moms. Get your hands on their Vancouver “Parklife” shirts before they all sell out.

MAKEVanShirts

Shop: MAKE Vancouver on Granville Island
About: Create your own designs or shop from their selection from various artists. These “Souvenirs of the Summer” are designs that won a contest last season.

If you’re looking to design your own shirt, and are a fan of craft beer, check out CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Vancouver’s t-shirt design contest, open until December 31, 2015.

Update Here are some more ideas generated by Twitter followers: 604 Skull T-Shirt, VanWeLoveYou.

More Vancouver Gift Ideas

Need more Vancouver gift ideas? Try the Vancouver Brewery Tour Gift Pack, 5 Places to Buy Aboriginal Art, Gifts for Vancouver Sports Fans, Experience Gifts for Being a Tourist in Your Hometown, Cool Vancouver Maps, Vancouver History Photo Prints, Vancouver Gift Items on Etsy, and more Experience Gift Ideas.

Enjoy Manning Park This Winter

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

“When it’s ugly and raining in the (Fraser) Valley, and you think there’s no where to go or nothing to do, chances are Manning has snow – and it’s a winter wonderland up here.” Robyn Barker is one of the many friendly faces I met this past weekend at Manning Park — a Provincial Park I had only previously experienced in the summer. I was on assignment for SnowSeekers.ca and got to take a cross-country ski lesson, explore their network of over 60km of groomed trails (164km of backcountry trails), and get on my snowboard for the first time this season. The fluffy powder fell all day and night, making for a truly eye-opening adventure.

Enjoy Manning Park This Winter

Manning Park

Manning Park

Manning Park

Manning Park

Manning Park Manning Park

Manning Park

Manning Park Manning Park

Manning Park

I have to give a shout out to our comfortable ride, the Honda HR-V. I had the chance to have this vehicle in the summer and it was just as capable on the roads this winter. We packed in all of our gear, bags, and groceries, and the seat warmers kept us comfortable as we drove those snowy mountain passes. The heated side mirrors also helped us thaw out the vehicle in record time as we got it ready to drive home after a night of snow.

HondaHRVSnow

You can read my full story about Manning Park over on SnowSeekers.ca and follow the site on Twitter all winter for the latest BC ski news and stories. All of my SnowSeekers stories this winter will be assembled here.

Win Tickets to Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Comments 73 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Returning for its 7th holiday season, prestigious local dance organization Goh Ballet presents The Nutcracker at The Centre. Since premiering in 2009, the production of this masterpiece has given tens of thousands of audience members the opportunity to be swept away by this world-famous Christmas story.

Goh_Nutcracker_2015

Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker

  • Where: The Centre (777 Homer St, Vancouver)
  • When: December 17th, 18th, 21st & 22nd at 7:30pm
    December 19th at 2:00pm & 7:30pm
    December 20th at 3:00pm & 7:30pm
  • Tickets: On sale now starting at $28. Order online.

This is a traditional rendition of the classical masterpiece, all danced to Tchaikovsky’s memorable score performed live by members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. Experience Clara’s dream come to life as she embarks on a magical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets where she is greeted by the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy. An unforgettable adventure awaits as her gallant Nutcracker battles the evil Mouse King and his army of mischievous mice.

Win Tickets

I’ll never forget my first ballet, when I brought my niece to watch her first as well. It was for Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker in 2012. Gathering under the marquee with tickets in hand, cheeks rosy red from the cold and coats buttoned to our chins, we entered the theatre with a sense of wonder. By the end of the first act we were both enchanted by the performance.

If you would like to experience this magical holiday show for yourself, I have a pair of tickets to give away for the performance on December 22, 2015 at 7:30pm. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to @GohBallet #GohNutcracker from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/VVg2x

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Sunday, December 20, 2015. Follow Goh Ballet on Twitter and Facebook for information.

The Goh Ballet Youth Company was established in 1979, by Principal Dancers of The National Ballet of China, Choo Chiat and Lin Yee Goh. Its objective is the pursuit of technical and artistic excellence in conjunction with raising cultural awareness in the community. This performing group reflects Vancouver’s cultural diversity. It serves as a magnet to attract talented dancers locally and abroad, and helps to ease the transition from student to professional dancer.

Update The winner is Bethany!

CP Holiday Train Comes to the Tri-Cities

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

After crossing the country from Montreal and visiting 150 communities, the CP Holiday Train will finish its journey in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows (December 18th), ending in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody (December 19th). View the impressive train-long light displays and enjoy a free concert at each stop.

CPHolidayTrain

CP Holiday Train Comes to the Tri-Cities

This event has the beautiful light display on the train, a free concert, and it serves as a donation drive local causes in each community it visits.

Local Schedule

The musical guests for this final stretch are Jim Cuddy, Devin Cuddy and Kelly Prescott.

City Stop Location Date Arrival Event Time
Haney-Maple Ridge Across from Billy Miner Pub Dec 18 7:30pm 7:45pm-8:15pm
Pitt Meadows Corner of Harris Rd & Advent Rd
at the railway crossing
Dec 18 8:45pm 9:00pm-9:30pm
​Port Moody 300 Ioco Rd behind
Arena and Rec Centre
Dec 19 4:50pm 5:00pm-5:30pm
Port Coquitlam Poco WCE Station
2125 Kingsway Ave​​
Dec 19 6:15pm 6:30pm-7:00pm

When the train arrives it will pull to a safe stop in front of the crowd in attendance. The stage door lowers and the band opens with its first song. After that, a brief presentation takes place with local food bank officials and other dignitaries. Once complete, the band resumes performing a mix of traditional and modern holiday-themed songs. The whole event lasts about 30 minutes, and once the band plays its farewell show, the boxcar door closes, and the train slips off into the night on its way to the next stop.

Follow the CP Holiday Train on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see its full schedule as the cross-country journey comes to an end out west.

» Read about more free events this Christmas.