The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim in English Bay is a tradition that is 91 years strong. It all began with 10 swimmers in 1920 thanks to the leadership of Peter Pantages and it grew to welcome over 2,000 participants in recent years.
Peter Pantages & Miss E Robinson in English Bay Dec 1927 – Archives Item #CVA 99-1787
The 2011 event will take place on New Year’s Day at 2:30pm and registration starts at 12:30pm in front of the English Bay Bathhouse.
The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim is a free event that encourages participants to dress up in costume, participate in the Peter Pantages 100 yard swim, or simply dunk their bodies into the Bay on the first morning of the year.
Donation of non-perishable food or cash will be accepted for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
Update December 2014: If you’re looking for the 2014-2015 listing you can find it here.
Update December 2011: If you’re looking for the 2011-2012 listing you can find it here.
John and I have been in Iowa to ring in the last three years and 2011 will be no exception. The kids get their own bottle of sparkling apple juice, party favours abound, and the television is flipped from network to network waiting for that iconic ball to drop. Vancouver hasn’t had a major kid-friendly event for New Year’s Eve in several years however I found a few activities around the region in case you’d like to get out with the family.
Surrey
Cloverdale is hosting a Winter Ice Palace this month and will be open from 11:00am until 4:00pm on New Year’s Eve.
White Rock
Centennial Arena in White Rock is offering a Countdown to 2011 skating event. The arena is located at 14600 North Bluff Road and family skate times are 12:30pm – 2:30pm (I have yet to confirm the special event skate times if they are different from the family skate).
Vancouver
The Renfrew Park Community Centre is hosting a New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance from 6:00pm on December 31st. Located at 2929 East 22nd Avenue, Vancouver this event is family-friendly and will include party favours, snacks, full dinner, door prizes, and champagne at midnight. Call Cheryl at (604) 257-8388 to book your spot.
Families can also enjoy Christmas activities that they may have missed earlier in the month such as Bright Nights in Stanley Park.
Downtown
Robson Square will host ice skating and a New Year’s Eve celebration from 5:00pm until 9:00pm December 31st. There will be live entertainment and an early countdown for the kids.
Burnaby
On New Year’s Day the Bill Copeland Sports Centre (3676 Kensington) will host a special family skate from 5:00pm until 8:00pm (regular rates and admission apply).
New Westminster
While it’s not exactly on New Year’s Eve, New Westminster is hosting the Winter Festival of Fun on December 29th. Starting at 10:30am, children age 5-10 can check out the festivities at the public library at 716 6th Avenue.
West Vancouver
The Dundarave Festival of Lights is on now until January 7th. Check out a forest of decorated trees with the family on New Years Eve with some hot chocolate in-hand.
Whistler
Home of the only First Night event I could find, Whistler’s Village Square and Conference Centre will host entertainment for the entire family on December 31st. Entry fees are $15 adults/ $8 – 12 years and under, or evening fee of $20 adult and $10 – 12 and under, 2 years and under are free. This is a no-alcohol event with an early countdown for the kids at 9:30pm and fireworks.
Should you know of any other family-friendly New Year’s Eve events, please feel free to drop a note in the comments.
Update December 2011: If you’re looking for the 2011-2012 listing you can find it here.
For more than a decade White Spot employees at the Richmond Centre and Kingsway locations have given up their Christmas mornings and afternoons to remain open and dedicate their workday to two great causes.
Locations:
White Spot Richmond Centre – Unit 1902 – 6551 No. 3 Road, Richmond, B.C.
White Spot Kingsway and Knight – 1467 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C.
Hours:
December 25, 2010 from 11:00am until 3:00pm
Give mom or dad a break at lunchtime and stop by for a pirate pack with your family on Christmas Day. Net proceeds from your meal will go directly to the Richmond General Hospital Foundation and Variety – The Children’s Charity. All staff, servers, and management will also generously donate their tips.
While the end of 2010 is still over a week away, many are already making plans for how they will ring in the new year. I will have a few event guides available but thought I would start with the big ticket items first. The following events include live music, multi-course meals, champagne, and entertainment for the 19+ crowd.
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The 17th annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival returns to six Vancouver neighbourhoods tomorrow as we sail into a new season.
On Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 from 6:00pm until 10:00pm you can join an event on the East Side at homes on Parker & Lakewood or the Britannia Community Centre, in Yaletown at the Roundhouse Community Centre, on Granville Island at the False Creek Community Centre, in South East False Creek at the Creekside Community Centre, and in Chinatown at the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Each gathering will have a lantern procession, activities (such as crafts and lantern making), storytelling, and musical entertainment.
I heard last week that the events were still in need of volunteers so contact the Secret Lantern Society today if you can help out tomorrow at any one of these neighbourhood locations.
