Variety – the Children’s Charity is teaming up with The Gaming Stadium to present their inaugural Variety Gameathon beginning at 10:00am on Saturday, November 23, 2019. Participate as a gamer, watch the livestream on Twitch, and donate to to support Variety.
Variety Gameathon for a Cause
For the first time in Western Canada, the ever-growing gaming community will be coming together to raise money for children with special needs.
Support online: The Variety Gameathon will be hosted at The Gaming Stadium and will be broadcast via live stream. You can tune in to watch players and donate to Variety.
In person: Gamers from all over the province are invited to be participants where they’ll be able to play their favourite video games live on stage. The public will also be welcome – and encouraged – to attend as spectators.
“We cannot express how excited we are for this amazing event. To be able to work with Variety and help give back to the community is an opportunity we are extremely grateful for,” said Spiro Khouri, CEO, The Gaming Stadium. “The Gameathon is going to be a celebration of gaming and giving and we hope anyone who is a fan of those two things joins us either in person or online to raise money for a phenomenal cause.”
The goal of the Variety Gameathon is to raise $50,000 with the event scheduled to end once the goal has been reached. For more information about Variety follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Miss604’s Rebecca Bollwitt is Secretary of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Marketing Committee, and Chair of the Membership Committee at Variety.
The CP Holiday Train will set out across the continent once again to entertain hundreds of thousands of people, collecting food and raising funds for food banks across North America.
CP Holiday Train Free Concerts for the Food Bank
How the event works: 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.
All BC Stops
Terri Clarke will roll up into the Fraser Valley on December 16th for a show stop in Agassiz, then head over to Haney-Maple Ridge for another, and will end the night in Pitt Meadows. On December 17th the train will make stops in Port Moody and Port Coquitlam.
The spectacular event is free to attend, but you are encouraged to bring healthy donations for the food bank. Every pound of food and dollar raised at each stop stays with the local food bank to help feed those in need in that community.
The CP Holiday Train has now raised more than C$15.8 million and collected 4.5 million pounds of food since its inaugural journey back in 1999. Follow the #CPHolidayTrain on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.
The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival has become the official start to the holiday season, with free family fun, entertainment, community engagement, and market shopping. You can enter to win $50 in food truck tickets from Miss604 to enjoy coffee, burgers, twisted potatoes and more!
Surrey Tree Lighting Festival
Where: City Hall Plaza (13450 104 Ave, Surrey) When: Saturday, November 23, 2019 from 12:00pm to 8:00pm Admission: FREE
Presented by Coast Capital Savings, this year’s free event will feature new lights and interactive displays on the festival grounds including an illuminated Light Tunnel, Enchanted Forest, North Pole Stage and Candy Cane Dance Tent. Shop the Holiday Market and Village, and stop by the Holiday Fun Zone on University Drive with variety of food trucks, road hockey, and amusement rides.
Over 30 local performers, choirs and children’s acts will offer free live performances across seven stages throughout the day. Award-winning Canadian pop singer Begonia will headline the Main Stage after the inaugural tree lighting at 6:30pm. Additional performers include Fleetwood Mac tribute band Dreams, Hotel Mira, and Leisure Club.
The Surrey Food Bank, Surrey Christmas Bureau, Sophie’s Place and the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society will be on site collecting donations. Follow the City of Surrey’s events team on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Win Food Tickets
I have $50 in food tickets to give away so you can enjoy the following food trucks on site:
The Yaletown Business Improvement Association (“YIBA”) is proud to present its 8th annual CandyTown winter festival on Saturday, November 30th. Set to transform the Yaletown district into a winter wonderland, CandyTown is downtown Vancouver’s only free outdoor winter market — a one-day holiday extravaganza!
CandyTown in Yaletown. Jade Stone Photography
CandyTown in Yaletown
When: Saturday, November 30, 2019, 12:00pm to 7:00pm Where: Yaletown: Mainland, Hamilton and parts of Davie St.
This year’s CandyTown will offer new and exciting elements including an adult focused “Winter is Coming” attraction. Find amazing ice sculptures and live swordplay demonstrations, in addition to a winter throne. Adding to the theme, Academie Duello will be on site for the “sleigh-ing” of the dragon, an amazing spectacle with swords and, of course, a dragon.
Returning favourites to this year’s CandyTown include classic photos with Santa and The Ice Queen. Mainland Street will see roaming characters such as gingerbread men, candy canes and snowmen as well as various musical entertainers and vendors at the “All I Want For Christmas” street market.
After working up an appetite shopping and exploring, attendees can sip and snack their way along the beautifully decorated Yaletown streets, with enticing restaurants on every corner. 19+ festive goers can participate in a popular self-guided CandyTown Cocktail Tour where participating restaurants such as Banter Room, House Special, Tasty Indian Bistro and MeeT offer an exclusive one day only holiday cocktail.
The YBIA is proud to support BC Children’s Hospital, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and the Rotary Club, with proceeds from photos with Santa and the horse drawn carriage rides going directly to these organizations. Attendees can also donate to participating charities on site during this year’s CandyTown.
Festive family fun comes to the Fraser Valley and this list of holiday activities in Abbotsford is sure to get you in the spirit of the season.
5 Festive Holiday Activities in Abbotsford
West Coast Christmas Show and Artisan Market Where: Tradex (1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford) When: November 15 to 17, 2019 Details: The largest Christmas Show in the Lower Mainland with over 170 artisans and 300 participants. A unique shopping experience awaits you at the West Coast Christmas Show & Artisan Market. You will discover new gift ideas, original art, crafts, woodwork, ceramics, specialty foods, home decor, clothing, furniture, floral designs, jewellery, candles, soaps, toys, and much more. During the past eleven years the show has been visited by over 175,000 visitors, shopping from over 2,800 vendors.
Tree Lighting and Holiday Show at Highstreet Shopping Center Where: Highstreet Shopping Center (3122 Mount Lehman Rd, Abbotsford) When: Shows every Saturday from November 16th to December 14th from 5:00pm to 5:30pm Details: Check out Highstreet’s festive Tree Lighting and Holiday Shows this season. Saturday, November 16, 2019 is the lighting of a 65-foot Christmas tree-one of the tallest in Canada. It’s also the arrival of Santa Clause, Rudolf, Frosty, and ‘Spandy Andy’ the dancing elf, a 40-piece marching band, a team of festive dancers, live music, and a magical snowfall.
Christmas Glow Abbotsford Where: Tradex (1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford) When: December 5, 2019 to January 4, 2020 Details: Experience a magical family-friendly indoor wonderland as you help Santa and his elves find his reindeer and discover new ways to deliver presents using hot air balloons, planes, trains, motorcycles and more. Enjoy interactive light gardens, illuminated structures, delicious food, festive drinks and daily live entertainment all under the twinkle of a million lights at Christmas Glow Abbotsford.
Downtown Abbotsford Christmas Jubilee Where: Downtown Abbostford, Essendene and Montrose Avenue When: Saturday, November 23, 2019 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm Details: Celebrate the holidays at the Downtown Abbotsford Christmas Jubilee. Food trucks, live music, an ice rink, cookie decorating, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, seasonal shopping and more! Tree lighting at 6:00pm, live ice sculpting at 7:00pm and fireworks at 8:45pm.
Maan Farms Christmas Market Where: Maan Farms, 790 McKenzie Rd, Abbotsford When: November 16-17, and November 23-24, 2019 Details: Check out the Maan Farms Christmas Market for holiday activities and shopping! Local vendors, festive activities, cooking demo from Mama Mann, a gift wrapping station, mulled wine and visit from the Grinch will be available.
Looking for more? Follow Tourism Abbotsford on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news and events in the region.
The City of Port Moody invites residents and visitors to the 3rd annual Holiday Cheer at the Pier celebration on Saturday, November 30, 2019.
Holiday Cheer at the Pier
When: Saturday, November 30, 2019 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm Where: Rocky Point Pier and Boat Launch (2800 block of Murray Street) Admission: Free!
Join your friends and neighbours at the gazebo by the pier for hot chocolate and a sugar cookie. Listen to carol singers, ride the Candy Cane mini train, and have your photo taken with Santa or Frosty the Snowman.
Port Moody Fire Rescue will be at Holiday Cheer at the Piercollecting new, unwrapped toys for their 2019 Toy Drive. Please consider making a donation, as all toys collected will go to SHARE Family and Community Services to help make the holidays a little brighter for families in need.
Port Moody is home to over 34,000 residents. The vibrant waterfront city values its natural environment and heritage character, embraces sustainability and is committed to community engagement. Founded in 1913, Port Moody’s historical ties to railway and lumber industries have given way to arts and service-based businesses. With over one-third of its land mass dedicated as parkland, Port Moody is a desirable place to live in BC’s Lower Mainland.
