Just because it’s not summer doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy local, artisanal goods and products from a farmers market. Birch candle holders from Aurora View Farm, bee pollen from Corbicula Pollen, craft roasted coffee from Potter & Crow Craft Coffee Roasters, cold pressed oils from Ostro Organics, maple Canadian whiskey from Odd Society Spirits, artisan chocolates from Drunken Chocolatier — these are just a few of the things you’ll find at Vancouver’s winter farmers markets!

Vancouver’s Winter Farmers Markets 2019-2020

Remaining open during COVID-19 (see below for details)

Riley Park Winter Farmers Market
Every Saturday, 10:00am-2:00pm from November 2, 2019 – April 25, 2020 (except December 28)
Location: E 30th Ave & Ontario St
More Information

Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market
Every Sunday, 10:00am to 2:00pm from November 3, 2019 – April 26, 2020 (except December 29)
Location: 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver
More Information

Closed due to COVID-19:

Port Moody Winter Farmers Market
Every Sunday, 10:00am to 2:00pm from November, 2019 – April, 2020 (except December 29 and April 12)
Location: Port Moody Recreation Complex, 300 Ioco Rd, Port Moody
More Information

Cannery Farmers Market
December 1, 8 and 15, 2019; February 9 and 23, 2020; March 8 and 22, 2020
April 5 and 19, 2020; from 10:00am to 3:00pm
Location: 12138 Fourth Avenue, Richmond
More Information

Information March 20, 2020 regarding Vancouver Farmers Markets and COVID-19. A message from the organizers:

March 20: As we move forward with the operations of our Riley Park and Hastings Park Winter Markets this weekend, Vancouver Farmers Markets would like to clarify that we are not functioning as a social gathering at this time.

We remain open during the COVID-19 crisis as access points for fresh food, with the full authorization of both municipal and provincial officials. We are committed to staying open as an essential service in the same manner as grocery stores as long as it is deemed safe to do so by the BC Centre for Disease Control.

WHAT WE ARE DOING: Our markets will look very different for the time being. In order to maintain proper social distancing and the safety of our shoppers, vendors, and staff, we will be implementing the following changes:

• Stall spaces will be reconfigured to ensure shoppers have plenty of space to select and purchase products. 
• Smaller collections of vendors will be operating in clearly marked, cordoned off zones. The zones are constructed to ensure shoppers flow through the market as quickly as possible and do not backtrack. CLICK HERE to view the zoned map for Riley Park. The Hastings Park map will remain the same at this time.
• Each zone will have a maximum capacity of 30 shoppers. Capacity of each market zone will be monitored by VFM staff members who will count every person entering and exiting their zone boundary. 
• If a line forms at the entrance points, we will ask shoppers to stand at 6ft. intervals. 
• Signage will be in place to direct shoppers to entrance and exit points.

We are in regular communication with public health officials, and will be implementing these additional health and safety recommendations:

• Markets will be food only. No food/coffee trucks or craft will be available.
• No cash or Market Money transactions for making purchases – debit/credit cards only.
• Increased number of hand washing/sanitizing stations will be in place throughout the markets.
• No product sampling of any kind.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: We ask that all shoppers attending the markets comply with the social distancing protocols in place, and use designated entrances/exits only. This may result in longer wait times than usual to purchase food, so plan your visit in advance as vendors may not be in their regular spot. Use our Market Maps to help you plan:

• CLICK HERE to view the Market Map for Riley Park
• CLICK HERE to view the Market Map for Hastings Park

In order to maintain the health and safety of all VFM shoppers, vendors, and staff, please observe the following recommendations:

• Stay home if you are feeling sick.
• Use designated entrances/exits only (see attached map for details).
• Observe social distancing – maintain 6ft. of space from others at all times.
• Shop, don’t stop. Please limit your time in the market to essential food shopping only.
• No dogs in the market zone.
• Try to limit attendance to one household member.
• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. 
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into the crease of your elbow.
• Avoid handling produce and food items you do not intend to buy. Wash your produce thoroughly.

For more information, and to find out what’s in season, follow Vancouver Farmers Markets on Facebook and Twitter.

How would you like to snap the ultimate holiday sELFie? For some unforgettable photos and cheerful memories, pay a visit to Coquitlam Centre to use their three new pop-up photo sets. 

Snap the Ultimate Holiday sELFie at Coquitlam Centre

Picture your family members cuddling a giant Elf on the Shelf, surrounded with festive decorations. Or pose your kids on a toy train or next to a life-sized teddy bear. See their eyes light up as they set sight on the Candy Cane Café display. 

Entrance is by donation, with all proceeds going to children’s programs at SHARE Family and Community Services. Take a break from your shopping to pop by, take some photos and share them on social media. The sELFie Gallery + The Candy Cane Café is located across from the Apple Store and will be open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. daily, running until January 5, 2020. 

Share your sELFie photos by tagging #sELFieGallery @coquitlamcentre and @sharesociety. 

While You’re at the Shopping Centre

Visit Santa: Santaland is open daily until Christmas Eve. While waiting, kids can take part in Elf School and learn the official top secret elf greeting. 

Make a toy donation: Drop off unwrapped toys, gift cards or cash to the SHARE ToyBank. This year, it’s hoped that 1,140 families will receive hampers and more than 1,300 kids will receive a toy or gift card.

Get your gift wrapped: Gift wrapping is available to December 24, 2019. Pricing is based on the size of the gifts and proceeds support programs at SHARE. 

Light Up Your Evening

After shopping, drop in to Lights at Lafarge – Metro Vancouver’s largest free festive lights display. Coquitlam Centre is the Presenting Partner of this annual event, which features hundreds of thousands of lights wrapped around Lafarge Lake at Town Centre Park. See you there! 

For more information about Coquitlam Centre, visit coquitlamcentre.com. To learn more about Lights at Lafarge, visit this site »

Miss604 is a proud media partner of Lights at Lafarge

National Geographic Live, National Geographic’s touring speaker series, and The Orpheum are proud to announce two early 2020 shows that feature Birds of Paradise and the Wild Seas.

In February, go deep into the New Guinea wilderness to meet all 39 species of the birds of paradise—and enjoy their secret lives, bizarre displays, and dazzling courtship antics in breathtaking visuals. March will be all about oceans, perfect for the month’s sustainability focus with Water Awareness Day and Earth Hour taking place around the same time.

Birds of Paradise with Tim Laman, field biologist and wildlife photojournalist, and Ed Scholes, evolutionary biologist

Where: Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe St, Vancouver)
Tickets: February 4, 2020 at 1:00pm (tickets) and 7:00pm (tickets)

In this stunning presentation tied to their landmark book Birds of Paradise Revealed, these intrepid scientists share remarkable photographs and video to reveal—for the first time—all 39 species, including their colourful plumage, secret lives, bizarre displays, and dazzling courtship antics. Join Tim Laman and Ed Scholes as they recount their wild and hairy adventures in the New Guinea rain forest in search of some of nature’s most extraordinary wonders. And explore the fascinating scientific questions around how such extreme creatures and behaviours could have evolved.

Wild Seas, Secret Shores with Thomas Peschak, National Geographic photographer

Where: Orpheum Theatre (601 Smithe St, Vancouver)
Tickets: March 31, 2020 at 1:00pm (tickets) and 7:00pm (tickets)

Thomas Peschak has covered a wide range of subjects for National Geographic, including great white sharks, one-ton manta rays, and massive whale sharks. His photos appeared in “Galapagos: Life in the Balance and Stewards of the Sea” in the June 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine. Peschak has written and photographed seven books and is a multiple winner in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and World Press Photo Awards. He is a Founding/Associate Director of the Manta Trust and a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Follow Vancouver Civic Theatres on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information about this event and many other shows and performances throughout the year.

Win Tickets

I have a 4-pack of tickets to give away to Birds of Paradise in February, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 8:00pm on Tuesday, December 17, 2019. UPDATE the winner is Ramona!

Celebrating 50 years of a tropical paradise that sits at the highest point in Vancouver! During Festivale Tropicale, you can enjoy Christmas at the Bloedel Conservatory as you experience 150 free flying exotic birds, magical lights, colourful plant displays, festive music, a scavenger hunt, and much more.

Festivale Tropicale, Christmas at Bloedel Conservatory

• Where: The main entrance to the Bloedel Conservatory is located off 33rd Ave between Cambie and Main streets, in Queen Elizabeth Park.
• When: December 7, 2019 to January 5, 2020 from 10:00am to 9:00pm daily (closed December 25)
• Tickets: $6.75 adults, $4.55 seniors/youth, $3.30 children. 5-visit passes are available online.

Share your photos from Festivale Tropicale with the hashtag #FestivaleTropicale and tag Bloedel Conservatory for your chance to win 2 free flights to Mexico (see terms and conditions here). Follow along on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more info.

BONUS: Heading to the VanDusen Festival of Lights? You’ll receive a free ticket to Festivale Tropicale when you exit the event.

Constructed through a very generous donation from Prentice Bloedel, Bloedel was dedicated at its opening in 1969 “to a better appreciation and understanding of the world of plants.”

Arts Umbrella presents Mixed Nuts, a beloved holiday tradition, December 13-15, 2019 at the Vancouver Playhouse. A unique interpretation of The Nutcracker, the show is updated each year with works by local choreographers, new sets, costumes and a musical.

Arts Umbrella Presents Mixed Nuts

Where: Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
When: December 13-15, 2019
Tickets: Available online now. Students & Seniors: $25 / Adults: $30

Arts Umbrella dancers, Vancouver-based choreographers and emerging dance artists all combine their talents for one of the most entertaining shows of the holiday season.

Featuring a variety of dance styles from hip-hop, to ballroom, to the classic grand pas-de-deux, this year’s production mixes old favourites and new pieces choreographed by leading Vancouver and Canadian dancers, including Ballet BC and Kidd Pivot company members.

The second act will feature a candy-inspired set, costume design, and choreography. Expect to see a family-friendly production filled with gingerbread people, candy canes, Hershey kisses, lollipops, chocolates, sugar plums, and cinnamon hearts, along with a panoply of emerging dance artists.

Follow Arts Umbrella on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to Saturday’s performance (the winner can select 2:00pm or 7:00pm). Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random at 9:00am on Thursday, December 12, 2019. UPDATE The winner is Tal!