Hands down my favourite thing to do over the holidays is see a live show on stage in Metro Vancouver and here’s the perfect opportunity to do just that! Patrick Street Productions is presenting a musical adaptation of the beloved holiday movie It’s a Wonderful Life as a glorious new, classic musical.

It’s a Wonderful Life, a New Classical Musical at the Anvil Centre

• When: December 19, 2019 to January 5, 2020 with matinees & evening performances
• Where: Anvil Centre Theatre (777 Columbia Street, New Westminster)
• Tickets: Available online now starting at $24 for previews (December 19 & 20) and $29 (December 21 to January 5) plus fees/taxes. You can also call the box office at (604) 684-2787.

This heart-warming show breathes musical life into the familiar story while it retains its warmth and humour featuring musical standards like Nice Work if You Can Get It, Rhapsody in Blue, One Life to Live, and Lost in the Stars, along with traditional holiday carols.  Reminding us all that “no man is a failure who has friends,” this new adaptation is now a wonderful holiday musical for the whole family.

When I was a child my family used to go for a drive to look at Christmas lights in New Westminster, which also usually included a stop to get some hot chocolate. The beautiful Queen Anne, Edwardian, and Arts & Crafts style homes near Queen’s Park looked just like Bedford Falls in It’s a Wonderful Life, all lit up for the holidays. It’s so fitting that you can see this classic, with a modern twist, on stage in the Royal City this season.

For more information, follow Patrick Street Productions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to opening night of Patrick Street Productions presents It’s a Wonderful Life at the Anvil Centre on December 21st. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Like, comment on or share this post on Facebook (1 entry)
• Share a photo of Christmas lights on Instagram and tag Patrick Street Productions and Miss604 (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Sunday, December 1, 2019.

UPDATE the winner is: Shawna!

For one night only, Surrey City Orchestra presents The Nutcracker. Led by Music Director Stuart Martin, this performance will feature a variety of local dance troupes and youth choir in a festive presentation of Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet masterpiece.

Surrey City Orchestra Presents The Nutcracker

When: Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 7:30pm
Where: Chandos Pattison Auditorium, 10238 168 St, Surrey
Tickets: On sale online now

This performance of The Nutcracker celebrates the incredible talents and diverse backgrounds of local dancers and choral singers, and will be presented unlike any version you have seen before!

The Surrey City Orchestra will by joined by:

• Central Dance Academy
• Ammara Dance Company
• Hanyang Arts Society
• Kvitka Ukrainian School of Dance
• Surrey Children’s Choir

Surrey City Orchestra is a new professional orchestra that celebrated its inaugural season in September of 2019. The orchestra features musicians who call Surrey home, as well as promoting cross-cultural collaborations through music. For more information about the Surrey City Orchestra, follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

This year we’ve been celebrating the 130th anniversary of Vancouver’s original tourist attraction and during the holidays, nothing quite compares to Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. This illuminating winter festival runs from November 22, 2019 to January 26, 2020 with live music, scavenger hunts, sweet treats, luminescent forest pathways, and much more.

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

• Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
  (3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver)
• When: November 22, 2019 to January 26, 2020 (closed Christmas Day)
  11:00am to 9:00pm
• Admission: Purchase online in advance or at the park. Canyon Lights tickets are valid all day with holiday activities beginning at 4:00pm.

Visit the world’s tallest living Christmas tree, enjoy hundreds of thousands of lights throughout the park including an illuminated Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, rainforest and canyon which will be transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment.

Mark this holiday season with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and their magical evenings of music and your favourite Christmas movies. 

Christmas Movies and Music with the VSO

On November 19th, the VSO launched the world premiere of the Polar Express in Concert which took guests through an unforgettable journey of composer Alan Silvestri’s Polar Express musical score, performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Lucky attendees had the opportunity to watch this acclaimed Christmas movie on the big screen, while the entire musical score was played live. 

The VSO orchestrate a fun-filled evening for all with visits from Santa, photo opportunities and a very special appearance from two-time Academy Award® and Golden Globe® Award nominee, Alan Silvestri who attended and spoke at the show. You may know Silvestri’s name from a variety of musical scores he has composed for movies including The Avengers, the Back to the Future trilogy and my all-time favourite, Forrest Gump. 

My two children who are seven and ten were blown away by the performance of the VSO, giddily remarking the entire way through the movie how they couldn’t believe that all the music was live. It was an exciting moment to see them begin to develop an appreciation for the orchestra and all the different instruments contributing to the beautiful musical score. 

The iconic Orpheum Theatre is a stunning backdrop for the immensely talented and world-class performance of the VSO. If you are yet to attend a VSO performance and are looking for the opportunity to expose your family to a night of culture and fun, then check out the VSO’s two performances of Home Alone, playing December 18th and 20th. Hurry, tickets are selling quickly! 

Follow the VSO on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information about their performances and special holiday events this season. To view the full Vancouver Symphony Orchestra calendar, click here »

It’s the beloved story filled with spirit, music, joy, and a pinch of fairy dust! This season Bad Hats Theatre presents Peter Pan on Granville Island. With live folk and jazz music, this exuberant adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale reimagines Peter Pan for the new millennium. 

Peter Pan on Granville Island

Carousel Theatre for Young People has licensed Peter Pan as their 2019/2020 Holiday Production. Under the masterful direction of Deb Williams, a new cast will take on our scrappy adaptation at the Waterfront Theatre.

When: November 23, 2019 to January 5, 2020
Where: The Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St, Granville Island)
Tickets: Available by phone (604) 685-6217 or online now »

Pirates. Lost Boys. A ticking crocodile — this magical story soars to new heights – without the use of wires. The Toronto production swept the Dora TYA Awards in 2018.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to see this fantastical audience favourite on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 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

Peter Pan is recommended for ages 4 and older, including adults who never wanted to grow up. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 28, 2019. UPDATE: The winner is Kirsten!