Holiday season is officially here! Trees are being lit, markets are opening their doors, and craft fairs are in full swing.
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Club Habana Celebrates Canada’s 150+
We For She
Tears to Smiles: Refugee Fundraiser
Henry Wagons at The Wise Hall
Opera Mariposa and Heroic Opera Present: Un ballo in maschera
Refresh Market, Squamish
11th Annual Surrey Kids Conference
West Coast Christmas Show at TRADEX
34th Annual Britannia Christmas Craft Fair
5th Annual Electroacoustic Festival
Eastside Flea
Local Knitwear Sample Sale
Theater Crossing Presents: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Christmas at Hycroft
Peter and the Starcatcher at Cap Theatre
Jersey Boys
Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival
Gateway Theatre Presents: Sink or Swim
Drew Hayden Taylor’s Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth
Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat
The Arts Club Presents: The Day Before Christmas
Cirque du Soleil: KURIOS Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
The Fraser Valley is gearing up for a fun and festive holiday season and Abbotsford is leading the charge with a tree lighting festival this weekend followed by events, activities, and plenty of opportunities to pick up gifts. Here are 5 Christmas events and activities in Abbotsford to add to your calendar:
10th West Coast Christmas Show and Artisan Marketplace
Where: TRADEX (1190 Cornell St)
When: November 17-19, 2017
Details: Enjoy the Festival of Trees, shop artisan holiday gifts, view a model train display, enter an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest, browse a wide variety of seasonal home décor and poinsettia baskets, attend a carving workshop, have Breakfast with Santa, visit Santa’s Workshop and Elf Activity Area, listen to the sounds of the holidays with live music, and savour culinary and wine presentations. Read more »
5th Annual Highstreet Holiday Show and Tree Lighting
Where: Highstreet Shopping Centre (3122 Mount Lehman Road)
When: Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 5:00pm
Details: The Fraser Valley’s biggest and brightest holiday show! Highlights include the lighting of a dazzling 65 foot Christmas tree, one of the tallest in Canada, along with Santa’s arrival to Highstreet. Other crowd favourites include Rudolf, Frosty, Spandy Andy the dancing elf, a 40-piece marching band, festive dancers, and to top it all off – a magical snowfall. Highstreet’s 30-minute live show includes a multi-media light display utilizing 6,000 tri-color LED bulbs set to seasonal musical favourites. Free live shows every Saturday at 5:00pm until December 16th. Read more »
28th Winter Jubilee in Historic Downtown
Where: Essendene & Montrose Avenues
When: Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Details: Abbotsford sees its second Christmas tree lighting at Winter Jubilee. Highlights include the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, live entertainment, a craft beer and wine garden, children’s activities, photos with Santa, an artisan marketplace, carollers, food trucks, pony rides, and a fireworks display. Read more »
Glenda’s Christmas Cottage Fireside Twinkling Lights
Where: 4557 Mount Lehman Road
When: Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Details: Open all season long, the special Fireside Twinkling Lights event will have samples of hot spiced apple juice in the shop and a chance to see all of the beautiful things in the store – one lucky person will get their name drawn to win a $50 gift certificate to spend in the store. Read more »
Abbotsford Farm & Country Market
Where: Montrose Avenue at George Ferguson Way
When: Saturdays until December 16th from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Details: Shop for fresh local produce; international award-winning jams; and a wide range of food products that are not available in stores. The market also has fresh cut flowers, handmade jewellery, handcrafted soaps, and more seasonal offerings. Read more »
Bonus!
Mt Lehman Sojourn in the Country
Where: Various locations
When: December 2, 2017 from 10:00am to 7:00pm
Details: Escape with Mt. Lehman Sojourn in the Country – a collaborative of like-minded, quality vendors located in the Mt. Lehman area of Abbotsford whose passion is for you to experience the very best of country living Abbotsford has to offer. Read more »
Follow Tourism Abbotsford on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news and events.
The Robson Square ice rink opens for the season on December 1st, providing affordable family fun in Downtown Vancouver throughout the holidays and beyond.
Skating is free with your own skates, otherwise rentals are available. The rink also features a concession stand with snacks and warm drinks.
Robson Square Ice Rink Hours
December 1, 2017 until the end of February 2018
Sunday to Thursday: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Friday and Saturday: 9:00am to 11:00pm
Holiday Hours
Christmas Eve (December 24): 9:00am to 9:00pm
Christmas Day (December 25): 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Boxing Day (Decebmer 26): 9:00am to 9:00pm
New Year’s Eve (December 31): 9:00am to 11:00pm
New Year’s Day (January 1): 9:00am to 9:00pm
Skate rental ends 30 minutes prior to close. Helmet included with skate rental. Cash only. Please be advised that warm weather leads to warm ice! Robson Square Ice Rink may need to close unexpectedly.
Live Entertainment
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm LeftCoast
Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Karla Sax
Friday, December 15, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm The Agency
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm DJ Dee Selectress
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 12:30pm to 1:45pm Showstoppers
Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Rumba Calzada
Monday, December 18, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Malcolm Aiken Quartet
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Company B
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Caviar & Lace
Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Warren Dean Flandez Band
Friday, December 22, 2017 at 6:30 to 9:30pm DJ-El-Niño
Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 2:30pm to 4:00pm Karla Sax
Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Phat Santa Swings
Sunday, December 24, 2017 at 2:30pm to 4:00pm Santa’s Brass
Sunday, December 24, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Tom Arntzen/Hot Mamas
Sunday, December 31, 2017 at 6:30pm to 9:30pm Rumba Calzada
Ice Rink Closures, Schedule Changes & Events
Watch here for updates or call the Robson Square Hotline (604) 646-3554.
School Program
If you are a grade 4-7 school, you can sign up for free skating with the Robson Square Ice Rinks school program. Robson Square will provide your class with free skate and helmet rentals. The school program runs Monday through Friday with three 1 hour time slots daily. Please contact the rink at (604) 646-3557 or email RSQIceRink(at)pacegroup.com
The The Robson Square ice rink will remain open until February 2018. Tag your photos with #robsonsquare on social media to share the fun. Robson Square is located at 800 Robson Street between Robson and Georgia, Howe and Hornby.
REW, Canada’s premier real estate portal, has announced their new name: Real Estate Wire. It is the only site in BC where you can find all property listings, new home developments and industry news – in one place.
The rebrand reflects the company’s goal to be the #1 source for real estate search across Canada. Helping people with the most comprehensive property information available online, and critical industry insights in order to achieve their real estate goals. All while providing the best home search experience possible.
I took the new Real Estate Wire out for a spin and found several ways to do an effective property search.
5 Ways to Search for a Home with the New REW.CA
In addition to searching by price, neighbourhood and keywords, the portal recently launched new property search features, here are some of my favourites:
- The first option is to search using the map. Zoom in, zoom out, toggle the map in every direction and pin-point listings in your dream neighbourhood.
- Second, you have all of the standard features of a real estate search at your fingertips: Number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, search by the year the property was built, and your minimum/maximum price.
- Ready to start looking at houses right now? You can Search Upcoming Open Houses.
- Want to see what schools are nearby for the kids? You can Search By Schools to see public and private schools in each neighbourhood listing.
- Location, location, location! Search by Building if something has caught your eye.
Enter to Win an Amazon Echo
REW offers smart searches so it’s only fitting that they have offered up a prize (to TWO lucky Miss604 readers) that can make their homes smart!
I have two Amazon Echo systems to give away. With the Amazon Echo, you can do everything from turn on smart switches (lights, heat, A/C like John and I do) to ask for directions, calculations, news, play games, control your TV, place online order, play radio stations, and much more.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:
[clickToTweet tweet=”Check out #TheNewREW and RT to enter to win an Amazon Echo from @rewca http://ow.ly/mmGx30gBtBH” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 23, 2017. The prize is one Amazon Echo 2nd generation (available November 28th) for each winner. This contest is sponsored by REW.CA.
Follow #TheNewREW on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for more information.
Update The winners are Scott and @kimba420!
Nothing rings in the holidays quite like the lighting of a Christmas tree and in Downtown Vancouver, there will be a couple of these events complete with free entertainment.
Downtown Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby Street)
When: Friday, December 1, 2017 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Details: Watch four magnificent holiday trees, one of which is 76 feet tall, come alive with hope and light (lighting starts at 6:30pm). This free family-friendly event features live entertainment and music from Side One, free cookies and hot chocolate, local food trucks and fun activities for kids. Buy a bulb and help a child get to the Vancouver Children’s Festival in 2018.
CF Pacific Centre Christmas Tree Lighting
Where: CF Pacific Centre rotunda off Georgia and Howe Streets
When: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Details: A 40-foot tree situated outside the rotunda will serve as the backdrop for a memorable musical performance led by CHOIR CHOIR CHOIR starting at 6:00pm. Free to attend. RSVP to the Facebook event here to receive updates.
Surrey’s Tree Lighting Festival will be on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at City Hall Plaza. Follow Miss604 for more free and fun holiday events this season.
