Enjoy a seasonal celebration of quiet reflection and jubilant hope with Christmas with Chor Leoni from December 15-18, 2023 – and you can enter to win tickets!
Set to a backdrop of soaring architecture and stunning lighting design, the treasured Yuletide tradition includes a dynamic blend of holiday classics and hopeful winter harmonies, coupled with the world premiere of A Midnight Clear from Vancouver’s genre-defying composer and violinist Cameron Wilson.
Christmas with Chor Leoni
Dates: December 15th at 7:30pm; December 16th at 11:00am, 2:00pm & 5:00pm; December 18th at 5:00pm & 8:00pm
Address: St. Andrew-Wesley’s United (1022 Nelson St., Vancouver)
Tickets:Available online now from $20-$75, plus applicable fees. 35 and Under ticket pricing available.
In addition to beloved Christmas carols such as I Saw Three Ships and Silent Night, Christmas with Chor Leoni will bring audiences on a meditative journey with the world premiere of Cameron Wilson’s Midnight Clear to the promise of new beginnings with the Canadian premiere of Ola Gjeilo’s New Year’s Carol.
Wilson’s Midnight Clear is composed in three sections and scored for Chor Leoni’s 65-voice choir, as well as a rich accompaniment of piano, harp, acoustic guitar, percussion, and violin.
Returning for an encore performance this season is a previous Chor Leoni premiere. A Fantasy of Carols, written by award-winning B.C. composer and Chor Leoni’s 2022 Composer in Residence Don Macdonald, is a celebration of traditional Christmas favourites, such as Ding Dong Merrily on High, What Child is This?, O Holy Night, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and O Come All Ye Faithful. With snippets of these classics woven throughout non-traditional musical settings, this rich and unexpected tapestry builds to a jubilant climax. The work was commissioned by Chor Leoni in 2022.
In addition to Wilson on violin, Chor Leoni will be accompanied by several special musical guests, including harpist Vivian Chen, pianist Tina Chang, and guitarist Keith Sinclair.
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to opening night on December 15, 2023 at 7:30pm. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Step into a botanical wonderland at VanDusen Festival of Lights featuring over a million lights spread across 15 acres including a glowing display inspired by the vibrant colours and unique plants and animals of BC.
A rainy night is still bright at VanDusen Festival of Lights!
Festival of Lights at VanDusen 2023
Date: November 24, 2023 to January 7, 2024
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak St, Vancouver)
Admission: Tickets available for purchase online for designated time entry.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance for a designated entry time. Tickets are not sold on-site
There are 3 Dancing Lights sets this year. Enjoy the show every 20 minutes from the top of the hour. In addition to the Dancing Lights feature that continues to be a crowd favourite, visitors can expect themed light areas to explore. Enjoy vibrant colours reflecting the biodiversity of Garry oak meadows, the feature of this year’s festival. This luminous display is inspired by the camas flowers, buttercups, and other wildflowers found in these endangered Southern BC ecosystems.
The event will also feature an array of food vendors, offering a range of sweet and savoury options, including gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian choices. A full list of food vendors is available online.
The Vancouver Park Board is pleased work with Make-A-Wish Canada for the 22nd year. Since 2001, the event has raised more than $640,000 has been raised for the charity. Last year alone, the event generated $50,415, which is equivalent to five wishes being granted to children with critical illnesses. Visitors can show their support by stopping by the Scottish Shelter to light a candle and offer a donation. Online contributions are also welcome.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
Canada’s largest food and drink celebration, Dine Out Vancouver Festival returns for its 22nd year with more restaurants than ever before! Offering menus from over 380 participating restaurants, along with a lineup of special events, the festival will run from January 17 to February 4, 2024.
Dine Out Vancouver offers diners a tasty lineup of special menus from local chefs, unique culinary experiences, and a full schedules of delicious events. This year enjoy more than 380 participating restaurants from the North Shore to downtown, through Richmond and beyond dishing up menus in fixed price points ranging from $20 to $65 per person.
Foodies can also look forward to the return of the Vancouver World Chef Exchange, where talented international chefs team up with local chefs to create unique collaborative dinners at a selection of Michelin recognized restaurants, along with Street Food City, Vancouver’s original food truck festival, which will be celebrating its 12th annual year.
The festival will also feature special ticketed dining events, including returning classic, Chinatown Dumpling Masterclass by Historical Chinatown Tours, as well as exclusive Downtown Vancouver hotel offers. Participating Downtown Vancouver hotels will be offering diners who book an overnight stay a $75 gift card per night (up to a maximum of three nights) during Dine Out dates.
Vancouver’s premier handmade market, Make It,hosts its 15th anniversary celebration December 7 to 10, 2023 with a curated collection of handmade products from over 250 talented artists.
Make It – Vancouver’s Premier Handmade Market
Date: December 7 to 10, 2023
Location: PNE Forum 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver
Admission: Tickets available for purchase online. $10 advanced tickets online, $12 at the door, and children 12 and under get in free.
Tickets are valid through every day of the event
Shop for the best handmade items to give (and receive) at Make It, and check names off your list early this holiday. With more than 250 makies, the market has something for everyone.
A full list of vendors if available online. Find everything from jewlery, stationery, home goods, edibles, kids wear, and more. This year’s event promises shopping with a festive atmosphere with food trucks on site and a licensed sip-and-shop experience.
Make It creates community through connecting Makies with conscious shoppers who want to feel good about what they buy. Now more than ever it’s important that people consider what they buy, and who they buy from.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
We have curated a list of our current December culinary favourites and notable limited edition menus, into one convenient spot for this month’s Vancouver Foodie Friday feature. Here are our holiday finds and updates for all foodies alike:
Kringle’s Holiday Pop-Up Bar at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, photo submitted
Vancouver Foodie Friday – Holiday Menus, Christmas Dinners, Cocktail Pop-Ups and More
Beaucoop Bakery’s 2023 Winter Collection
Where: 2150 Fir Street, Vancouver or St. Regis Hotel, 602 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver
When: Started November 24th, 2023
Details: Beaucoup Bakery has announced their 2023 winter collection, “Nutcracker Sweets”. Inspired by the Land of the Sweets, pastry chef Betty Hung and her team have created two new Bûche de Noël flavours, a 12-piece Nutcracker bon bon set and a cookie box. And brand new for this year, charcuterie croissants are available at the St. Regis location. Starting now through the rest of the holiday season, guests can pre-order the collection online for pick-up at Beaucoup Bakery’s Fir Street location. Select items (excluding yule logs) will be available at both cafes for walk-ins each day.
Beaucoup Bakery’s Holiday Croissant, photo by: Amy Ho
