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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by The Improv Centre Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Get ready to unwrap a bundle of laughter and festive cheer as The Improv Centre (TIC) hosts its holiday and New Year’s Eve programming from November 23 to December 31, 2023.
Holiday Comedy at The Improv Centre
Where: The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau St, Vancouver on Granville Island)
Tickets: Starting at $26.50, available online now or in person at the TIC Box Office.
Holiday Fun
Dates: November 23 to December 31, 2023
Times: Thursdays to Saturdays at 7:30pm; 2:00pm matinee December 17th & 24th
Back to the Holidays is a fun, family-friendly show! From Scrooges to Grinches and Krampuses to Hans Grubers, there’s something inherently funny about holiday cynics who begrudgingly give in to seasonal merriment. An homage to Back to the Future and A Christmas Carol, the show explores holidays of the past, present, and future through the lens of an eccentric scientist who is tasked with helping our hero discover the true meaning of the holidays and save the town from ruin.
Year in Review
Date: December 27 to December 30, 2023
Times: 7:30pm
Celebrate this past year with 2023 and Me. Whether it was the best, worst or middling year of your life, this show will be a delightfully therapeutic “thank you!” or “**** you!” to 2023. Audience members can share with us what made this year unique, fantastic or a total dumpster fire, and watch TIC ensemble members recreate those experiences – and maybe even rewrite history.
New Year’s Eve
Date: December 31, 2023
Times: 7:00pm, 9:00pm, and 11:15pm
Finally, join TIC in bidding adieu to 2023 with libations and laughter at NYE at TIC. There’s no time like the holidays to shed the dread and spread kindness. NYE at TIC is an evening filled with fun, frivolity, and fabulously funny improv comedy as we count down to 2024. Tickets for this performance also include full access to a dessert bar and photo booth.
Registration is now open for the winter break day camp for kids in Stanley Park. Through nature-based education, games, activities, and crafts, campers will learn about the park’s ecosystems during the cold season and the animals that call them home.
Winter Day Camp for Kids in Stanley Park
Dates: January 2-5, 2024
Times: 9:00am to 4:00pm daily
Location: Stanley Park (610 Pipeline Road, Vancouver)
Registration: Now open online. Available for ages 6-11 years old.
$260 for non-members, $220 for members.
Want to become a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society? Sign up here!
Winter Wildlife EcoCamp offers an exciting immersion into the winter realm of Stanley Park. From winter birding adventures to looking for wildlife tracks in the silent forests, EcoCamp offers the opportunity for kids to connect with nature, even in the cold.
For more information about Stanley Park EcoCamps and other SPES programs, follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
Stanley Park Ecology Society promotes awareness of and respect for the natural world through collaborative leadership in environmental education, research, and conservation in Stanley Park. Miss604’s Rebecca Bollwitt is a Board Executive of SPES.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
Experience a flight ride with Soar with Santa returning to FlyOver Canada for the 2023 holiday season at Canada Place. Passengers are invited to depart for glistening snow covered landscapes of the North Pole on their journey from Canada’s coasts to the winter wonderland and home of Santa.
Admission: Tickets available for purchase online. Advanced booking is recommended.
Visit Monday through Thursday for free child admission with each accompanying adult (see website for details).
FlyOver Canada’s Soar with Santa showcases aerial footage of the mesmerizing North Pole. Momentous scenes captured by a dedicated video team who spent over a year travelling and filing to bring it all together for one magical flight ride. Without leaving your seat, you can take in the sights, sounds, and scents of the holiday season on this enchanting sleigh ride.
From now until December 14, guests can also see Legendary Iceland, an exhilarating ride featuring more than 30 locations and landmarks across the Nordic region.
On Saturdays and Sundays from November 18 to December 17, create memories with an extra special Breakfast with Santa before boarding the flight ride. More information on booking a Breakfast with Santa available online.
Following the ride, pick up some locally made stocking suffers in the gift shop or embrace the wonder of the season at the Flying Whale Cafe, where season treats and winter warming drinks such as peppermint mochas, gingerbread cookies, and Christmas loaf are available. Fill out a letter to Santa and deliver it to the mailbox inside the cafe by December 5 so it gets to Santa on time.
Outside, Miss604 is a media sponsor of Christmas at Canada Place, from December 1, 2023 to January 2, 2024.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
Make a difference in a young person’s life this season at one or more of these holiday toy drives located around Vancouver. New, unwrapped gifts, monetary donations and more are accepted.
A holiday Wish List at the bottom of this page may assist in your planned giving
Holiday Toy Drives Around Vancouver
Toy Mountain at Guildford Date: November 30 to December 1, 2023 Location: Centre Court at Town Centre (10355 152 St, Surrey) Details: Accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. For all early risers who make a donations between 6:00am and 9:00am, enjoy a complimentary breakfast to go from Triple O’s.
Family Services North Shore Toy Drive (special event) Date: December 3, 2023 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm Location: Morrey Mazda of the Northshore (818 Automall Dr, North Vancouver) Details: Drop off new, unwrapped gifts for community members in need. The Northshore Auto Mall has pledge to match all gift drive donations made, up to $10,000. Gift Drive donations go directly towards purchasing new toys and gifts for children and teens, ensuring everyone can share in the joy of the holiday with presents under the tree.
Surrey Christmas Bureau Date: Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm Location: Surrey Christmas Bureau (13665 102 Ave, Surrey) Details: If you can’t make it to the Toy Depot to drop off new, unwrapped gifts, financial donations are also needed year round to support the Hamper program. Volunteer positions are available as well.
Richmond Christmas Fund Date: Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm Location: Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives (190-7000 Minoru Blvd, Richmond) Details: Please be advised that, due to allergies, they are no longer accepting donations of stuffed animals. Donations of books instead of bears and toys instead of teddies are encouraged. All donations are appreciated but there are several popular items this year that are needed this year; you can find these on the 2023 Wish List.
Landsdowne Centre Toy Drive (special event) Date: November 18 from 9:00am to 2:00pm Location: Centre parking lot next to the Canada Line Details: The 9th annual Richmond Toy Drive with the Richmond RCMP is back raising awareness and gifts for families in need for the Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives Christmas Fund. The event will have an array of activities, treats, and photo-ops with Santa. The public is encouraged to contribute a new, unwrapped toy or by making a minimum of $10 donations. Gently used clothing, blankets, and textiles will also be collected on site and donated to the Salvation Army.
Langley Christmas Bureau Date: Monday through Thursday from 10:00am to 3:30pm Location: Timms Community Centre (20550 Douglas Crescent. Langley) Details: Drop off a donation of a new toy or gift certificate. Please note that stuffed animals are not recommended due to allergies.
SHARE Family & Community Service TOYBANK Date: November 27 to December 24, 2023 Location: Coqutilam Centre Level 2 between Walmart and H&M (2929 Barnet Hwy #2201, Coquitlam) Details: Accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys and gift cards as well as debit and credit donations (no cash please). This year, SHARE is anticipating need will increase by %50 while all donations are appreciated, this year SHARE is requesting gifts for youth aged 6 to 17. A wish list is available online for gift ideas.
Burnaby Firefighters’ Toy Drive Date: Before December 6, 2023 Location: Burnaby Hospital Foundation Office (3rd floor, West Wing of the Hospital) and Date: December 9, 2023 Location: Metropolis at Metrotown Grand Court (at Santa) Details: The Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society is hosting toy drives for the Burnaby Christmas Bureau. You can contribute unwrapped, unused toys at these locations.
Wish List Items
Check with each organization for their specific list but here’s what many think will be popular this year:
For babies, toddles, and preschoolers:
Activity books, blankets, diapers, educational toys, musical toys, Disney toys, Peppa pig toys, and Paw Patrol toys.
For elementary and pre-teens:
Colouring books, LEGO, Hot Wheels, crafting kits, STEM toys, LOL Dolls, action figures, sports equipment, pretend play items (kitchen sets, doctor sets, costumes, etc.),books, tickets for kid-friendly attractions (Aquarium, Science World, etc.) and appropriate gift cards.
For teens:
Sports equipment, crafting supplies, LED strip lights for room decor, makeup and nail polish sets, Fuji Instax Polaroid camera and film, bluetooth speaker, wireless headphones, books, and gift cards.
If you know of any more toy drives please feel free to leave of comment to be included.
The third annual Vancouver International Black Film Festival #VIBFF23, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and co-presented by Global BC, has announced its program and events lineup happening December 1-4, 2023.
Vancouver International Black Film Festival
The Vancouver International Black Film Festival will have a hybrid model this year to amplify the voices of Afro-descendants in British Columbia and to foster accessibility across the country. The in-person screenings and events will take place at the VIFF Vancity Theatre and Studio Theatre.
Through films and various panels, this year’s festival is aimed at the public from all communities as it highlights the talent of creators from diverse backgrounds and makes room for them to reflect on the issues they face.
The opening night red-carpet event is Friday, December 1st at 7:00pm featuring Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father the Devil at the Vancity Theatre.
On Friday, December 1st, at 9:00pm, all films will be accessible online.
On Saturday, December 2nd the VIFF Vancity Theatre will host Fabienne Colas Foundation’s award-winning Being Black in Canada short film series, and the VIBFF Black Market where film and television industry professionals will share their thoughts and real-world experiences on today’s most critical filmmaking issues. View the full event schedule online here.
All Access Online Pass gives access to the entire online film program ($45 +fee/tax). All Access In-person Pass gives access to the entire in-person program ($39 + fee/tax). Single tickets for in-person film screenings are available for $12, and $20 for the Opening Night film. Purchase tickets and passes online here.
Win Tickets
I have two pairs of tickets to give away to the Being Black in Canada events on December 2nd so I’ll draw two winners! Here’s how you can enter to win:
