1. THE MASKED ZINGER: A Wonderheads Christmas Carol
WHEN Until December 14
WHERE BMO Theatre Centre
COST From $39
It’s Dickens, but bigger—literally. Huge heads, zero dialogue and A Christmas Carol that’s more trippy than tinsel-strewn.
2. PANTOMONIUM: East Van Panto: West Van Story
WHEN Until January 11
WHERE York Theatre
COST From $35
The Panto’s back, this time flipping West Side Story into an East Van fever dream.
3. MIAMI NICE: Tribute to Miami Sound Machine and Gloria Estefan
WHEN December 5
WHERE Fox Cabaret
COST $25
The Susana Williams Band powers through Gloria Estefan’s catalogue. The rhythm is gonna get you (probably in the knees).
4. POP ROCKS: Strumbellas
WHEN December 7
WHERE Commodore Ballroom
COST From $60
Singalong indie anthems from Canada’s folk-pop sweethearts.
5. ISN’T HE LOVELY? Songs in the Key of Life: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder
WHEN December 7
WHERE Hollywood Theatre
COST From $35
Krystle Dos Santos channels her inner Stevie (complete with all his chart-toppers) for a night of soul-soaked swagger—because holiday carols are fine, but Stevie Wonder is finer.
6. HIGH-FLYING: Nitro Circus
WHEN December 18
WHERE Rogers Arena
COST From $70
Rogers Arena briefly transforms into a gravity-challenged playground—expect BMX, FMX, scooters and contraptions defying logic. Proof you can turn concussions into entertainment.
7. BUDDY COMEDY: Elf in Concert
WHEN December 19 and 20
WHERE Orpheum Theatre
COST From $32
Watch Buddy the Elf on the big screen while the VSO supplies the sugar rush.
8. CLASSY CLAUS: A Traditional Christmas
WHEN December 21
WHERE Orpheum Theatre
COST From $52
The VSO does carols, crescendos and Christmas cheer big enough to drown out your relatives’ vocal political views.
9. CONTACT HIGH: Contact Winter Music Festival
WHEN December 26 and 27
WHERE Pacific Coliseum
COST From $210
Canada’s largest indoor EDM festival brings top electronic DJs to Van for two nights of thumping beats and noise complaints.
10. DOUBLE TROUBLE: Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland
WHEN January 16
WHERE Chan Centre
COST From $30
Singer-songwriter Beverly Glenn-Copeland and creative partner Elizabeth (author, theatre artist and educator) share an evening of luminous music and reflection.
11. AUSSIE FEELS: Dean Lewis: Epilogue World Tour
WHEN January 20
WHERE Orpheum Theatre
COST From $50
The Aussie hitmaker gets emotional at the Orpheum. May cause you to text your ex “just to check in.”
12. HEART AND HOME: You’re Just a Place That I Know
WHEN Starts January 21
WHERE BMO Theatre Centre
COST From $29
A new theatrical concert about memory, migration and love. Get ready for feels in real time
13. CIRCUS CIRCUS: Paradisum
WHEN January 21 to 24
WHERE Vancouver Playhouse
COST From $41
If your New Year’s resolution was to take in more ethereal new music experiences—first, weird! Second, Hungary’s cirque dance company Recirquel’s choral and dance piece that blends heavenly vocals with innovative staging should do the trick.
14. DITCH THE DISHES: Dine Out Vancouver Festival
WHEN January 21 to February 8
WHERE Various
COST $20 to $50
Three weeks of prix-fixe feasts that make Dry January bearable—and Wet February all the more delicious.
15. GREEN ROOM ANTICS: Tom Green’s Stompin’ Comedy Tour
WHEN January 23
WHERE Vogue Theatre
COST From $54
Comedy chaos courtesy of Canada’s weirdest export.
16. TALK BACK: Bijuriya
WHEN January 28 and 29
WHERE Annex
COST $49
Drag, song and theatre collide as Gabriel Dharmoo converses with his alter ego Bijuriya in this Push Festival performance. Insightful, campy, unmissable.
17. STORYTIME: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
WHEN January 29
WHERE Chan Centre
COST From $30
Story and song from a brilliant voice in Indigenous art and activism.
18. ABOUT TIME: Catching Up to the Future of Our Past
WHEN January 30 and 31
WHERE Scotiabank Dance Centre
COST From $30
James Gnam and Natalie LeFebvre Gnam’s time-bending dance piece with a side of cosmic whiplash.
For even more fun to-dos around town this month, check out the online events calendar at vanmag.com/events
