1. TOUR DE ARTSY: Eastside Culture Crawl
When November 20 to 23
Where East Van (various studios)
Cost Free (donations encouraged)
Wander industrial studios, perusing art, as you chat up the more than 500 local artists who all nod politely as you boldly misuse “juxtaposition” in casual convo.
2. HANDMADE’S TALE: Circle Craft Holiday Market
When November 11 to 16
Where Vancouver Convention Centre
Cost From $8
Sleigh your holiday shopping early so you can free up precious time for the true meaning of the season: bingeing every single Hallmark holiday romcom starring Lacey Chabert.
3. FAR EAST FLICKS: Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF)
When November 6 to 16
Where Various cinemas
Cost From $12 (festival passes available)
Groundbreaking Asian cinema? Check. Everything from laugh-out-loud comedies to poignant dramas? You bet. Film fest street cred? For days.
4. POINTE BREAK: Ballet BC Trilogy
When November 6 to 8
Where Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cost From $19
’Tis the season… for ballet! Plié your way into Ballet BC’s triple-threat night of contemporary dance—high energy, higher kicks and peak wow-factor. The finale? A whopping 50 dancers on stage.
5. CHILL SEEKERS: Science World After Dark: Chillusions
When November 20
Where Science World
Cost From $35
Adults-only nerd party: booze, science-y illusions and zero kids hogging the exhibits.
6. MULL IT OVER: Vancouver Christmas Market
When Opens November 13
Where Jack Poole Plaza
Cost From $6
Sip hot glühwein (that’s mulled wine for you non-mullheads), snack on bratwurst, spin on a carousel, grab whimsical gifts and snap selfies with mascot duo Holly and Jolly. (Gingerbread siblings? Couple? Jury’s out.)
7. HAUTE CULTURE: Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week
When November 19 to 22
Where Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cost From $25
Indigenous designers take over the runway, serving looks and culture so fierce you’ll want to click “add to cart”—until you realize you’re not dopamine-shopping under the covers.
8. STAND BY ME: STAND Festival
When November 1 to 10
Where The Annex, Scotiabank Dance Centre and Presentation House Theatre
Cost From $18
This heartfelt annual fest brings immigrant and refugee artists to the spotlight through theatre, dance and music performances guaranteed to hit your feels with Pixar-level precision.
9. LET IT SHOW: Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical
When October 30 to January 4
Where Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Cost From $39
Elsa, Anna, Olaf: names your kids know better than yours. Brace yourself for ice magic, sisterly love and endless “Let It Go” singalongs. (Good luck getting it out of your head before spring.)
10. HIT THE HIGH NOTES: Vancouver Opera: Rigoletto
When Until November 2
Where Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cost From $35
Love, betrayal, murder, you know, opera stuff. Revel in juicy drama (not your own, for once) and powerhouse vocals in Italian with handy English surtitles (no, those aren’t karaoke prompts… apparently).
11. NIGHT LIGHT: Lumière Festival
When November 13 to 16
Where Downtown Vancouver
Cost Free
Not a tribute to Beauty and the Beast’s candelabra “sex pest”— this Lumière fest lights up downtown Van with four glowing nights of dazzling installations, radiant performances and interactive light experiences. Like stepping into a giant Lite-Brite.
12. SKETCHY BEHAVIOUR: Aunty Donna: DREM
When November 10
Where The Orpheum
Cost From $51
Silly sketches, surreal shenanigans and pure comedic chaos. Let your phone rest while a trio of Aussie absurdists breaks your brain (in the best way possible).
13. LOL CALL: The Comedy Weekend at PT
When November 14 to 15
Where Pacific Theatre
Cost $35
Local comedy vets Charlie Demers and Jacob Samuel (of CBC’s The Debaters) squeeze huge laughs into Pacific Theatre’s tiny basement. Expect punchlines, surprise guests and maybe some questionable life advice.
14. SMOOTH OPERATOR: Ganavya
When November 18
Where Chan Centre
Cost From $59
Dreamy jazz, soulful vocals, spiritual vibes. Prepare for goose pimples of the musical variety.
15. SIMPLY THE BETHS: The Beths
When November 16
Where Commodore Ballroom
Cost $76
Kiwi indie-rockers with harmonies tighter than your jeans, hooks catchier than a cold… and, for the record, only one Beth.
16. PUP CULTURE: PUP with Snotty Nose Rez Kids
When November 24
Where The Pearl
Cost From $53
Toronto punk meets Indigenous hip-hop. Prepare to sweat, mosh and lose your voice (and probably your keys, too, if we’re being honest: it might be that kind of night!).
17. JUMP SCARE: FIM World Supercross Championship (Canadian GP)
When November 15
Where BC Place
Cost From $60
Dirt bikes flying, gravity defying, crashes multiplying: the kind of adrenaline-fuelled stress people pay good money for (couldn’t be me!).
