NOTE: This post was updated Dec. 10 with new information. The Forever and Ever musical (item #12) at Michael J. Fox Theatre has been cancelled.
Have you caught the Christmas spirit yet?
Never fear. Even the grinchiest among us will be able to find some holiday cheer in Burnaby this season, thanks to the abundance of seasonal events happening throughout December.
If you’re still struggling to find that holiday feeling, we’ve rounded up a list of 12 ways to catch Christmas in the city.
So don’t just sit there. Get out your calendar, mark these dates down and get ready to start Christmassing,
1. Kick off the season at the Edmonds Festival of Lights.
It’s always one of the first events on Burnaby’s Christmas calendar, and it’s bound to be popular once again. The Edmonds Festival of Lights is on Saturday, Nov. 24 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Edmonds Community Centre, 7433 Edmonds St. Visit Santa and enjoy hot chocolate, hotdogs, entertainment and activities for all ages as the Edmonds tree is lit up for the season. Scheduled entertainers include the Mellodares, Santa’s Little Helpers and Stephen Scaccia, and the tree lighting is at 5 p.m.
For all the details, check out the 2018 Edmonds Festival of Lights event on Facebook.
2. Take in a craft fair.
If you missed the annual Deer Lake Christmas Craft Festival that ran Nov. 16 to 18 at Shadbolt Centre, never fear: there are some more great options coming your way.
On Saturday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov. 25, you can stop by St. Thomas More Collegiate for the annual Christmas Market, with more than 100 vendors, plus entertainment, kids’ activities and more. It’s all happening at the school at 7450 12th Ave.
On Sunday, Nov. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., be sure to stop in to the Burnaby Gogos Holiday Market at Deer Lake United Church, 5135 Sperling Ave. You can find all kinds of gift options – clothing, bags and purses, Christmas decorations, stocking stuffers, quilted items, jewelry and much more. There’s also a used book sale and bake sale. Proceeds go to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, Stephen Lewis Foundation, so you’re supporting social justice while you shop. See www.facebook.com/burnabygogos1.
On Saturday, Dec. 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can head on over to the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre (6688 Southoaks Cres.) for the Nikkei Christmas Boutique, with a variety of Japanese items and items made by Nikkei artisans. Admission is free; see centre.nikkeiplace.org for details.
3. Enjoy a Christmas choir concert.
It isn’t Christmas until you’ve heard a choir singing – and local audiences have a few first-rate choral options this holiday season. To start things off, you can catch the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir onstage at Michael J. Fox Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. with Sounds of Christmas. Tickets are $30, or $28 for seniors and $15 for students, available through www.vwmc.ca.
Up next, it’s Amabilis Singers with Hope, Peace, Love at Christmas, Friday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, 8255 13th Ave., Burnaby. Tickets are $25, or $15 for secondary school students (free for kids under 12). Buy through www.eventbrite.ca or call 604-897-7258.
Also on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m., musica intima brings A Christmas Story to the stage at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, 1600 Delta Ave. Tickets are $30, or $25 for seniors and $15 for students. Info and tickets at www.musicaintima.org.
4. Step back into the past at Heritage Christmas.
It isn’t Christmas until you’ve experienced the spirit of Christmas past at Burnaby Village Museum’s Heritage Christmas celebrations. The village is all decked out for the holidays, with festive decorations and dazzling lights displays, plus ongoing seasonal fun that includes children’s crafts, heritage baking, the 12 Days of Christmas scavenger hunt and, of course, visits with Father Christmas, plus a variety of seasonal entertainment. Don’t miss Forte Theatre Society’s new production of The Shoemaker and the Elves, on at Brookfield Hall.
For an extra special visit, turn out for Bright in Burnaby, on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 5 to 9 p.m., with the special tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Proceeds from all carousel tickets that evening will go to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.
Best of all, it’s all free, except the small ($2.65) charge for rides on the vintage C.W. Parker carousel. Heritage Christmas festivities run from Nov. 24 to Jan. 4. The village is at 6501 Deer Lake Ave. See www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca for all the details.
5. Join in the fun at Light Up the Heights.
It’s almost time again for one of Burnaby’s favourite seasonal events: Light Up the Heights is back on Saturday, Dec. 1. The Heights Merchants Association is hosting a sidewalk festival all day long, with deals from merchants along with carollers and, naturally, visits from Santa and his helpers. At 4:30 p.m., you can turn out to Firehall No. 5 (4211 Hastings St.) for the tree lighting ceremony (including cookies, hot chocolate and carolling).
6. Visit with the horses.
The Burnaby Horsemen’s Association is once again holding is popular family event, Christmas With the Horses, on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the stables at 9080 Avalon Ave. You can take in horse demonstrations, pony rides, kids’ crafts and, of course, a visit with Santa. Get all the details at www.burnabyhorsemensassociation.com.
7. Count the birds.
The annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids returns to Burnaby Lake Nature House on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon. Kids aged eight to 14 can learn basic birding skills, using binoculars and a field guide to identify and report their findings. Bring your own binoculars and guide books if you have them. Space is limited to 22 kids, and registration is needed; see www.burnabylakepark.ca for details and to sign up.
After the bird count, the Burnaby Lake Park Association is holding its annual Holiday Open House, also at the Nature House at 4519 Piper Ave. It’s free, and you can drop by any time – a variety of crafts and events will be offered, and you’ll be able to grab a hot drink too. See www.burnabylakepark.ca.
8. Get festive at a city rec centre.
Once again, the City of Burnaby’s parks and recreation department is getting into the holiday spirit with some seasonal events at city facilities. On Thursday, Dec. 6, you can take in Winter Fun at Willingdon Community Centre (1491 Carleton Ave.) – with live music, games, arts and crafts and festive movies, plus, of course, a visit from Santa. It runs from 6 to 8 p.m., and it costs $2 per person for all ages. (Registration is required; see www.tinyurl.com/WillingdonWinter2018.)
On Saturday, Dec. 22, from 12:30 to 3 p.m., you can turn out at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre for the Ugly Christmas Sweater Toonie Skate (skates and helmet included in admission fee). And the fun keeps going after Christmas, too, with the New Year’s Eve toonie skate on Monday, Dec. 31 from 1:45 to 4:45 p.m. – enjoy ice skating, face painting and crafts.
9. Share your talents – or just admire others.
Everyone’s invited to take part in a special holiday edition of the Burnaby Neighbourhood House open mic night series on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Performers aged 14 and up can share their talent in any form – comedy, poetry, music, song, spoken word – and audiences can drop in by donation to enjoy their performances. Those who want to perform should turn up starting at 6:15 to sign up; the first seven performers are guaranteed a spot. The night ends with a special holiday performance by the Santa’s Little Helpers band at 8:30 p.m. It’s all happening at the BNH Community Hall at 5024 Rumble St. For information, contact 604-431-0400.
10. Celebrate the season at the Shadbolt.
Once again, the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts is planning its annual Seasonal Celebration, set for Saturday, Dec. 15 from 3 to 8 p.m. Visitors will be able to experience a variety of arts displays and activities, plus entertainment and food. Admission is always free.
Call 604-297-4440 for information, or stop by the Shadbolt Centre at 6450 Deer Lake Ave. to join in the fun.
11. Enjoy the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
The VSO is bringing its Traditional Christmas concert back to Burnaby once again, this time on Sunday, Dec. 16. The concert features the orchestra, directed by William Rowson, along with the UBC Opera Ensemble and EnChor choir, plus host Christopher Gaze, for an evening of holiday favourites. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. at Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Ave. Tickets are $43 regular, or $37 for seniors, students and children; see.www.vancouversymphony.ca.
12. Experience Forever and Ever, The Christian Musical. --------CANCELLED------
NOTE: THIS PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
This original musical by B.C. composer Thomas Hogge, presented by the New Jerusalem Project Band, is onstage at the Michael J. Fox Theatre on Friday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. It’s a benefit performance for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, B.C. and Yukon Division. The musical brings together top musicians with vocalists and dancers in an all-ages concert experience that celebrates the great hope of Christian faith. See www.thenewjerusalemproject.com for all the details.
Got another Christmas event to share? Email Julie, jmaclellan@burnabynow.com.
