The countdown to Christmas has officially begun, and with less than two weeks until Santa makes his annual appearance, the pressure is on to get all that Christmas shopping done and all the festivities and parties jammed in before Dec. 25.
We're continuing with our popular feature - our staff's Top 5 (Or More) Things To Do This Weekend, and this week, there's a particular focus on events in the heart of the city's cultural centre.
1 Get riding the carousel at the Burnaby Village Museum on Saturday, Dec. 15 with Ride for the Bureau, where proceeds from carousel ride tickets purchased between 4 and 9 p.m. will be given to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau. Here's your chance to have fun and help a worthy cause.
2 Get watching Light up the Night, the launch of late-night openings at the Burnaby Village Museum, which starts with a ceremonial lighting of the huge Christmas tree at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15. If you haven't gotten into the Christmas spirit by this Saturday, you certainly will once you see the tree light up.
3 Get entertained and expect the unexpected at the Shadbolt Centre's presentation of Hotel Bethlehem, playing at 8 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 15, with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 15 as well. Back by popular demand, join the Ruby Slippers theatre and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts for this Christmas satire written by Drew McCreadie and directed by Diane Brown. For more info, call 604-205-3000 or go to www.shadbolt centre.com.
4 Get carolling at the Community Carol Sing with The Salvation Army on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of The Salvation Army Cariboo Hill Temple at 7195 Cariboo Rd. The event will also feature free hot chocolate and Christmas goodies.
5 Get collecting your old pop bottles for the Grade 9 boys and Grade 10 girls Burnaby Central basketball teams' bottle drive on Saturday, Dec. 15 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Burnaby Central Secondary School on Deer Lake Parkway, just across from city hall. Organizers are asking people to drop off deposit containers at the front of the school in the drive-thru area, or alternatively, if you live near the school and wish to have your bottles and cans picked up, please send an email with your phone number and address to bcss.lss@gmail. com.
6 Get spending the day at the Burnaby Village Museum on Sunday, Dec. 16, where the events include: three performances of Footlight Theatre's Sherlock Holmes' Christmas Goose in Brookfield Hall; an exhibition in the Meadow Gallery of several of the city's ecosculptures adorned with holiday-inspired artist-created trims, all of which are part of Illuminations at Heritage Christmas; and the Taste of Christmas seasonal scavenger hunt.
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Email your Top 5 ideas to [email protected] or send them to alau@burn abynow.com. You can also check out our full arts and events calendar listings on our website's homepage at www.burnabynow.com.
Compiled by staff reporter
