What To Do Around Vancouver This Week As The Holidays Creep Even Closer
Every year the holidays come breathing down your throat sooner and sooner, and I’m all for it! Well, to a certain extent, like, after Halloween at least please. I’ve already been to Christmas in November at the Fairmont’s Jasper Park Lodge, so that’s really put me in the mood, and the trip out to Potter’s Christmas Store in Surrey had me wanting to get my tree up asap. I’m looking forward to The Capilano Suspension Bridge, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies, Ice Skating, the Christmas Market, Fly-Over Canada Christmas version, the Stanley Park Holiday Train and all sorts of other holiday traditions! Oh, and the food! Of course! Here’s a few ways to start celebrating, some not necessarily holiday-related, but nevertheless festive!
CF Pacific Centre Brings the Sights and Sounds of the Holidays with Second Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony – Nov. 22
CF Pacific Centre is once again getting ready to transform Vancouver’s downtown core in to a magical holiday wonderland with a spectacular tree lighting ceremony planned on Wednesday, November 22 at 6 pm sharp!
This year, the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree situated outside the centre’s rotunda off Georgia and Howe streets will serve as the backdrop for a memorable musical performance led by jubilant volunteer choir group, Choir!Choir!Choir! As the tree lights up, choir members along with guests, holiday revelers and passersby, will join together in harmony to sing festive songs. Choir! Choir! Choir! started as a drop-in singing event and has exploded into internationally recognized group that has performed on big stages such as Polaris Music Prize Gala, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Massey Hall, The Juno Awards – and most recently united thousands of Tragically hip fans in a tribute for Gord Downie at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto.
Potters Christmas Store in Surrey
For 9 weeks Potters transforms their 28,000 square foot greenhouse into the largest Christmas store in western Canada. Greenhouse benches are moved out and store fixtures are moved in, along with everything Christmas. Santa’s workshop is readied and the lights in Santa’s House are turned on. In a few short weeks we are ready for Christmas.
Themed ornaments covers everything from fishing to skiing to baseball to equestrian and then some and there’s an entire showroom dedicated to Christmas lighting and home décor. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive the last Saturday in November and are here every weekend until mid December.
22nd Annual Hopscotch Festival Vancouver
The 22nd annual Hopscotch Festival will return to Vancouver for a full seven days and nights with an expanded, internationally acclaimed roster of enticing tipples and prime pours, Monday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, November 26.
The city’s ultimate festival of libations, Hopscotch will wet the whistles of more than 7,500 aficionados of scotch, craft beer and cider, wine, cocktails, and spirits at the Grand Tasting Hall at the PNE Forum on November 24 & 25.
New for 2017, is the addition of an expanded roster of Special Events and Master Classes at various satellite locations throughout the city beginning on Monday, November 20 and extending to the Festival’s close on Sunday, November 26.
Grand Tasting Hall (Nov. 24-25)
A festival of libations and more, this year’s signature event will feature a mix of craft and premium beers, spirits from around the globe, coveted Scotches and whiskies, as well as a selection of wines and spectacular food. Attendees can expect great local musical entertainment in the new music lounge as well as an onsite liquor store.
Ancora Caviar Festival 2017 Until November 28
Executive Chef Ricardo Valverde has crafted an elegant ensemble of caviar menu items inspired by Ancora’s Peruvian-Japanese concept, available throughout Caviar Festival (November 7 – 28). Focusing on sustainable varieties of the premium ingredient, Executive Chef Ricardo Valverde and Sushi Chef Yoshihiro Tabo have crafted creative dishes like Salmon Tartare Soft Taco with trout caviar, avocado, fennel and pico de gallo; Sea Urchin Nigiri with Siberian caviar; and Hokkaido Scallop Tiradito with Ossetra caviar, cucumber, quinoa and yuzu leche de tigre. In addition to these decadent menu items, guests can try a pure caviar tasting consisting of such distinctive varieties as Northern Divine (sustainably farmed in British Columbia) accompanied by potato blinis, crème fraiche and chives. The festival ends on November 28, and advanced reservations are recommended.
