Shopping Events
Tues, Nov 20 to Sat, Jan 5 (2-4 pm) – Winter Gift Gallery
Location: Seymour Art Gallery, 4360 Gallant Ave, North Van
Details: Browse gifts by local artisans, including scarves, paintings, jewelry and cuddly toys.
Wed, Nov 21 (7:30-10:30pm) – Starry Nights Shopping Night
Location: Park Royal South
Details: Get the best deals of the season, 100% of the proceeds going direclty to local charities and community groups. Live entertainment, wine lounges, food tasting tables & prizes. $10 fee.
Thurs, Nov 22 & Nov 29 (6-10pm) – Christmas Shopping Nights
Location: BC Playthings, 3070 Edgemont Blvd, North Van,
Details: During these shopping nights customers receive 10% off the entire store, free gift wrapping, refreshments from David’s Tea, and homemade treats. And if you pre-register by phone (604-986-4111) or email, you’ll receive a $5 gift certificate at point of purchase!
Fri, Nov 23 (6:30-8:30pm) & Sat, Nov 24 (10am-3pm) Vancouver Waldorf School Christmas Fair Location: Waldorf School, 2725 St. Christophers Rd, N. Van Details: Celebrate with creative activities for children, delicious organic food & baking, puppet shows, live music, and a Marketplace offering natural toys and handcrafted gifts for all ages.
Family Christmas Activities
Sat, Nov 24 to Mon, Dec 24 – Grouse Mountain’s Peak of Christmas
Location: Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Van
Details: Santa’s workshop (12-8pm), outdoor ice skating (9am-10pm), mountain-top sleigh rides (9am-9pm), antler-making and reindeer tattoos (11am-8pm), meet the reindeer (9am-10pm), christmas movie favourites in the mountaintop theatre (9:30am to 9pm).
Mon, Nov 26 to Sat, Dec 22 (various times) – Christmas Toy Train
Location: Lynn Valley Centre
Details: Ride the Toy Train with the North Pole bears and wave to Santa in his chalet. For children ages 2-10 only, $2 per ride.
Tues, Nov 27 to Mon, Dec 24 (Tues & Thurs 4-6pm) – Amicus Music Duo
Location: Lynn Valley Centre
Details: Musical duo plays an extravaganza of piano and clarinet classical favourites you’ll remember long after the Festive Season. Upper atrium opposite the bakery – no admission charged and seating is available.
Wed, Nov 28 (11am-12pm) – Storytime with Santa
Location: Capilano Mall (Candy Wonderland)
Details: Join Santa at his Candy Wonderland for a special story & snack!
Thurs, Nov 29 – Tues, Jan 1 (closed Dec 25) – Stanley Park Xmas Train
Location: Stanley Park Miniature Train
Details: Ride the miniature train and enjoy Stanley Park sparkle with two million twinkling lights, hot cocoa, popcorn, roasted nuts and more! Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.
Thurs, Nov 29 – Mon, Dec 24th – North Pole BC at Maplewood Farm
Location: Maplewood Farm, 405 Seymour River Place, North Vancouver
Details: Visitors will enjoy the new interactive activities and scenes, Christmas lights galore and magical Elf, human and animal characters. Family visits with Santa will be the highlight of the day. Pre-book early!
Fri, Nov 30 (3:30-4:45pm) – Christmas Pottery Workshop
Location: Gleneagles Community Centre
Details: Ages 3-10, $18 (must pre-register).
Santa Welcome Parties @ Shopping Centres
Sat, Nov 24th (11am-3pm) – Park Royal Mall
Details: Santa will make his grand entrance in Santa’s Arrival parade at 11am, accompanied by Vanleena Dance Academy. First 100 children to sit on Santa’s knee receive the storybook “A Christmas Carol”, and Create-a-Craft will be on-site doing holiday kids crafts from 12-3pm.
Sat, Nov 24th (11am-3pm) – Capilano Mall
Details: Welcome santa back to his Candy Wonderland with face painting, balloon twisting, cookie decorating, and lots of treats! First 100 children who visit Santa receive a free photo CD and advent calendar with the purchase of any photo package.
Sat, Nov 24th (11am-3:30pm) – Lynn Valley Centre
Details: Enjoy the sounds of the Deep Cove Band, ventriloquist show with puppets, santa and elf visits with children to discuss Christmas wish lists, and free Balloonery art for children.
Photos with Santa
Fri, Nov 23 – Sun, Dec 23 – Capilano Mall (North Van)
Sat, Nov 24 – Mon, Dec 24 – Park Royal Mall (West Van)
Details: Every child receives a candy cane, ornament & reindeer antlers.
Sat, Nov 24 – Mon, Dec 24 – Lynn Valley Centre (N. Van)
Details: Every child receives a free bag of goodies from Santa’s workshop.
Charity / Not-for-Profit
Ongoing – Bikes for Tykes Program (FS of the N. Shore)
Location: Obsession Bikes, 94 Lonsdale Avenue, North Van
Details: Obsession Bikes needs previously owned bikes to restore to “like new” condition and deliver to children on the North Shore for Christmas. For more info email James Wilson at info@obsessionbikes.com or Janet Sanderson at Christmas@familyservices.bc.ca.
Sat, Nov 24 (10am-4pm) – 3rd Annual Toy Drive (FS of the N. Shore)
Location: Northshore Auto Mall
Details: Drop by between 10am and 4pm to donate a new unwrapped toy to benefit families in need living on the North Shore, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate by Louis Gervais. For more information click here, email christmas@familyservices.bc.ca or call (604) 984-9627.
If you know of any other Christmas happenings around town, please send an email to angela@modernmama.com and we’d be happy to add it!