Eastside Culture Crawl
Encompassing the region bounded by Columbia Street, East First Avenue, Victoria Drive and the waterfront, the Eastside Arts District is home to the highest concentration of visual artists, designers and craft makers in Canada. Take yourself on a tour and discover more than 500 visual artists in their art studios, collaborative work spaces, garages and homes. You’ll see the work of painters, jewelers, sculptors, furniture makers, weavers, potters, printmakers, photographers, glassblowers and more.
When: Nov. 14 to 17
Where: Various venues in East Vancouver
Magkasama — a Modern Filipino Market
Magkasama (“together” in Tagalog) will feature over two dozen artisans and vendors and other talent from a spectrum of Vancouver-based Filipino talent. The free, family-friendly market aims to not only bring together businesses run by members of Vancouver’s Filipino community, but also to give locals the chance to get to know more about the community. On tap are 25 vendors, live musical and dance performances, along with DJ sets from some of the city’s top Filipino DJs. And, of course, there will be Filipino-inspired cocktails, Filipino-inspired beer and tons of food.
When: Nov. 16, 1 to 9 p.m.
Where: The Pace, 520 Alexander St.
The Polar Express in concert with the VSO
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra kicks off the festive season with an enchanting screening of the 2004 animated holiday classic The Polar Express, with the score performed live. Hear composer Alan Silvestri’s unforgettable score and watch as The Polar Express ventures up and down mountains, slides over ice fields and teeters across mile-high bridges. This is a world-premiere event.
When:Nov. 19, 7 p.m.
Where: The Orpheum, 601 Smithe St.
Tree lighting at CF Pacific Centre
One of Vancouver’s much-loved shopping malls will twinkle with festive cheer as a stunning 42-foot-tall Christmas tree is lit up to mark the start of the holiday season. KiSS RADiO personality Tara Jean will lead the interactive tree lighting that’s set to “delight the senses and warm the heart.” Christmas vibes will be in the air with live music from Top Line Vocal Collective choir and DJ Raven Landry. Plus you can start in on your shopping.
When: Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m.
Where: CF Pacific Centre, 701 West Georgia St.
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes at the Commodore Ballroom
She’s the frontwoman of the band Alabama Shakes, and you know she’s going to be tearing it up when she makes a Vancouver stop on her solo tour. For her solo debut album, Jamie, Howard mad a bold leap by taking her sound in new directions with “diverse instrumentation and arrangements and intimate, revelatory lyrics.” 19+ only.
When: Nov. 19, 8 p.m.
Where: The Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St.
With files from Elisia Seeber and Elana Shepert
More events at vancouverisawesome.com.
