HOLIDAY FESTIVAL ON THE DRIVE
Free ice-skating with Santa and holiday short films (A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) – what more could you ask for? There will be treats, door prizes and giveaways. Please bring along a non-perishable food for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
SATURDAY Dec 13 | 1:30 – 5 pm |Visit: www.thedrive.ca for details

LANTERN-MAKING WORKSHOP
Get ready to participate in the 2008 Winter Solstice lantern festival (Sunday the 21st). Flexible Theatre presents a hands-on lantern-making workshop for all ages at the Rhizome Cafe.
SUNDAY Dec. 14 | 4:30-7 pm | Rhizome Cafe | Tickets $10 (includes materials)

THE CAVE SINGERS
Matador recording artists from Seattle, with guests Lightning Dust and Whalebones.
SATURDAY Dec. 12 | 9 pm | Richard’s on Richards | Tix $12.50 (try Zulu)

HANDEL’S MESSIAH
Vancouver Chamber Choir, Vancouver Cantata Singers, and the Vancouver Chamber Orchestra with guest conductor Bernard Labadie perform Handel’s Messiah. If this doesn’t get you in the Christmas Spirit, what will?
FRI – SAT Dec 12-13 | 8:00 – 9:45 | doors at 7:00 | Orpheum Theatre | Tickets $10 – $45

MODELOS
Because nothing says Christmas quite like ‘surf cowboy’ tunes! This gig is being held to support the Vancouver Food Bank Society.
MONDAY Dec 15 | The Railway Club | Tickets $8/6 Members

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
From the VPL website: “The Vancouver Public Library’s most anticipated annual concert bursts with fabulous singers, spirited instrumentalists and lots of sing-a-long carols, all hosted by Vancouver impresario and pianist, Karen Lee-Morlang.”
WEDNESDAY Dec 17 | 7:00 pm | Alice MacKay Room | Vancouver Public Library Central Branch | FREE

DIED YOUNG, STAYED PRETTY
“Died Young, Stayed Pretty is the first feature documentary to take a candid look at the renaissance of North America’s underground indie-rock poster movement. Vancouver director Eileen Yaghoobian’s film reveals a new breed of counter-culturists who picked up where punk left off; artists that set out to destroy the mainstream through their controversial and intensely visceral design work.” Director in attendance.
THURSDAY Dec 11 | 7pm | Vancity Theatre / Vancouver International Film Centre | $10

CONTEMPORARY CHILEAN FILM FESTIVAL
Pacific Cinémathèque presents Cine Chile 2008, a special festival of new and recent films from Chile. Cine Chile will feature nine contemporary Chilean features and one documentary. “Most are the work of first, second, or third-time directors. None have been screened in Vancouver before.” Visit Pacific Cinémathèque for details.
DEC 12-21 | various times | Pacific Cinémathèque | $9.50 single bill / $11.50 double bill

THE NUTCRACKER
San Francisco Ballet performs the Christmas favourite, The Nutcracker. Settle in to a comfy seat with a Tomato Fresh Food Cookie and a Happy Planet organic juice (now available at the concession) and take in this holiday classic in High-Def.
SATURDAY Dec 13 | 10 am | The Ridge Theatre | $20 Adults $17 Kids

SILVER LINING CRAFT FAIR
If you were only going to make it to a single craft fair this holiday season – this one would be a good choice. Not only will the merchandise be kick-ass cool – the venue rocks and it is the only craft fair that I know of where beer and hot toddies will be available. Make a night of it. Buy local!
SATURDAY Dec 13 | 5pm to 11pm | Antisocial | 2425 Main St (enter from the back after 6pm)

VANCOUVER FARMERS MARKET’S “HOLIDAY MARKET”
Grab your reusable shopping bag and stock up on winter veggies and baking to see you through the holidays.
SAT – SUN Dec 13-14 | 10am to 5pm | Heritage Hall | 3102 Main Street | Admission $2

PORTOBELLO WEST HOLIDAY MARKET
This is your last chance until March to scoop up the goods at the famous Portobello West Market. This is a perfect, one stop shopping opportunity. Be sure to pick-up chocolates from Cocoa Nymph (it never hurts to have extra chocolates on hand at this time of year) and stop in at Olie to cop a feel of their beautifully designed and impossibly soft knitwear.
SAT – SUN Dec 13 – 14 | 12pm – 6pm | Rocky Mountaineer Station | Admission $2

PEAK 2 PEAK
Whistler Blackcomb will finally open PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola this weekend. At 7.5 Meters per second and with a gondola leaving every 49 seconds, it will take you a mere 11 minutes to ride from one mountain to the next. In an effort to divide the festivities equitably, the official launch takes place at both gondola terminals at 10:30am (but if you’re one of those people who really loves an official speech – you’ll want to be up on Whistler Mtn). There are many gondola-centric (yeah, word coinage!) events scheduled throughout the day. Check out the web site for the full line-up. Can’t make it up the mountain this weekend? There’s always the web cam…
FRIDAY Dec 12 | 10:30 am | Whistler Blackcomb | roughly $150 for two day pass

STANLEY PARK CHRISTMAS TRAIN
To get yourself into the holiday spirit grab a hot chocolate and a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and take a ride on the Stanley Park Christmas train. Cuddle up with a loved one as the tiny train chugs its way through a heavily decorated forest while Christmas carols get cranked through speakers dotting the surrounds. Afterward, walk over to the farmyard to savour the smell of a manger from way back when (the kids love the bunny rabbits too). It is recommended that you buy tickets in advance.
Today – JAN 3 | 3:00 – 10:00 pm | Stanley Park |Train Ride: $8 Adults / $5 Kids Walk through: FREE

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Take an invigorating walk through a 15 acre garden festively lit by more than a million dazzling lights.
Dec 5 – Jan 4 | 4:30 pm to 9:00 |VanDusen Botanical Garden | Adults – $11, Children $8