From our calendar to yours comes this carefully considered agenda of cool things we are doing, wishing we could do, or conspiring to do in Vancouver from Thursday, December 4th to Wednesday, December 10th, 2025. Please note that you can now get the Scout List – with a few extra pieces of intel included – sent to your inbox every Thursday. Sign up for your subscription here.

TOQUE | Each year, the Western Front fills up with creative folks selling their handmade work for the Toque Craft Fair. For 2025, the Mount Pleasant art centre opens its doors from Friday, December 5th (5-9pm) through Sunday, the 7th (Saturday and Sunday, 11am–5pm). This year’s lineup is big: 64 vendors from across B.C. offering everything from cookies, candles, and flower arrangements to cashmere bunny dolls, handwoven baskets, clothing, ceramics, and plenty more. Toque has always stood out among the craft fair crowd – both for the quality of the goods and the atmosphere inside the building. If you only make it to one craft fair this season, this is the one to choose. DETAILS

KRAMPUSMARKT| Did we just imply there’s a hierarchy of craft markets — and crown Toque the best? Fair enough. But it turns out there’s room at the top, because Krampusmarkt absolutely deserves equal billing. These folks know how to run an event – and the great beer doesn’t hurt, either. Hosted by Strange Fellows Brewing and curated by OH Studio Project, the market runs December 5–7th at the East Van brewery, with a strong lineup of handmade goods from local artists and makers, plus SFB beer, cider, wine, and NA options to keep things cheerful while you browse. The Friday Preview Party (December 5th, 6–8pm) gets you first pick of one-of-a-kind pieces, catered snacks, and a drink – all for $20. General market hours are Saturday, December 6th from 11am to 6pm, and Sunday, December 7th from 11am to 4pm. Admission is $5 at the door, with free entry for those under 18. Krampus himself will be on-site for photos by donation (to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank) on Sunday, December 7th, from 1–3pm only. DETAILS

CRAFT | We also love a low key craft fair, the and Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre does it right with its Holiday Boutique, a one-day market featuring eight Japanese artists and designers. From traditional Bingata textiles to natural bath products, jewellery, illustration, and contemporary zakka, the event offers a calm alternative to mall crowds and a chance to find thoughtful, distinctive gifts. Local vendors will also be on hand with treats and warm drinks to round out the afternoon. Warm drinks and local treats round out the afternoon. DETAILS

CHEER | Jumpstart your holiday spirit with a bit of time at Vanier Park on Sunday, where you’ll find local artisans, warm food and drinks, live music, and activities for all ages. The Museum of Vancouver, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, and Vancouver Maritime Museum will offer admission by donation, and Bard on the Beach will run a costume corner for photos. Students from the Vancouver Academy of Music will be performing throughout the park. DETAILS

CHILL  | Not ready for all of this ‘holiday’ themed activity quite yet? I get it. How about a hit of live music? Meltt takes the Rickshaw stage on Saturday, December 6th, with a set built for people who like their music to feel atmospheric and alive. Their blend of psych-rock, alt textures, and slow-burning melody carries a kind of weather with it — shifting from thick, distorted haze to clear, bright moments that cut through like light on metal. Their new album, Eternal Embers – which was written partly in isolation, and partly in a remote cabin – leans into that mood. It’s spacious, restless, and built to pull you somewhere else for a while. Babe Corner opens the night with their mix of shimmer and grit; think, pop harmonies sharpened by 90s tension, and the sort of songs that feel tender until they suddenly aren’t. Tickets are only $20. DETAILS

SCIENCE | This month, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum’s Nature Club turns its attention to marine invertebrates, opening up a deep dive into the world of sea stars, molluscs, crustaceans, sponges, jellyfish, and corals. With thousands of specimens in the museum’s collection, the session offers hands-on activities and a closer look at how these animals live, move, and fit into the ocean’s bigger picture. Plenty to explore. Registration is required. DETAILS

TASTE | Free Spirit is a tasting event that gives attendees access to a lineup of non-alc, zero-proof, and alcohol-free drinks from more than four dozen producers across BC, Canada, and beyond. Whether you’re stocking up for the holiday season, looking to recover from it, or simply curious about what’s happening in the local F&B world, this tasting covers the spectrum: wine, beer, cider, sparkling teas, handcrafted sodas, aperitifs, and mixed cocktails. An on-site pop-up bottle shop from Mocktails Alcohol Free Liquor Store will be ready to serve anyone wanting to head home with a few favourites. Tickets are $48 each, and admission includes all of your tastings. Their last event sold out, so don’t dilly-dally! DETAILS

SKATE | The Robson Square Ice Rink is back for the season, running now through to February 28th, 2026. Slip on a pair of skates and take a few laps under the downtown lights — a Vancouver winter tradition that never gets old. Whether you’re there with friends, family, or someone new, this is as simple (and charming) as winter fun gets. Skate rentals are $5; ice cleats, $2; and sharpening is available for $5. DETAILS

WATCH | The Vancouver International Black Film Festival kicks off its 2025 edition this week, with a sold-out screening of Of Mud and Blood at VIFF Centre on Friday night. From thereon out, expect four consecutive days of feature-length and short films, important industry-related discussions and workshops, and Q&As, all centring real-deal Black experiences. Designed to “encourage the development of the independent film industry and to promote more films on the reality of Black people from around the Globe”, the VIBFF – now in its fifth iteration – is split between in-person and online experiences, with prices ranging from a very affordable $12 single ticket to multi-pass options ($49-59). DETAILS

LEARN | If you’re looking to add some fresh skills to your cooking repertoire, there is a hands-on workshop at Il Centro that should do the trick: Sausage maker Luigi Bastone leads an evening dedicated to old-school Italian salsiccia, walking you through how to make both mild and spicy versions entirely from scratch. You’ll taste Luigi’s salami, sample seasoned pork loin, and head home with your own batch of handmade sausages. All you have to do is bring an apron and clean container, plus your appetite (participants are also encouraged to bring a bottle of wine – which makes sense). DETAILS