Our weekly feature What’s On East Van sets out some cool events for the upcoming weekend. Beyond the weekend, we invite you to check out our Event Listing which is updated daily and features events for the month and beyond.
Make It! Vancouver – PNE Forum – December 11-15
The biggest handmade market is now at the PNE Forum until Sunday, December 15th. Expect to find over 250 makers with a wide variety of items including food, clothing, accessories, home décor, gourmet goodies, art, items for babies and kids and a whole lot more. We are sure you can get a lot of your Christmas shopping done under this one roof. Admission is $7 at the door, or purchase online through Showpass and save $3.
Crafty Affaire – Croatian Cultural Centre – December 14 & 15
If you are wanting a less crowded shopping experience than Make It!, we encourage you to check out Crafty Affaire at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive. This one is a fav market, it’s a good sized and well curated market with a variety of vendors. Market happens 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission is by donation.
Holiday At The Elbow Room Café – The Cultch – Until December 29
Holiday at the Elbow Room Café is now on at The Cultch until December 29th. This is a new Cultch holiday tradition inspired by Vancouver’s most iconic café. Expect a hilarious and heartwarming tribute to the long standing café known for slinging sarcasm and insults right along with its food. The show features a cast of characters snowed in at the iconic café. Expect a night of song, dance and laughter. Tickets are available online at The Cultch.
A Very Swingin’ Christmas – Hungarian Hall – December 15
If you love the sound of big band music and Frank Sinatra, you will want to check out A Very Swingin’ Christmas happening at the Hungarian Hall at Kingsway and Fraser this Sunday night. Tickets are $35 until December 13th after which they are $45. To purchase your ticket in advance, visit Eventbrite. If you wish to purchase your ticket at the door, note it’s cash only.
Aurora Winter Festival – Hastings Park/PNE – Until January 5, 2020
The Aurora Winter Festival continues at Hastings Park/PNE with an array of indoor and outdoor activities, Christmas Market, games, rides. This is an all ages event. For tickets, visit Ticketleader.
Fado: The Saddest Music in The World – Firehall Arts Centre – Until December 14
It’s the last weekend to catch this play featuring Fado music with origins going back to the early 1800s in Lisbon, Portugal. The show happens at the Firehall Arts Centre. If you haven’t experienced it, we invite you to check it out. For tickets, visit Firehall Arts Centre.
East Van Panto: Pinocchio – The York – On Now Until January 5, 2020
Our favourite holiday tradition is now on at the York Theatre until January 5th. Take in this fun and entertaining show that is fun for all ages. Just remember if you are in the front row, you might become part of the production. This year’s panto is Pinocchio and touches on some unique aspects in East Van, such as the mysterious Beckwoman and the coffee wars on The Drive for starters. Tickets for the East Van Panto Pinocchio start at $26 for children 16 and under. Family packs are available for $145. To get your tickets, visit The Cultch.
Comedy, Music & Entertainment & More
Do you love cartoons? Miss those Saturday morning cartoons you used to watch as a kid. Do you know Storm Crow Tavern offers cartoons Saturday morning from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm whilst you enjoy breakfast/brunch?
Also 7 days a week, you will find live music at the Libra Room on The Drive. Tangent Café hosts live jazz Sunday nights from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Saturday, Pat’s Pub has live jazz Saturday afternoons from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, no cover.
Looking to support our local growers and makers? Stop by one of the Winter Farmer Markets happening on either Saturday or Sunday. Saturday we have Riley Park Farmers Market at 30th & Ontario from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Sunday, it’s Hastings Park Winters Farmers Market also from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. To see more of What’s On in East Vancouver, check our Event Listing. We also have a separate listing of Free Events for those on a budget and in Vancouver, who isn’t.
Image Credit: June Hunter
Looking to kick up your heels this holiday season with some live music and dancing? If so, you may wish to grab your ticket for A Very Swingin’ Christmas happening this Saturday at the Hungarian Hall at 728 Kingsway near Fraser Street. The evening features the live music of Dane Warren (Vancouver’s Premier Frank Sinatra Tribute Artist), vocal sensation Mandy Rushton and John Cronin of the Irish Show Band “Killarney” along with the Bruce James Orchestra, a 17 piece jazz orchestra. Tickets are $35 until December 13th after which they are $45. Tickets include some appetizers and one complimentary cocktail, but a cash bar will also be available. To purchase your ticket in advance, visit 
This weekend you are invited to check out 
Odd Society Spirits plays host to another unique event this December. You are invited to stop by and check out the 
Music On Main presents Music for the Winter Solstice December 11 and 12, 2019 at the Heritage Hall. Winter solstice is a time of contrast: light and dark, cold and warmth, endings and beginnings. As such, as this decide comes to a close, they invite you come take a moment away from the hustle and bustle that is everyday life and come relax and enjoy the sounds of winter solstice music while basking in a candlelit glow. Performances include Caroline Shaw (Roomful of Teeth, Kanye West), Gabriel Kahane (Book of Travelers, The Ambassador), and Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (Queer Arts Festival). Concert begins at 8:00 pm both. The event is for all ages. Tickets are $42 for adults and $15 for students. To learn more, or to purchase tickets, visit 
Have you made your way down to the walking trails along the Fraser River in SE Vancouver? If you have, you will come across an area called Tugboat Landing at the foot of Victoria Drive at East Kent Avenue South. If you aren’t familiar with this area, it once housed tugboats at this landing on the Fraser River hence the name. It was redeveloped into a community of condos and townhomes that enjoy river front living. The area is located on a public walkway and cycle path just steps away from Gladstone Park and less than a mile West of the new River District development.
Love stand up?! Well we’ve got the ticket for you. This Friday at 8:00 pm local and veteran comedian, Graham Clark, kicks off 
Story Story Lie is back at 
ILiveInEastVan.com 