Vancouver has many theatres and performing arts groups. In December there are typically lots of great Christmas concerts and other performances to choose from!
Vancouver Theatre in December
Plays and other performances showing at Vancouver venues in December this year include Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker, ECHO by Cirque du Soleil, and the Arts Club Theatre‘s Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol. There is also live comedy at The Improv Centre on Granville Island and Vancouver Civic Theatres hosts The Kings of Comedy films as part of their Silent Movie Mondays series. The PNE Winter Fair features The Nutcracker On Ice and the Vancouver International Black Film Festival takes place over a few days in December as well. Carousel Theatre presents the family-friendly play The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe too.
There’s also Cinderella by the Deep Cove Stage Society and shows at Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver.
Additional details about the shows are below. For a list of festive choir and other music performances, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
Vancouver International Black Film Festival
December 13-17, 2024
The Vancouver International Black Film Festival is a series of events showcasing Black films. There are in-person and online activities, including movie screenings, workshops, panel discussions and more. The fourth edition of the festival runs from December 13th to 17th in 2024.
Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker Suite
December 19-22, 2024
The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas ballet about a couple of children, toys, mice and a nutcracker. It includes music by the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky and is one of the most famous and watched ballet productions in modern times.
Shows with Goh Ballet take place on December 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd in 2024 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
The Nutcracker On Ice
December 6-23, 2024
The PNE Winter Fair is an annual Christmas attraction with light displays, food vendors and live entertainment. One of the daily shows at the event is The Nutcracker On Ice. The classic Tchaikovsky ballet is performed by talented figure skaters at the Pacific Coliseum. There’s live singing, special effects and more to enjoy.
Shows run from December 6th to 8th and from December 12th to 23rd in 2024. The performances begin at 6:30 and 8:45 pm each night.
Cirque du Soleil
October 9, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Cirque du Soleil is a world-famous circus show featuring acrobatics, live music and lots of other amazing entertainment. This year, the company presents ECHO. It’s a story about evolution, nature and animals. Shows take place in a massive structure at Concord Pacific Place throughout December and until the first weekend of the New Year.
For more details, see our Cirque du Soleil article.
Cinderella (in Vancouver)
December 13, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Vancouver’s Metro Theatre puts on a fun, family-friendly show each holiday season, and this year it’s Cinderella! The production is a pantomime, which means the show is very interactive as well as pretty fun and lighthearted. There are constant fourth-wall breaks and the audience is encouraged to participate in the show and interact with the characters.
The performances run in the evening Thursdays to Sundays from December 13th to January 5th. There are also a number of matinee performances throughout the three weeks the show is on.
The Improv Centre
November 21, 2024 – December 29, 2024
The Improv Centre hosts special shows in November and December.
This year, Merry/Happy/Jolly runs on Fridays and Saturdays between November 21st and December 29th. There are also afternoon performances on a couple of other days. Attendees help performers create a perfect holiday story. Also this year, on December 31st, there’s the NYE at TIC show. It’s a farewell to 2024 event.
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (on Granville Island)
December 4-15, 2024
Carousel Theatre for Young People is a non-profit theatre company that empowers children “through playful, imaginative, and accessible theatre experiences that develop emotional literacy.” The company presents a number of productions each year. Over the Christmas season, their 2024 show is The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It’s produced by Kaleidoscope Theatre (from Victoria) and takes place at Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island.
Dinner Date with Death (in Vancouver)
December 11, 2024
Dinner Date with Death is the holiday edition of Vancouver Mysteries’ Murder is a Drag series. The event is an interactive experience that’s both a dinner and show at the same time. The performance happens at Water Street Cafe, located at 300 Water Street in Gastown. It begins at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 11th.
Those in the audience enjoy a three-course meal while a murder mystery case happens around them. There are drag performances, drinks, and the ability to collect clues and help solve the puzzle. For those who show up early, there’s even a chance to become part of the story!
Cinderella (in North Vancouver)
December 19-29, 2024
Metro Theatre isn’t the only theatre company putting on a Cinderella pantomime, as the Deep Cove Stage Society hosts its own version of the production from December 19th to 29th. The DCSS hosts its shows at the Deep Cove Cultural Centre in North Vancouver.
This year’s Cinderella performances run on Thursdays to Sundays between December 19th and 29th. Admission is pay what you can (with a $5 minimum), in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary.
A Christmas Carol (& Where the Wild Things Are & Holiday Singalong)
December 7-15, 2024
Located in North Vancouver, Presentation House Theatre hosts A Christmas Carol shows on December 7th, 14th and 15th in 2024. The same venue also hosts two Where the Wild Things Are performances on December 1st for kids. Family-friendly Holiday Singalong events happen on December 17th, 18th, 20th and 21st this year.
Soar with Santa at FlyOver Canada
November 21, 2024 – January 1, 2025
Soar with Santa is the Christmas-time offering at FlyOver Canada, where guests can get the experience of flying over beautiful terrain across the country while staying in Vancouver.
The Soar with Santa film is similar to the standard offering that takes you throughout Canada to places like Niagara Falls and the Rocky Mountains. The difference are appearances by Santa and his sleigh, a couple of Christmas elves, and a final scene where you fly over the North Pole. The film screens daily from November 21st to January 1st.
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol
November 14, 2024 – December 24, 2024
The Arts Club puts on Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol this year. Based on the book written by Charles Dickens, the musical follows Scrooge, ghosts and other characters who try to change his perspective on life. The shows are held at Vancouver’s Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage at 2750 Granville Street.
Performances run on most days between November 14th and December 24th this year. There are no shows on Mondays.
Silent Movie Mondays
December 9, 2024
Vancouver Civic Theatres hosts Silent Movie Mondays on select dates throughout the year. On December 9th in 2024, The Kings of Comedy event takes place at Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre. There’s a pre-show performance by the Gatsby Strutters Jazz Band, followed by screenings of four silent movies from the 1920s with live music on the Wurlitzer organ.
The Nutcracker at Kilby
December 19-23, 2025
Kilby Farm is a historic site in the Fraser Valley. Located in Harrison Mills, the farm usually hosts a couple of shows at different times of the year. In 2025 the Behind the Gate Theatre Company puts on performances of The Nutcracker at the historic site on December 19th, 20th, 22nd and 23rd. The shows are performed in reader’s theatre style, but with some music.
Other Information
For a list of shows at other times of the year, see Vancouver’s Shows & Entertainment Calendar.
To learn more about other events this time of year, see the December Events Calendar.
For a list of festive choir performances in the Lower Mainland, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
For the Lower Mainland’s best winter holiday attractions, click Top Things to do in Vancouver at Christmas.
