January 2012 is a month full of annual favourites and new, fun activities. Get ready for the Dine Out Vancouver, the PuSh Festival, and the Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade & Festival!
Ongoing through January 1
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
What: Every year, the Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms into a celebration of light for the holidays, with live music, kids activities, and more.
Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Cost: $25 for adults; $5 for kids; proceeds go to the BC Professional Fire Fighter's Burn Fund
Ongoing through January 2
Bright Nights at Stanley Park
What: Stanley Park's Bright Nights is an annual Vancouver holiday tradition where over a million twinkly lights transform the forest around the famous Miniature Train into a winter wonderland.
Where: Stanley Park Miniature Train, Stanley Park, Vancouver
Cost: $9; $6 for seniors & kids 2-18
Ongoing through January 2
VanDusen Botanical Gardens' Festival of Lights
What: The gorgeous VanDusen Garden turns festive with elaborate light decorations, a Candy Cane Tree, Gingerbread Walk, Santa's workshop, and much more.
Where: VanDusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver
Cost: $13.50; $10 for seniors & youth; $7.50 for kids 6 - 12; $31 for families
Ongoing through January 29
Luminescence: A Celebration of Aquatic Light at the Vancouver Aquarium
What: Vancouver Aquarium celebrates the season with a special exhibit on the fascinating ways in which animals create and reflect light, as well as the interactive art exhibit Jelly Swarm.
Where: Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver
Cost: $21; $16 for seniors & students; $13 for kids 4 - 12; free for children 3 and under
Sunday, January 1
92nd Annual Polar Bear Swim
What: The annual Polar Bear Swim Club—and anyone who wants to join them—take a cold plunge into English Bay every New Year’s Day since 1920. Highlights include a 100-yard swim race and lots of costumes. Register or just watch at the English Bay Boathouse; registration is 12:30pm – 2:30pm; the race starts at 2:30pm.
Where: English Bay Boathouse, English Bay Beach, Downtown Vancouver
Cost: Free
Tuesday, January 17 – Saturday, February 4
PuSh International Performing Arts Festival 2012
What: One of Vancouver’s signature festivals, the PuSh Festival is 20 days of groundbreaking work in the live performing arts: theatre, dance, music and other, hybrid forms of performance.
Where: Various sites around Vancouver; see site for details
Cost: Various; see site for details
Friday, January 20 - Sunday, February 5
Dine Out Vancouver 2012
What: Vancouver's annual restaurant event from Tourism Vancouver has 200 participating restaurants offering discount menus for $18, $28 and $38, plus street food promotions and more.
Where: Various locations throughout Vancouver; see site for details
Cost: Set menus of $18, $28 and $38 per person
Saturday, January 22
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
What: One of the most famous cultural fusion events in Vancouver, this dinner-and-more at Chinatown's Floata Restaurant honours both Scottish-Canadian and Chinese-Canadian heritage.
Where: Floata Chinese Restaurant, #400-180 Keefer St., Vancouver
Cost: $65
Tuesday, January 24
Taste BC 2012
What: Liberty Wine Merchant's annual fundraiser for BC Children’s Hospital brings together over 70 of BC's best wineries, breweries and distilleries for an evening of drink and food. Also included: live music, door prizes, and a silent auction.
Where: Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver
Cost: $49.99; tickets available at Liberty Wine Merchant locations
Friday, January 27 - Sunday, January 29
Year of the Dragon Celebration at International Village
What: This 12th annual Chinese New Year celebration is one of the largest in Greater Vancouver, attracting over 150,000 visitors with three days of cultural exhibition, fun, entertainment. Showcases unique New Year celebrations from Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries.
Where: International Village, 88 West Pender St.,Vancouver
Cost: Free
Sunday, January 29
Chinese New Year Parade & Cultural Fair
What: Chinatown's Chinese New Year Parade draws a crowd of 50,000 and features 3,000 performers, including 50 lion dance teams, multicultural dance troupes, the VPD Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands and more. Parade runs from 12pm - 2pm; festivities continue to 4pm.
Where: The parade starts at the Millennium Gate at Pender St. and heads east, turning south onto Gore St., then west onto Keefer St.
Cost: Free
Ongoing through February 29
Robson Square Ice Skating
What: Vancouver's only outdoor ice rink is open for free ice skating all winter.
Where: 800 Robson St., across from the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver
Cost: Free; skate rentals are $4
