Things to Do in Vancouver This Weekend

This weekend, performances include a tribute to Joni Mitchell, wrestling, an immersive hybrid of theatre and film, comedy and a cheer competition.

 

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

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Friday January 11

Full Light of Day
Where: Vancouver Playhouse
What: This suspenseful and compelling hybrid of theatre and film is a modern allegory in which a terminally ill woman confronts the choices that brought her family privilege; and then, with great courage, takes a risk to secure their ultimate redemption. Utilizing 14 live-streaming cameras, state-of-the-art projections and film, The Full Light of Day immerses audiences in rich cinematic cityscapes, intimate inner lives, and invites them to re-imagine the limitations of live theatre.
Runs until: Saturday January 12, 2019

Ric Flair
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
What: Wrestling fans of all ages can to experience a night of candid tales of pro wrestling past and present. Larger than life personality and one of pro wrestling’s greatest legends, “Nature Boy,” Ric Flair and guest moderator Jimmy “The Mouth of the South” Hart bring pro wrestling’s greatest stories to life with the Off the Top Rope tour.

ECCW Ballroom Brawl (show 1 of 2)
Where: Commodore Ballroom
What: Two wrestling events on the same night? This one is the Elite Canadian Championship Wrestlers.

Tribute to Benny Goodman (show 1 of 2)
Where: The Orpheum
What: Dave Bennett and his quartet perform a loving and authentic tribute to The King of Swing, in a fantastic concert that features all of Goodman’s hits, including the time-less classics Moonglow, I’ve Got Rhythm, Slipped Disc, and of course, Sing Sing Sing.

Vanhoover Pony Expo
Where: The Executive Airport Hotel
What: A three-day family-friendly celebration of the community surrounding My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Runs until: Sunday January 13, 2019

Alex Moffat (show 1 of 2)
Where: The Comedy Mix
What: A New York-based actor, stand-up, writer, and current cast member on Saturday Night Live. He hails from Chicago where he performed with The Second City’s Bizco and Boatco, The Annoyance, iO, Zanies, The Comedy Bar, and The Public House Theater.

Josh Wolf (show 1 of 2)
Where: Yuk Yuks
What: A comedian, actor and NY Times Bestselling author best known for his work as a round table guest and writer on E!’s Chelsea Lately and After Lately.

4th Annual David Bowie Party
Where: The Fox Cabaret
What: Celebrating the birth of David Bowie with his music, a make-up booth and a birthday cake.

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Saturday January 12

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Circle Game – Re-imagining the Work of Joni Mitchell
Where: Firehall Arts Centre
What: One of the most influential recording artists of the late 20th century, Joni Mitchell has often reflected on social and environmental ideals through her music. Circle Gamereinterprets Mitchell’s iconic songs such as Big Yellow Taxi, River, California and A Case of You through the ears and eyes of a new generation, connecting them to the politics and world we know today.
Runs until: Saturday February 9, 2019

Bowie Ball
Where: The Rickshaw
What: Annual celebration of the music, art, theatre and fashion of the late great David Bowie, for the benefit of The Canadian Cancer Society. A long list of bands will cover Bowie songs, dress-up is strongly encouraged.

Vancouver Warriors vs. Saskatchewan Rush
Where: Rogers Arena
What: It’s a lacrosse game.

Nao
Where: The Vogue
What: R&B from London.

Pacific All-Star Championships Cheer Competition
Where: Pacific Coliseum
What: Choreographing, acrobatics, outfits and enthusiasm.

ECCW Ballroom Brawl (show 2 of 2)
Where: Commodore Ballroom
What: Two wrestling events on the same night? This one is the Elite Canadian Championship Wrestlers.

Tribute to Benny Goodman (show 2 of 2)
Where: The Orpheum
What: Dave Bennett and his quartet perform a loving and authentic tribute to The King of Swing, in a fantastic concert that features all of Goodman’s hits, including the time-less classics Moonglow, I’ve Got Rhythm, Slipped Disc, and of course, Sing Sing Sing.

Josh Wolf (show 2 of 2)
Where: Yuk Yuks
What: A comedian, actor and NY Times Bestselling author best known for his work as a round table guest and writer on E!’s Chelsea Lately and After Lately.

Alex Moffat (show 2 of 2)
Where: The Comedy Mix
What: A New York-based actor, stand-up, writer, and current cast member on Saturday Night Live. He hails from Chicago where he performed with The Second City’s Bizco and Boatco, The Annoyance, iO, Zanies, The Comedy Bar, and The Public House Theater.

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Sunday January 13

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Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: The Hockey Sweater
Where: The Orpheum
What: One of the most famous of Canadian stories, author Roch Carrier’s short story, The Hockey Sweater, set to music by Abigail Richardson, revolves around a childhood memory growing up in Québec: In the heart of Montréal Canadiens territory, a young boy is given, to his horror, a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. In answering the question “how can I face my friends?” valuable life lessons are learned.

Musicircus
Where: Polygon Gallery
What: Performed in collaboration with the Blueridge Chamber Music Festival, Musicircus is an act of artistic community. The event brings together numerous musicians and performers for an improvisatory afternoon performance, featuring compositions by legendary composer John Cage. Listeners participate in the composition by moving around the venue–every single available space in The Polygon Gallery changes the kaleidoscope of sounds encountered.

Kongos
Where: The Imperial
What: Brothers Johnny, Jesse, Dylan, and Danny from Phoenix, Arizona.

Bert Kreischer
Where: The Vogue
What: Fresh off the acclaim of his Netflix special, this comedian would like to prove “that there’s a way to take his [party-boy] antics into middle-age” .

Vancouver Canucks vs. Florida Panthers
Where: Rogers Arena
What: Watch a hockey game right here.

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Ongoing

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Vancouver Italian Film Festival
Where: VanCity Theatre
What: Co-presented by VIFF Vancity Theatre and the Italian Cultural Centre with support from the Italian Consul, the Vancouver Italian Film Festival kicks off their sixth year with the North American premiere of The Man Who Bought the Moon.This week-long festival presents a mixture of the best new Italian cinema, documentary, and established classics, including work by masters like Fellini, De Sica, and Bertolucci.
Runs until: Saturday January 12, 2019

Full Light of Day
Where: Vancouver Playhouse
What: This suspenseful and compelling hybrid of theatre and film is a modern allegory in which a terminally ill woman confronts the choices that brought her family privilege; and then, with great courage, takes a risk to secure their ultimate redemption. Utilizing 14 live-streaming cameras, state-of-the-art projections and film, The Full Light of Day immerses audiences in rich cinematic cityscapes, intimate inner lives, and invites them to re-imagine the limitations of live theatre.
Runs until: Saturday January 12, 2019

Vanhoover Pony Expo
Where: The Executive Airport Hotel
What: A three-day family-friendly celebration of the community surrounding My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Runs until: Sunday January 13, 2019

Guo Pei: Couture Beyond
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: In her theatrical, extravagant creations, Guo Pei combines contemporary aesthetics, production methods and materials with ancient tradition, evoking Chinese history and mythology in her craft techniques, fabric selection and imagery. The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of her evolution as a designer as well as her contribution to global fashion culture.
Runs until: Sunday January 20, 2019

Canyon Lights
Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
What: The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon are transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment, high up above the canyon. You can also go on a “Snowy Owl Prowl”, decorate gingerbread cookies (by donation) and sing-along carols with a holiday band.
Runs until: Sunday January 27, 2019

Throwdown – International TheatreSports Festival
Where: Vancouver Improv Centre
What: January is often the time of year when the winter blahs set in – the holidays are over, it’s been raining non-stop, and you’ve received your credit card bill from December. The best antidote? – a good dose of hearty laughter.
Runs until: Sunday January 27, 2019

Dana Claxton: Fringing the Cube
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: The first-ever survey of the work of provocative Vancouver-based Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) artist Dana Claxton, featuring photography, film, video and performance documentation that traces nearly thirty years of Claxton’s career and her investigations into Indigenous identity, beauty, gender and the body.
Runs until: Sunday February 3, 2019

Circle Game – Re-imagining the Work of Joni Mitchell
Where: Firehall Arts Centre
What: One of the most influential recording artists of the late 20th century, Joni Mitchell has often reflected on social and environmental ideals through her music. Circle Gamereinterprets Mitchell’s iconic songs such as Big Yellow Taxi, River, California and A Case of You through the ears and eyes of a new generation, connecting them to the politics and world we know today.
Runs until: Saturday February 9, 2019

Body Language: Reawakening Cultural Tattooing of the Northwest
Where: Bill Reid Gallery
What: Explore the rich history and artistry of Indigenous tattooing, piercing and personal adornment on the Northwest Coast. These five contemporary Indigenous artists are at the forefront of the revival of Indigenous tattooing in BC. They are reclaiming traditional techniques and traditional rights to be tattooed, and building awareness of the significance and protocols around the tattooing traditions.
Runs until: March 17, 2019

The Metamorphosis
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: This exhibition ties together provocative themes and ideas of change undertaken in more than forty remarkable contemporary works selected from the Gallery’s collection. With its title inspired by Franz Kafka’s 1915 novella, The Metamorphosis invokes a compelling human and creative desire to explore oneself and the world. Kafka’s literary classic follows the experience of a man who, upon waking up, finds himself transformed into a giant insect. This exhibition looks at Kafka’s themes by way of visual art that addresses physical, spiritual and cultural transformation.
Runs until: March 17, 2019

A Curator’s View: Ian Thom Selects
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: A showcase of the span of the gallery’s rich permanent collection through an exhibition of nearly ninety works including paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures. Since the Gallery’s establishment in 1931, its permanent collection has become the most comprehensive resource for visual culture in British Columbia. Building on the collection’s historical and contemporary strengths, the Gallery continues to steward acquisitions through donation and purchase.
Runs until: March 17, 2019

Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: Showcasing for the first time in MOA’s history a presentation of all-women artists, this exhibition features the artworks of nine Aboriginal women, who are all celebrated artists from tiny remote communities across Australia’s deserts and tropical north. Encompassing a wide range of subjects from the natural to sublime and from minute organisms to vast celestial bodies, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the immutable tension between the universal and the specific, and discover the power of traditional Indigenous knowledge in an increasingly digital world.
Runs until: March 31, 2019

Fitness For All
Where: 1100 West Georgia Street
What: Chinese contemporary art collective Polit-Sheer-Form Office (PSFO) has produced a five-piece set of exercise equipment specially designed for the Vancouver public. The artists’ decree suggests that establishing a more collective self-awareness fosters inclusivity and collaboration within a community.
Runs until: March 31, 2019

In a Different Light
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: More than 110 historical Indigenous artworks and marks the return of many important works to British Columbia. These objects are amazing artistic achievements. Yet they also transcend the idea of ‘art’ or ‘artifact’. Through the voices of contemporary First Nations artists and community members, this exhibition reflects on the roles historical artworks have today. Featuring immersive storytelling and innovative design, it explores what we can learn from these works and how they relate to Indigenous peoples’ relationships to their lands.
Runs until: Spring 2019

Hastings Park Farmers Market
Where: Hastings Park
What: Find a weekly selection of locally grown fruit and veggies, farm fresh meat, eggs and dairy products, fresh baked sourdough bread and treats, craft beer, wine and spirits, artisanal prepared food, local crafts, hot coffee and food trucks.
Runs until: April 28, 2019 (Sundays)

Wild Things: The Power of Nature in Our Lives
Where: Museum of Vancouver
What: This exhibition delves into the life stories of local animals and plants—how they relate to each other and how they connect people to nature in the city. Scenic design, videos, taxidermy, crowd-sourcing technologies, and the display of natural specimens breathe life into these tales of co-habitation. The immersive nature of the exhibition, including hands-on activities, encourages visitors to examine their relationship with nature, think about momentarily disconnecting from their devices, and find equilibrium with the natural world around them.
Runs until: July 2019

Making Waves: The Story and Legacy of Greenpeace
Where: Vancouver Maritime Museum
What: With humble beginnings in Vancouver, Greenpeace has grown into a large organization with offices in 40 countries. The NGO has protested numerous causes: whaling, deforestation, mining, genetic testing, and nuclear testing. Explore this exhibit that goes from their first voyage from Vancouver to Amchitka to protest Nuclear testing on an old fishing vessel to how cities, government, and industry today are developing new policies, technologies, and sustainable practices to ensure the preservation of our environment.
Runs until: September 9, 2019

Shake Up: Preserving What We Value
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: The exhibition will bring to light the convergence of earthquake science and technology with the rich Indigenous knowledge and oral history of the living cultures represented in MOA’s Northwest Coast collection. Beyond scientific discoveries, knowledge of earthquakes and natural disasters has been passed down through generations throughout many cultures, including those of the Northwest Coast First Nations. Also as part of the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to see the majestic poles of the Great Hall undergo conservation, many for the first time in 40 years.
Runs until: Fall 2019

How Far Do You Travel
Where: Select B-Line TransLink busses
What: Five Canadian artists — Diyan Achjadi, Patrick Cruz, Rolande Souliere, Erdem Tasdelen and Anna Torma — are being commissioned to graphically wrap the exterior of a series of articulated buses traveling on major routes in Metro Vancouver.
Runs until: December 31, 2019

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments below.