11 must-see holiday performances for families and kids!
Vancouver is overflowing with fantastic live performances for children and families this season. Here are the must-see holiday shows!
Eleven family-friendly holiday performances
Carousel Theatre – Snow White
November 29- December 31, 2023
Carousel Theatre For Young People proudly brings to you playwright Greg Banks’ enchanting rendition of the timeless fairytale Snow White at Granville Island’s Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St). This clever and humorous reinterpretation features two actors skillfully portraying a charming array of beloved characters, including the dashing prince, cunning queen, supportive dwarf, and the kind-hearted Snow White. Don’t miss this whimsical and wickedly funny theatrical experience!
>> Snow White – Carousel Theatre
Back to the Holidays – Improv Centre
November 23, 2023 – December 24, 2023 Vancouver
Embark on a journey through the holidays of yesteryear, the present, and the future in their festive and family-friendly show, “Back to the Holidays!” Join their lead as they seek the true meaning of the season with the help of an eccentric scientist. Will they manage to save the town from impending disaster? The destination of their time-traveling adventure is in the hands of the audience—where will their exploration of time lead them? Find out in this captivating holiday experience!
Royal City Youth Ballet- The Nutcracker
November 26 to December 17 2023 Various locations in Metro Vancouver
Immerse yourself in the enchantment of The Nutcracker this festive season with RCYB’s captivating full-length ballet. Witness the mesmerizing dance of magical soldiers, mice, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and a growing Christmas tree—all set to the beautiful strains of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker score. From snowflakes and the Snow King and Queen to the Waltz of the Flowers, Arabian, Spanish, and more, this performance is a symphony of holiday favourites.
>> Royal City Youth Ballet – The Nutcracker
The Christmas Express -Vancouver Singing Christmas Tree
December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 2023 Vancouver
Believe it or not, this Vancouver classic features choir members singing from inside a gigantic Christmas tree! The Vancouver Singing Christmas Tree celebrates its 50+ years of entertaining with 10 levels of inspiring family-friendly performances and 80+ voice choir, ensembles, orchestra, actors, dancers, and acrobats.
The Nutcracker, Goh Ballet
December 14-17 2023 Vancouver
Get dolled up and head to the theatre to see The Nutcracker with all the bells and whistlers! The Goh Ballet puts sumptuous performance every year. Watch Clara’s dream come to life as she dances through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets and along the way you’ll meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, the evil Mouse King, and the Nutcracker Prince. There are more than 200 glittering costumes plus dramatic sets, and your kids will love seeing kids their age on stage.
Elf In Concert
December 21-22, 2023 -Vancouver
As a toddler, Buddy found himself mistakenly transported to the North Pole, where he was raised among Santa’s elves until adulthood. Faced with a persistent sense of not belonging, the grown-up Buddy embarks on a journey to New York, dressed in full elf uniform, in search of his biological father. Experience the heartwarming holiday classic this season on a grand screen, accompanied by the live performance of every note from John Debney’s delightful score in: Elf™ in Concert!
Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir – Good Tidings
December 15, 2023 Vancouver
This uplifting, family-friendly gospel celebration is a beautiful, early seasonal delight. Children dancing in the aisles is a regular occurrence at Good Noise concerts and singalongs always goes down well with younger set.
>> Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir – Good Tidings
Mixed Nuts
December 16-18 2023 Vancouver
Arts Umbrella Dance Company (AUDC) presents Mixed Nuts, a classic holiday performance reinvented with a twist. Families and kids of all ages can enjoy this modern and engaging retelling of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Mixed Nuts is more than just a ballet with a variety of dance styles from hip-hop, to ballroom, to the classic grand pas-de-deux.
Cirque de Soleil Kooza
Until December 31 2023 Vancouver
For a big ticket, big top holiday extravaganza, you can’t beat the Cirque. Navigating the delicate balance between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, the performance delves into themes of fear, identity, recognition, and power. Set against an electrifying and exotic visual backdrop, the show unfolds in a world brimming with surprises, thrills, chills, audacity, and complete engagement.
East Van Panto: Beauty The Beast
November 22 to January 7 2023 Vancouver
Experience Vancouver’s beloved holiday theatre tradition! Join Belle, a business-savvy individual, as she navigates an enchanted grocery store, trapped by a familiar yet stubborn Beast. Time is ticking, and Belle, along with her quirky friends, must break the curse before the last cherry blossom falls! This hilarious East Van Panto features unforgettable characters, pop song parodies, and fantastic performances by Vancouver’s best actors—a delightful experience for all ages!
>> East Van Panto – Beauty and The Beast
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
November 23 – December 23 – Vancouver
Join them for a captivating show as Peter and Lucy Pevensie, now grown-up, rediscover Narnia through a mysterious wardrobe. Ron Reed’s beloved adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s magical tale is back for our 40th anniversary season, having enchanted over ten thousand viewers since its premiere in 2018. Don’t miss it!. Suitable for ages 6 and up.
