Architecture and Design Film Festival

Date: November 19 to December 3
Venue: Online
adfilmfest.com

This virtual ADFF is made up of 16 films that explore racial injustice, urbanization and utopian societies. (Timely, right?) The lineup includes the North American premiere of Tokyo Ride, a feature that road trips around Tokyo highlighting the work of architect Ryūe Nishizawa.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas

Date: November 19 to January 3
Venue: Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre
artsclub.com

This one-woman Christmas rom-com follows a woman who, after a bad breakup, dives headfirst into the dating world (and, spoiler, it sucks). Audiences have three options to view the show: in-person as part of a distanced live show, livestreamed or via digital recording.

Discover Dance! Series

Date: November 26 to December 10
Venue: Online
thedancecentre.ca

Check out this collab between two local dance companies: TomoeArts in Vancouver and Satsuki-kai in Burnaby. The free digital performance is a presentation of Japanese classical and traditional dance, but ranges from kabuki to shin-buyoh (modern dances to popular music, or whatever’s hip with the kids nowadays).

Amahl and the Night Visitors

Date: December 12
Venue: Online
vancouveropera.ca

The COVID-era digital premiere of this opera is actually not far off the original: it was specifically composed for a Christmas Eve television broadcast in 1951. The Vancouver Opera’s Leslie Dala conducts this show (and it’s a family affair—his son, Andreas Dala, plays Amahl).

Panto Come Home

Date: December 17 to January 3
Venue: Online
thecultch.com

Our local sass-ridden holiday tradition lives on. This year’s East Van Panto begins with nostalgic artistic directors “sneaking in” to the York Theatre; festive (and safe) musical mischief ensues. The show will be performed and streamed live—even at home, watch out for the Phanto of the Panto.