Gastown Transforms into a Holiday Wonderland with Gastown Thursday Nights
Unleash the magic with free live music, dance, and other entertainment coming to Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood.
This holiday season, the historic cobblestone streets of Gastown will stage a spectacular, month-long holiday extravaganza kicking off from tomorrow, November 30, for four consecutive Thursday nights until December 21.
Creating a pop-up of delights for all the senses, Thursday nights will be filled with ballet performances in storefronts, soulful sounds of roaming mariachi bands, quirky nerdy elves, seasonal delights, and an array of Vancouver’s most vibrant and eclectic shops and hospitality hotspots.
Walley Wargolet, Executive Director of the Gastown BIA is excited to welcome visitors to Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood. “Gastown truly comes alive with magic during the holidays, and we’re thrilled to extend the spirit of Gastown Thursday Nights throughout the festive season. This December, our neighbourhood will be vibrant with live music, fantastic shopping, delectable food and drinks, and captivating interactive window displays,” he adds.
The grand festivities of Gastown Thursday Nights start on November 30, from 6pm to 7:30pm, where the public is invited to Inform Interiors at 50 Water Street to experience an interactive store window display, inspired by the iconic New York City holiday storefronts at Saks Fifth Avenue. Visitors will be captivated by a free ballet performance from Arts Umbrella Dance Company’s Mixed Nuts production.
Gastown Thursday Nights will continue weekly, from 4pm to 7pm, with performances from the Los Dorados Mariachi Band on December 7, the East Van Horns on December 14, and the Nerdy Elves on December 21. Holiday shoppers can indulge in various happy hour deals throughout the month and make the most of late-night shopping at various retailers.
Visitors in December will witness the return of the much-loved “Kiss Me In Gastown.” This romantic gesture features mistletoe crafted by local florist, Floba, adorning multiple locations throughout the neighbourhood until January 6. Visitors can explore the mistletoe installations at the Gateway of Gastown, the corner of Water/Cordova outside of Monaco Coffee, Maple Tree Square, the lamp in Le Magasin Alley, along with surprises at Arcade and other special spots waiting to be discovered.
For more information about Gastown Thursday Nights and other activities throughout the holiday season please visit gastown.org/
ABOUT GASTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
The Gastown Business Improvement Society (GBIS), also known as the Gastown BIA, is a non-profit association created in 1989 as an organization to represent business owners and commercial property owners, to work together to promote and enhance Gastown. The organization supports the neighbourhood’s assets, advocates to improve conditions for businesses operating in the area and improve the quality of life for those who work in and visit the area (BIA – Business Improvement Area). The GBIS is governed by a volunteer board of directors composed of property and business owners from within the area representing a broad range of members and community stakeholders. For more information, visit gastown.org.
