Hands up, everyone who’s in the Christmas spirit.
If your hand is still down, never fear: the Vivo Children’s Choir can cure you in a hurry.
The choir is presenting its holiday concert, One December Bright and Clear, on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The choir features the voices of children in grades 2 and up, with a special guest choir from New Westminster Secondary School.
Tickets for the holiday extravaganza are $10 regular, $8 for students and seniors, or free for children under 12. You can buy at the door.
Holy Trinity is at 514 Carnarvon St. Doors open at 2:15 p.m., and refreshments will follow in the hall.
Bring along some cash, too – guests will also have a chance to purchase raffle tickets to win one of two 32-gigabyte iPad minis to be drawn during the concert.
MAKE MAGIC FOR CHRISTMAS
When Paul Albertson talks about “the magic of Christmas,” he means it quite literally.
Albertson is offering a series of kids’ magic classes at River Market in the month of December.
Making Christmas Magic is designed for kids eight to 12 years old, and participants can learn new magic tricks each week. It’s running Tuesdays until Dec. 20 from 4 to 5 p.m. each week at River Market.
It costs $15 per class.
Albertson’s formal education and training was in repertory theatre, and he now works as a magician and is an active member of two International Magic Societies. He has taught magic workshops for many years in Canada and the U.S.
You can find out more about him and the classes at www.magicwonderschool.com.
ART ON PARADE
You can enjoy seeing artists at work and try your hand at creating your own during an upcoming event at Century House.
Century House is hosting Art in Motion: Paintings on Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Artists will be on hand to showcase their work and show visitors how it’s done.
You can try your hand at watercolour, drawing and acrylic painting, or buy some original paintings for Christmas gifts (or for yourself).
For more information, call Century House at 604-519-1066, or drop in to 620 Eighth St. to check it out on the weekend.
CHRISTMAS NIGHT MARKET
Stuck for Christmas shopping ideas? Don’t panic. Just turn out to the New West Craft Winter Night Market on Saturday, Dec. 3, and all your woes will be over.
The Arts Council of New Westminster is presenting the winter celebration of all things craft, running from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at River Market. More than 50 vendors will have a variety of crafts and artisan wares available – with jewelry, glass, cosmetics, knitting, soaps, candles and much more.
There will also be live music, plus beer from Steel and Oak and wine from Pacific Breeze Winery.
How can you say no to that? Check out www.rivermarket.ca for the details, or email [email protected] for information.
CHRISTMAS ON FILM
Got a favourite Christmas movie? River Market is showing a series of family-friendly holiday films in the month of December, and you’re invited to pop down to the food hall for the screenings.
The lineup starts with A Christmas Carol on Wednesday, Dec. 7 (the George C. Scott classic version), followed by Gremlins on Thursday, Dec. 8. On Wednesday, Dec. 14, you can see Home Alone, with Miracle on 34th Street (the 1994 John Hughes film) on Thursday, Dec. 15.
Jingle All the Way screens on Wednesday, Dec. 21, with Elf on Thursday, Dec. 22.
The movie screenings are free for the whole family. Movies start at 3:15 p.m. Check out www.rivermarket.ca for more details.
LEARN A TRADITIONAL ART
The New Westminster Museum is giving you a chance to explore a traditional First Nations art form.
Traditional weaver Melvin Williams of Lil’wat will be leading a session on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the museum.
Running in association with the feature exhibition, Witness Blanket, the workshop will teach participants how to gather, prepare and weave with cedar. Supplies are included, and you’ll make a small basket to take home.
It costs $88. See www.anvilcentre.com for more details.
DANCE INTO THE FUTURE
You can enjoy the talents of the next generation of dancers in an evening of dance at Massey Theatre.
The New Westminster Secondary School dance program is presenting two shows on Tuesday, Dec. 13, starting at 7 p.m.
The night will feature the senior dance students in Round Peg, which follows the story of Gwyneth, a new student at her high school who has a hard time seeing where she fits in.
Junior students will present It Was All A Dream, which follows what happens when a student falls asleep in one of her classes.
Sound intriguing? Tickets are only $8, plus service charges. Buy through 604-521-5050 or www.ticketsnw.ca. The Massey Theatre is at 735 Eighth Ave.
WRITING CONTEST UNDERWAY
Writers, get out those pens and boot up those laptops: it’s time to get writing again.
LitFest New West is presenting a short story competition this year, and submissions are being accepted until midnight on Jan. 15, 2017.
All stories must be fiction, and they must be set in New Westminster. The contest is limited to one entry per person, and stories must not have been previously published in print or on the web.
Prize money will be available for adult and youth writers. Youth prizes will be awarded in three age categories: 12 to 13, 14 to 15, and 16 to 18.
Adult entries must be between 1,200 and 1,500 words, while youth entries must be from 500 to 1,000 words.
Entry is free for arts council members, or $25 for non-members (or, better yet, become a member of the Arts Council of New Westminster and then enter for free).
You have to send in your entry to [email protected] by midnight on Jan. 15, so you still have some time.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
