Vancouver has many theatres and performing arts groups. In December there are lots of great Christmas concerts and other performances to choose from!
Plays and other performances showing at Vancouver venues in December this year include Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker and Disney’s Frozen at the Arts Club Theatre. The Vancouver International Black Film Festival takes place in early December and there is also live comedy at The Improv Centre on Granville Island. There is also Jack & the Beanstalk at Metro Theatre and the musical Annie at Gateway Theatre.
Details about some of the shows happening in 2025 are below.
For a list of festive choir and other music performances, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
Jack and the Beanstalk (in Vancouver)
December 12, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Metro Theatre hosts its own version of Jack & the Beanstalk‘s production from December 12th, 2025, to January 4th, 2026. The theatre’s 40th holiday pantomime brings the timeless tale of Jack, his magic beans and the adventure that follows to the stage.
This year’s pantomime features some big names in theatre. Some of the choreography is by Shelley Steward Hunt (who worked on the Broadway production of Disney’s Frozen). Also, one of the cast members is Abigail Woodhouse. She has performed with multiple Vancouver-based productions including Theatre Under the Stars and past shows with Vancouver Metro Theatre.
Annie (in Richmond)
December 11, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Gateway Theatre is a community theatre in Richmond that hosts a mix of in-house productions and visiting shows each year. The venue features both a Main Stage and a smaller Studio space.
This year’s Annie performances run from December 11th, 2025 to January 3rd, 2026. Annie is a Broadway musical directed by Josh Epstein. It tells the story of an adventurous orphan who travels through New York City and finds a new home. Tickets are priced between $25 and $73 each.
Vancouver International Black Film Festival
December 5-9, 2025
The Vancouver International Black Film Festival is a series of events showcasing Black films. There are in-person and online activities, including movie screenings, workshops, panel discussions and more. The fifth edition of the festival runs from December 5th to 9th in 2025.
Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker Suite
December 18-21, 2025
The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas ballet about a couple of children, toys, mice and a nutcracker. It includes music by the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky and is one of the most famous and watched ballet productions in modern times.
Shows with Goh Ballet take place on December 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st in 2025 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
The Improv Centre
November 20 – December 30, 2025
The Improv Centre hosts special shows in November and December.
This year, ‘Tis the Sitcom runs on select dates between November 20th and December 30th. It’s a holiday themed show in a sitcom format, complete with commercial breaks and lots of laughs. Another special show this year is NYE at TIC. The farewell to 2025 runs at three different times on December 31st.
Dinner Date with Death (in Vancouver)
December 11, 2025
Dinner Date With Death is the holiday edition of Vancouver Mysteries’ Murder is a Drag series. The event is an interactive experience. Last year the performance happened at Water Street Cafe in Gastown and it included dinner. In 2025 it’s also in the Gastown area, but at the SFU Woodwards Building which is located at 111 West Hastings Street. This year the show also doesn’t include dinner, which helps make the price that much more affordable.
At this event, the audience pretends to be at a fancy dinner while a murder mystery case happens around them. There are drag performances and the ability to collect clues and help solve the puzzle. For those who show up early, there’s even a chance to become part of the story!
To learn more about this event, see our article about Murder is a Drag or visit
Holiday Singalongs at Presentation House
December 13, 19, 20 & 21, 2025
Located in North Vancouver, Presentation House Theatre hosts the Movie Singalong: Mary Poppins on Saturday, December 13th. At this event, the audience gets to see the classic 1964 Disney musical film starring Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews and sing along to the music. It’s a fun, family-friendly event!
A few days later, Presentation House hosts Bright: A Holiday Singalong Concert. It takes place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of December 19th to 21st. It too is a fun, family-friendly event where everyone gets to sing.
Soar with Santa at Flyover at Canada Place
November 20, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Soar with Santa is the Christmas-time offering at Flyover at Canada Place where guests can get the experience of flying over beautiful terrain across the country while staying in Vancouver.
The Soar with Santa film is similar to the standard offering that takes you throughout Canada to places like Niagara Falls and the Rocky Mountains. The differences are appearances by Santa and his sleigh, a couple of Christmas elves, and a final scene where you fly over the North Pole.
In 2025 Soar with Santa shows from late November until early January of next year.
Other Information
For a list of shows at other times of the year, see Vancouver’s Shows & Entertainment Calendar.
To learn more about other events this time of year, see the December Events Calendar.
For a list of festive choir performances in the Lower Mainland, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
For the Lower Mainland’s best winter holiday attractions, click Top Things to do in Vancouver at Christmas.
Another website you might find of interest is VancouverTheatres.ca.
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