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BC Adventures – Our To Do Picks for Nov. 2-8

This week: Check out a Bollywood performance at Diwali Fest, click your heels and travel to the magical land of Oz, get a head start on your holiday crafting at Circle Craft, and more

By Liane Salo /

Credit: Diwali Fest

Diwali Fest — Oct. 29 to Nov. 8

This South Asian “festival of lights” has celebrations happening throughout Vancouver and will feature live music, fashion shows, workshops, traditional diya lamp painting, henna tattooing and Bollywood-style dance shows. To experience a little bit of everything, head down to the Yaletown Roundhouse Community Centre between 3-8 pm on November 2 for a fun Indian bazaar full of South Asian crafts, dancing and tons of delicious authentic food.



Credit: Flamenco Fest

Vancouver International Flamenco Festival — Oct. 30 to Nov. 10

Flamenco is the Spanish style of dance known for its eye-catching costumes and combination of rhythmic guitar music, stomping feet and intricate arm movements. Starting as a single evening affair in 1990, the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival has now grown into Western Canada’s premiere flamenco event, bringing the best international and Canadian performers together for 12 days. This year a large a number of workshops and performances will be offered around the city, and many of them are free. One highlight includes award-winning dancer and choreographer Olga Pericet from Madrid, Spain, who will be featured at the festival on November 2 and 3.



Credit: Vancouver Farmers Markets

Vancouver Winter Farmers Market — Nov. 2 to Apr. 26

Farmers Market fans rejoice! Vancouver Farmers Markets won’t be hibernating this winter season. Instead, this weekend marks the start of the Vancouver Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium. The winter market will run every Saturday until April 26, from 10 am to 2 pm. Check out their website to see what products will be featured this weekend, or to learn more about how to get involved as a vendor, member, sponsor or volunteer.



Credit: Flickr/ NRK P3

Iron and Wine — Nov 3

Iron and Wine’s latest album, Ghost on Ghost, has nothing to do with the Halloween season, but singer-songwriter Sam Beam’s hauntingly raw vocals may give you more chills than you’ve had all week. For a mellow evening of soulful crooning that will tug at your heartstrings, buy your tickets online now, before you head down to the Commodore Ballroom.



Credit: Wizard of Oz

Wizard of Oz — Nov. 5-10

Click your heels together and follow Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion down the yellow brick road on their journey through the magical land of Oz. This is a show for the whole family, reimagined from the original screenplay by renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. You can expect to hear all the old classics, with a few new tunes thrown in. The show is only in town for six days, so get your tickets soon.



Credit: The Fictionals Comedy Co

Minus World Improv — Nov. 6

The Fictionals Comedy Co. presents Minus World Improv: The Live-Action Video Game Comedy Adventure at the Rio Theatre. Vancouver’s hottest and most hilarious comedians will be on site to give their spin on video-game themed comedy, as audience input controls their actions. Need more motivation to leave your own gamer cave for the evening? Besides hours of gut-splitting laughter, allow yourself to be tempted by great prizes including 16-bit 3D rotoscope graphics and the interactive battle against GAMER X. The event begins at 8 pm, and you can check out their Facebook page for more details.



Credit: Flickr/ Mikey G

Through the Lens: Building Vancouver’s History — Nov. 6

If it’s too cold to cruise the streets of Vancouver, head to the Space Centre’s digital Planetarium Star Theatre for an indoor digital walking tour archiving Vancouver’s development over the last 100 years. A combination of past and present panorama photography leads this visual nostalgia tour and local history lesson. It begins at 7 pm sharp, with admission ranging from $10-$13. Turn your visit into a full evening with a meal at the Smoking Dog Bistro, and receive a 15% discount off your meal and your admission when you hang onto your receipts.



Credit: Fine Times

Unsigned Vancouver — Nov 7

Unsigned Vancouver returns this week to the Biltmore Cabaret. The concert series, presented by Steam Whistle, originated five years ago in Toronto as a means to grow Canada’s indie music community. This week’s event features Fine Times, Facts, and Van Damsel with doors opening at 8 pm. All proceeds from the $5 cover admission go to Music BC, a non-profit society that works to promote the local music industry.



Credit: Circle Craft

Circle Craft — Nov. 7-9

Circle Craft starts the trend of winter craft fairs with their 40th annual Christmas Market.  As well as hundreds of vendors selling handmade and locally crafted products, this year’s event will feature daily fashion shows where designers can flaunt their fashions on the runway. To catch the fashion shows, stop by the Vancouver Convention Centre West at 1 pm and 6 pm Thursday through Saturday, or at 1 pm and 3 pm Sunday and Monday. The market itself will open every day at 10 am, closing at 9 pm Thursday through Saturday, 7 pm on Sunday, and 5 pm on Monday. Purchase tickets online now to save $2 off admission.



Credit: Flickr

Cornucopia Food and Wine Festival — Nov 7-17

Cornucopia is Whistler’s fall celebration of eating and drinking that offers five days of winery dinners, interactive seminars with experts, gala wine tastings and after-parties. Learn about everything from the raw food diet to the art of making cheese at the “Nourish” part of the festival taking place at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler each day. Cap off the festivities with a night of tasting some of the countries best wines in various village venues. With over 100 different events happening during the festival, there’s bound to be something for everyone.