Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for November 17 to 23

Hit up holiday markets, dust off your best onesie, get your fill of perogies + more

1. Perogy Lunch Weekend – Saturday, November 17 & Sunday, November 18

Explore the studios of the Eastside Cultural Crawl and taste authentic Ukrainian food at Strathcona’s perogy lunch weekend. Try borscht, kolbassa on a bun, cabbage rolls and, of course, delicious homemade perogies from Ukrainian babas.
AUUC Ukrainian Hall & Performing Arts Society, 805 Pender Street, Vancouver; From 11 a.m.; Details online

2. Onesie Bar Crawl – Saturday, November 17

Put your comfiest onesie on and hit the bars! We Love Pub Crawls have organized an epic adventure through five bars, including LED lights, cover charges waived and drink specials at the bars, which will incorporate ’80s, ’90s and Y2K themes.
Donellans Irish Pub (for check-in), 1082 Granville Street, Vancouver; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tickets $20 to 30

3. Hawkers Market – Saturday, November 17

Back after a long hiatus, Hawkers Market returns as an indie food and music festival, featuring food from local chefs (including the Bad Hombres above), an exclusive talk by Chef Francisco Migoya of Modernist Cuisine, drinks from craft breweries and distilleries and DJ sets from Peanut Butter Wolf, J Rocc and Stones Throw Records.
Rocky Mountaineer Station, 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver; 4 p.m. to Midnight; Admission is free but ticket offers range from $25 to 125

4. Hopscotch Festival – Monday, November 19 to Sunday, November 25

Celebrate beer, whisky and other spirits at Hopscotch Festival. With a Grand Tasting Hall on November 23rd and 24th plus a range of master classes and paired dinners, the festival features local and international tipples to taste.
PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver; Various dates, times and prices; Tickets online

5. Vancouver Christmas Market – Wednesday, November, 21 to Monday, December 24

Celebrate the season at the city’s festive yuletide market at Jack Poole Plaza. Featuring more than 80 wooden huts, selling sweets, treats and gifts, this year’s festival has new highlights including the Winterdeck with views of the North Shore, the Kinder Kraft Igloo for kids and a Love Lock Installation. Head to Lovers Lane for an Instagrammable 30-foot long tunnel adorned with 10,000 twinkling lights… and mistletoe to smooch under.
Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily (6 p.m. on Christmas Eve); Admission $10 for adults; Details online

6. Merry Kiss-Mas – Wednesday, November 21 to Monday, December 24

An homage to nostalgic and cheesy holiday movies, Merry Kiss-Mas is Vancouver Theatre Sports League’s festive improv show that takes suggestions from the audience to help recreate well-known scenes and characters. During the second half, the cast create a brand new festive special, using classic Christmas movie tropes.
The Improv Centre, 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver; Various dates, times and prices; Details online

7. Il Mercato Italian Christmas Market – Friday, November 23

Say “Ciao!” to the Christmas season at this annual indoor event, which brings the Italian community together for an Italian-inspired market selling local produce and crafts.
Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Details online

8. Fuse: Object Lessons – Friday, November 23

Fuse: Object Lessons takes its inspiration from the intricate gowns presented in Guo Pei: Couture Beyond with a night of experimental live art, exhibitions and artist bars. This edition of the Fuse event series is guest curated by Pablo de Ocampo.
Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver; 8 p.m. to Midnight; Tickets $15 for members or $29 for general admission

9. Aurora Winter Festival – Friday, November 23 to Sunday, December 30

Vancouver’s inaugural North Pole-inspired outdoor festival comes to the city for six weeks of winter wonder. Guests can visit the four mystical worlds, featuring giant sculptures, animated sets and brilliant light displays. Look out for magical characters including ice elves, the snow queen, a yeti and, of course, Santa. Visit the light dome that showcases the Aurora Borealis, a tube park, a frozen river with light installations, a 60-foot ferris wheel, an entertainment tent with live music, a variety of food trucks and a market with 50 holiday-inspired vendors.
Concord Pacific Place, 88 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily (Closed Mondays and Christmas Day); Tickets $19.99 for adults, with children and seniors $14.99

10. Dark Eighties Fall Ball – Friday, November 23

Dance to music from the new romantics, post-punk, new wave, goth, italo disco, minimal wave, slow dance ’80s favourites and cult ’80s hits played by Nikki Nevver, Mirror/Mask and Vanessa Turner. Dress up in ’80s inspired costumes (think Labyrinth-style masks and fancy dress).
The Warehouse at Eastside Studios, 550 Malkin Avenue, Vancouver; 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.; 19+, Tickets $9