Hey look something shiny – it’s Christmas: The Vancouver Christmas Market

I have SO. MUCH. TO. DO.

T minus 1 week until the Oculus Chamber Choir Concert and 1 week until we move. Not to mention, Christmas mini-session, grad studies, work, blah, blah, blah…

And yet…

Hey, something shiny!! It’s Christmas!!

I think it is a defence mechanism – avoidance. I get overwhelmed and then what do I do?
Get completely distracted with something entirely unrelated to the tasks at hand.

Like twitter… or a new blog banner, or new little social media buttons (over on the sidebar – like em?), or the Vancouver Christmas Market….

Did I mention that I love Christmas? Last year, I only watched the market activity from inside the Queen Elizabeth theatre so this year I was determined to go…and there is no day, like opening day.

“How did you like the Christmas market, Jakob?” “I would say it was a little bit interesting and a little bit fun.”

Now, the last Christmas market I went to was in Edinburgh, so naturally, the Vancouver Christmas Market has stiff competition but for being in a North American city, I would say they didn’t fare too badly. We arrived shortly after 4pm and there were very few people. There is an entrance price, but it is quite excusable and with it you receive a free re-entry pass for the whole season. Once you get in there however, be prepared to spend a lot of CASH on food, beverage and wares.

They have all the good staples of a German Christmas market including mulled wine, schnitzel and giant pretzels. They also have at least one booth for each artisan craft you might see at a typical German market – nutcrackers, scrolled Christmas ornaments, toys, candy and pottery. Not only that, but I think that a lot of the vendors were actually German! I think the real highlight however, is the Kathe Wohlfahrt store lined with glass blown ornaments and other Christmas gifts and decor. One of our family traditions that we have had each year since Ben and I first got married is to purchase a new christmas ornament. This year, that extended to include a new snow globe…

There’s live entertainment, giant gingerbread people (Holly and Jolly) and an array of activities for the kids to do such as decorate a gingerbread cookie, have their face painted or go on the carousel.

This was when we first arrived…Ella had just woken up, tired little baby.

Another friendly stranger fail…I really ought to start carrying around a point and shoot.

All in all, it was fun…and Christmassy, even more so once it started to get a little more crowded and the sun had gone down. We spent about an hour and a half there until the kids and our money was spent. Is it too expensive? Yes. Especially, because part of the experience is the food and wine (or cider). But would I recommend it, yes. And would I do it again? You bet. In fact, I suspect I will be back there again this season, after all, I do get free re-entry and Albert Herring is just next door.