It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Christmas has descended upon Vancouver and my Saturday quickly filled with holiday celebrating.

Market #1: CandyTown

I had my second volunteer shift with craftworks, a Vancouver-based non-profit organization that works with adults with mental & physical disabilities. Our job that day was to sell the holiday-themed crafts the adults had made.

Yes, that's an Advent calendar for cats

So many ornaments to choose from!

Rubber Duckie themed rain poncho.

(I still don't know why that mannequin doesn't have a head.)

After my shift ended I went for a stroll through the market, only to run into some friends who are also new to Vancouver. Mostly, I was simply excited to run into people I knew -- that doesn't happen much when you're new to a city! We spent a while looking at the booths before wandering to the next market in search of mulled wine...

Market #2: Vancouver Christmas Market

The Vancouver Christmas Market is smaller than Chicago's Christkindlmarket, but offers a nice selection of international food & holiday gifts. And beer - so much German beer!

Christmas!

They have a carousel... we didn't ride it. 

Official Tree Lighting

A Night with New Friends

(Germany, Netherlands, & USA, respectively)

The $7 admission grants you a Season Pass, so I'll be back again!  Until then, to my readers in the United States I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. To my fellow Canadians - legal & honorary - let's start the celebrating.

"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" 

by Bing Crosby