To many people, Whistler is a veritable winter wonderland
— the embodiment of Christmas scenes from childhood stories, with
snowcapped vistas, ski slopes, and twinkling lights. So it’s really no surprise
that tourists from far and wide flock to town for Christmas holidays.
But aside from our aesthetic, there are plenty of holiday
activities and events in store for residents and tourists alike. This year,
Whistler is planning another family-friendly Christmas season, hosting the
Whistler Holiday Experience, which includes a wide range of games, activities
and entertainment options.
Sue Eckersley is president of Watermark Communications Inc.,
the company that manages and operates the Whistler Holiday Experience for the
Resort Municipality of Whistler.
“Basically there was clearly a need for some family programming
in the resort that was not susceptible to our weather,” Eckersley explained.
“…If it’s raining in the valley or it’s minus 20 in the valley, what do you do
if you are a parent with small children after ski school, or before ski school,
or if you child doesn’t do ski school? We saw it as an opportunity to provide
refuge for families in a fun and warm environment.”
The event is intended to complement traditional Whistler
outdoor activities, targeting infants to 14 year olds with things like movies,
indoor mini golf, video games, foosball, air hockey, bouncy land, crafts and
toys.
“It was an opportunity to sort of give back to our resort
guests and really show that we’re thinking about them and their challenges,”
she said.
They launched the Whistler Holiday Experience last year, when
the weather conditions were optimal — not too cold, snowy and perfect for
skiing.
“And yet, we were still smoking busy. We had hundreds of
families a day come into the conference centre,” said Eckersley.
And, best yet, the Whistler Holiday Experience is free, though donations
are being accepted that will go to Playground Builders.
“The concept is that people who are here during this time have
certainly spent a lot of money in Whistler, and it’s supposed to be about a
‘thank you for choosing us,’” Eckersley explained.
The Telus Whistler Conference Centre is sure to be teaming with
tots and teens from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 to Sunday, Jan. 4,
excluding Christmas day and New Year’s Eve.
Coast Mountain Photography will also be on-hand, snapping
photos with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 20 (12:30 to 4 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 21 (2
p.m. to 5 p.m.). During the evening of Saturday, Dec. 20, singer Allison Crowe
will give a free concert, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and the show starting
at 8 p.m.
Whistler-Blackcomb is also getting in on the seasonal action,
hosting their annual Dress Like Santa Day on Saturday, Dec. 20.
The name is pretty self-explanatory, but here are a few of the
finer details: the first 100 people who arrive at the GLC patio dressed in full
Santa or Mrs. Claus regalia by 8:30 a.m. will receive a free lift ticket.
“It’s usually pretty insane,” said Tabetha Boot, spokesperson
for Whistler-Blackcomb, “That’s why it’s capped at the first 100 people.”
This year, they’re trying out a new activity, as well —
seeing how many Santas they can cram into a Peak 2 Peak gondola cabin.
Other holiday activities include The Whistler Forum for
Leadership and Dialogue and CBC Radio presenting a dramatic reading of A
Christmas Carol, this weekend. CBC’s Paul Grant will be reading alongside
community members Chris Quinlan, Heather Paul, Anne Townley, Mike Varrin and
William Roberts, at the Whistler Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $10 at Armchair Books, with all proceeds going towards literary
programs at the library and The Jill Ackhurst Social Action Fund.
Meadow Park Sports Centre has a special date booked with jolly
old St. Nick himself on Friday, Dec. 19. At 6:30 p.m., Santa Claus makes a
special on-ice appearance, greeting families as they indulge in some hot cocoa,
sugar cookies and ornament decoration. You might even be able to get a photo
with the man in the red suit, if you’re lucky!
Feel like dancing your way into Christmas? The Goh Ballet is
returning to Whistler with the beloved holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Performances
will take place at MY Millennium Place from Friday, Dec. 19 through to Monday,
Dec. 22.
And what would Christmas be without the carols? This year,
three local choirs are planning a range of musical performances.
The Sea to Sky Singers kick things off with their concert, The
Three Kings, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, with a matinee performance at 2
p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Squamish Baptist Church.
The Whistler Singers perform Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland, a
concert at Our Lady of the Mountains Church, on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, or $25 at the door, with a portion
of the proceeds going towards the Whistler Community Services Society’s food
bank.
And the young singers amongst us have plenty on the go, as
well.
“The choir kids begin rehearsing holiday songs by the end of
October and we never seem to get tired of them,” said Alison Hunter, director
of the Whistler Children’s Chorus. “Our audiences are there because they want
to be and, as always with lots of children, you never know what may happen at a
concert. It’s good for everyone to take some time to simply sit, listen and
sing during what is such a busy season for so many.”
The kids chime in with a concert on Sunday, Dec. 21 at Our Lady
of the Mountains Church, and their 25th annual carol service on Christmas Eve
at the Westin. The Christmas Eve performance will feature Jane Reid, Beth and
Ross Harlow, Mayor Ken Melamed, Georgia Astle, Alix Nicoll, and Libby McKeever
as readers of the traditional Christmas story.
This year, the Children’s Chorus also has a community
sing-along planned for Tuesday, Dec. 23 at MY Millennium Place, with Carol
Harwood accompanying and keeping the whole lot in tune.
Dates to circle on your calendar:
* Friday, Dec. 12 (7:30 p.m.) & Saturday, Dec. 13 (2
p.m.)
– The Three Kings concert, at
Squamish Baptist Church ($12 adults, $10 students & seniors)
* Saturday, Dec. 13
– A Christmas Carol reading with CBC’s Paul Grant and community readers,
at Whistler Public Library, 8 p.m. ($10)
* Sunday, Dec. 14
– Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland concert with the Whistler Singers at Our
Lady of the Mountains Church, 7:30 p.m. ($10 adult, $5 child, $25 family)
* Friday, Dec. 19 to Monday, Dec. 22
– The Nutcracker at MY Millennium Place,
www.myplacewhistler.org
* Friday, Dec. 19 to Sunday, Jan. 4 (excluding Dec. 25 and
Dec. 31)
– Whistler Holiday
Experience at Telus Whistler Conference Centre (by donation)
* Friday, Dec. 19
– Skate with Santa at Meadow Park Sports Centre, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. ($2,
$4 skate rentals)
* Saturday, Dec. 20
– Whistler-Blackcomb’s Dress Like Santa day, 8:30 a.m.
* Sunday, Dec. 21
– Whistler Children’s Chorus annual Christmas Concert at Our lady of the
Mountains Church, 7 p.m. (by donation to the food bank)
* Tuesday, Dec. 23
– Community holiday sing-along with Whistler Children’s Chorus at MY
Millennium Place, 5 p.m. (by donation)
* Wednesday, Dec. 24 – 25th annual Christmas Eve interdenominational service of lessons and carols at the Westin Resort and Spa, 6:30 p.m.
