The streets are alive with the sound of dance, music & shopping.
Every Thursday. 5-7pm (ish).
Gastown Thursday Nights are back for the holiday season. From November 24th to December 22nd a different event will be taking over the streets or storefronts of Gastown. Enjoy live entertanment, late night shopping, and happy hours at select establishments. Every Thursday night.
Lumière Festival Takeover
November 24 | 4-8PM | Maple Tree Square
Dream gastown
The re-envisioned Lumière Festival returns November 17-27 with an expanded footprint across Downtown Vancouver to shine a light on local artists and brighten the city. Under this year’s festival theme, Dream the Future, the elements of light, art, and storytelling weave together to redefine winter as a season of inspiration and connection. Festival Dreamers will come together in Gastown on November 24 to celebrate with light, music, art and dance.
Holiday Kick-Off
December 1 | 5-7PM | Inform Interiors + Throughout Gastown
Featuring:
Inform x Arts Umbrella Interactive Window Installation
East Van Horns Roaming Band
Styled by Native Shoes
Inspired by the iconic New York City holiday storefronts at Saks Fifth Avenue, watch the Inform Interiors store windows transform into a stage as 20 plus Arts Umbrella Dance Company dancers perform four twenty-minute performances of the Nutcracker-inspired ballet (with a Gastown twist). Throughout the evening, brass band the East Van Horns will be roaming through the streets of Gastown to spread New Orleans-style holiday cheer.
A Contemporary Window Takeover
December 8 | 5-7PM | Centre of International Contemporary Art, Herschel Gastown
Featuring:
CICA Window Takeover
live contemporary music, dancers
Raven’s Hour with Kung Jaadee x Herschel Supply Co.
styled by Oak+Fort
Combing multiple contemporary and traditional art forms. Including the launch of the award-winning painter, Andrea Joyce Heimer’s new exhibition at the Centre of Contemporary Art, as well as professional mixed media dance, sound, and video artist, Kaitlyn Ramsden, and contemporary dancer/interpreter, Kiera Hill. Watch as Kaitlyn and Kiera explore disconnection/connection as a central theme in relation to Andrea Joyce Heimer’s work. Creating a looping soundscape along with improvised movement. At the same time at Herschel Supply Co. enjoy Indigenous-led storytelling and singing by Kung Jaadee, Haida, Squamish and Musqueam First Nations storyteller and published author. Plus late night shopping, goodies & your chance to win free tickets to @cica.vancouver’s upcoming exhibition “Andrea Heimer: Neither Here Nor There”. This is an evening (and a window display) you won’t want to miss.
A Mariachi’s 2 Year Anniversay
December 15 | 5-7PM | Roaming Throughout Gastown
Featuring:
LOS DORADOS MARIACHI BAND
Two years ago a Los Dorados mariachi player was roaming the streets of Gastown, guitar in hand, in a rare Vancouver snowstorm when a photo was snapped of him. The photo went viral and a lot of people questioned what a mariachi player was doing hanging out by the Steamclock that day. As it turns out, mariachi and Gastown go together like peanut butter and jelly and they’re back to play their little hearts out in the very place where their hearts lie. Catch them back at the Steamclock – or roaming throughout the neighbourhood.
Gastown Marching Band
December 22 | 5-7PM | Roaming Throughout Gastown
Featuring:
EAST VAN HORNS
They’re loud. They’re proud. And they know how to bring the holiday spirit. Catch this highly talented New Orleans -style band once again roaming the streets of Gastown playing all the holiday favs.
Free [BONUS] Evo Minutes
December 1 – 22 | 5-7PM
Featuring:
EVO CAR SHARE X GASTOWN THURSDAY NIGHTS
We’ve once again partnered with our friends at Evo to make it that much easier to get to Gastown. We’re giving out bonus minutes to Gastown Thursday Night-goers when they send an event pic to Evo via their Instagram DM (on top of the free holiday rides we will already be giving out again this year).
Late Night Shopping
Featuring:
Local Shops in Gastown
Who doesn’t love shopping in between dance troups or musical acts? Many shops will be staying open for late on Thursday nights.*
*This is your sign to get your holiday shopping done in Gastown.
For a full list of shops & services open until 7pm or later visit HERE.
Inhouse Specials
FEATURING:
LOCAL SHOPS & RESTAURANTS IN GASTOWN
Not only can you shop late on Thursday, but you can also enjoy inhouse specials during Gastown Thursday Nights to really get you in the spirit. Feel free to come by for some holiday shopping and get some Only In Gastown items. Here is the ever-growing list of special offers (yes – this list is growing, so stay tuned):
- Reform Pilates is offering free consultations to anyone interested in learning more about Pilates. Don’t forget to also check out their end of the year sales!
- Out & About Boutique gives you 10% off when you sign up for their newsletter in store between 5pm to 7 pm.
- Dutil Denim offers a discount as well as a free hem with every pair of jeans and a canvas tote bag!
- At Michelle’s and Vancouver Souvenirs, they offer 10% off all regular priced merchandise for Gastown Thursday Nights.
- If you’re craving something sweet, you can go to Tees.ca on Gastown Thursday Nights. They’ll give away candy canes and goody bags!
- At Coastal Peoples Gallery you can give a gift and get a chance to win one of the 3 giveaways from them! The Gallery is a constant supporter of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter and they help them every holiday season with charitable donations. You can participate too by stopping by the gallery to donate clothing, hygiene items, etc. and in return win great prizes. For example, tickets to the Vancouver Art Gallery. All you have to do is bring your donations to the gallery on the last two Gastown Thursday Nights which will be December 15 and 22!
- There is also a special offer for all the dog lovers on Gastown Thursday Nights! At Wanderruff you can get 15% off your order when you pick it up from their Gastown office – 309 West Cordova St.
Check out these fabulous music-centric venues that offer killer live music on Thursday’s:
