November 2022, Vancouver, BC – Jack Poole Plaza – We are excited to share what is new at the current Vancouver Christmas Market and all of their updates for the fall season of 2022. One of the stories I heard yesterday was about the fact that the Christmas Market has a “Lover’s Lane” and that it has been the venue for a number of proposals over the last 12 years. Even though the Market only opened a few days ago, there already has been a proposal held! Someone just couldn’t wait until Christmas. Another less well-known story is the fact that their charitable partner is “Make a Wish Foundation” hopes to raise at least $10,000 in a 2-week period.
Basic Facts
Website: https://www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/
When
Nov 12 – 25: open 4 pm to 9:30 pm (Fri-Sa open until 10:00 pm)
Nov 26 – Dec 23: open 11:30 am to 9:30 pm (Fri-Sa open until 10:00 pm)
Dec 24: open 11:30 am to 6:00 pm
Where
Jack Poole Plaza
1055 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC., V6G 3E1
Parking
There are over 400 underground parking spaces under the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre and an additional 750 parking spaces under Canada Place next door.
There is metered street parking on most of the streets close to the plaza, but it is expensive. There is no free parking near the plaza.
The Jack Poole Plaza is located only a few short blocks from the Burrard Street Skytrain Station and is a short walk from Waterfront Station, two of the most connected transit stations in Vancouver or bike there along the seawall.
About Christmas Market
From their website “Like centuries-old traditions, many German towns host a Christkindlmarkt. The Vancouver Christmas Market brings this festive Old World tradition to Vancouver. This cherished holiday event offers an authentic German feast for the senses. Stroll the twinkling pathways of a European-inspired Christmas village in the crisp winter air. Discover unique treasures to stuff into stockings or tuck under the Christmas tree at one of the more than 90 artisan huts offering handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list.”
There is a handy information booth that can help you with raingear on those really bad days. There is also Vancouver’s only Carousel – Thanks to friends at Interac, visitors to this year’s Market are invited to RIDE THE HOLIDAYLIFE CAROUSEL FOR FREE… all season long! (Plus, you’ll have the option to pay that free ride forward by making a donation using Interac®️ Debit contactless payments to Make-A-Wish® Canada!) You probably know that the Vancouver Christmas Market has a Lovers Lane, but did you know that they also have a Lovers Lane light tunnel with 10000 twinkling lights?
The pancake & waffle house is brought to you by the Netherlands
During the winter in the Netherlands, people indulge in poffertjes—decadent mini puffed pancakes.
Baked on big square brass plates indented with small holes, the little cakes are greased with oil and served with butter and sugar. Commonly found in restaurants and at fairs, poffertjes are one of the most beloved delicacies in Holland. Meanwhile, Croffle (a compound word of croissant and waffle) is a dessert invented in Ireland where croissant raw paper is baked in a waffle pan and eaten with ice cream or maple syrup. I myself had a sample of the pancakes, and they were really delicious!
A typical German “pyriamid” that serves as both the Glühwein & Feuerzangenbowle booth, as well as the entertainment stage above, the walk-in Christmas tree and a new sky curtain of lights are great opportunities to talk selfies and to immerse yourself into the atmosphere of Christmas.
As they tell us: “Brand new this year, visitors can watch Jack Poole Plaza glitter under the Sky Curtain of Lights! The Market will be connected by lights (over 22,000 of them!) across the Tannenbaum Terrace, creating a sparkling blanket over the Market.”
The Bratwurst Haus is German and under new ownership
Bratwurst also known as a brat in American English, is a sausage usually composed of veal, pork or beef. Bratwurst is usually grilled or pan fried, and sometimes cooked in broth or beer. I managed to find out that they are serving their bratwurst from “Arctic Meat & Sausage”, which is owned by Marco Jensch.
The Christmas Market has some great signage and there are some typical German street names like: Kaufmannsgasse (shopping alley), Tannenbaum Terrace (Christmas Tree Terrace), SchapslPlatz (Schnaps Place), Glühwein Marktplatz (Glühwein Market Place) and Gourmetstrasse (Gourmet Street).
The pyramid menu consists of three items only: Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle (apple wine with rum) and Kinderpunsch (non-alcoholic Glühwein).
We were able to taste test “Those Pretzels” who told us: We started out making this old family recipe (our “once you start you can’t stop” secret is in the sauce) in our kitchen for friends and family members, graduating to the garage for more friends and family members. In 2021, we opened a commercial facility and made our debut at the Vancouver Christmas Market,
Bavarian Beer Haus is German!
Share a holiday toast with friends and family with a selection of authentic Bavarian beers. We recommend Erdinger, a beer brewed according to the traditional recipe and in strict accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law. Stiegl – another favourite – is Austria’s private brewery, living by the motto “quality before quantity.”
Street signs, the Lover\’s Lane Light Tunnel and Mulling Spice! If you want to keep the flavours of Christmas alive at home, visit the “Mulling Spice House” – They sell everything from handcrafted gourmet mulling spice pouches to easily make Glühwein (mulled wine), hot rum toddies or hot apple cider at home.
They’ve also got everything you need to light your Glühwein on fire – from sugar cones to “Feuerzangen” (fire tongs) to complete sets – they have what you need to prepare and enjoy traditional “Feuerzangenbowle”.
Entertainment this year, will be performing from the Flying Stage on the second storey of the Christmas Pyramid. They will have you singing, dancing, and reminiscing about Christmases long, long ago.
Below, Malte Klütz is describing a “Schwibbogen”, something new to the Christmas Market this year: The Schwibbogen is a traditional German decorative candle holder that’s used during the Christmas season. It’s featured in Christmas markets in Germany, such as Striezelmarkt Dresden. At the Vancouver Christmas Market, the 12.6ft tall Schwibbogen will be situated near the Market entrance for an excellent photo opportunity.
The development of the schwibbogen arch is closely related to the mining traditions of the ore mountains. It most likely developed as a candle holder made from metal for the Christmas shift (Mettenschicht), a common dinner celebrated by miners, the mining foreman (Steiger) and the smith who had been responsible for the mining tools throughout the year. It bears symbols commonly associated with the life and wishes of the miners.
Before electricity was readily available in the early 18th century, miners who lived in the Ore Mountains region of Saxony spent most of the winter months in complete utter darkness. Since they would finish work after the sun had gone down, the miners would often get lost in the woods when coming home. To help guide them home, family members would put candle lights in the windows. This led to the first known candle arch being created by a mountain blacksmith named Johan Teller.
You won’t get lost at the market thanks to the great signage. There are also games as the “Bread Und Spiele” Booth sells fun Canada-themed memory games for the older crowd, and a Christmas Market scavenger hunt for younger ones: The Scavenger Hunt sends you and your child on a merry quest to locate specific items to win a holiday-inspired prize amongst the hustle and bustle of browsing, tasting, and cheering.
Bread Und Spiele started offering the finest European-style sourdough, hand-crafting thousands of loaves and delivering them to homes in Kitsilano and surrounding neighbourhoods over a year ago.
Besides wine and punch, you will also find amazingly delicious hot chocolate at the Vancouver Christmas Market. You can also frolick with Vancouver Christmas Market mascots “Holly and Jolly” in the Lover’s Lane Light Tunnel or elsewhere in the Market. Finally, there are prizes to be won at the “Schönheitshaus” (house of beauty).
These are all hand-made items from around the world. A very impressive collection.
Charcuterie Haus is Canadian from Kamloops, but inspired by France
Based in Kamloops BC, Spruce Goose pride themselves on their mouth-watering, hand-crafted charcuterie. Whether paired with caramelized onions and walnuts or enjoyed with a crusty baguette, their poached-to-perfection Pate de Campagne is one of their signature items.
Slow Bottled Sunday (middle) is a back to the land condiment movement that rescues truckloads of fresh, whole food and crafts inspired garden flavours for the whole family. Their first products – a line of “tree-ripened” condiments made with BC-grown fruit – launched this summer and they’re busy cooking up several more wholesome condiments for curious shoppers.
Thanks to the pathway on top of the Cactus Club restaurant, an extension of the living roof is planted and it allows for a great overview of the Market. It looks just like a tiny Bavarian village transplanted to Vancouver.
Whether you want to taste the food and drink, propose to your loved one or purchase toys and games you can\’t find anywhere else, the Vancouver Christmas Market is the place to be this holiday season.
Remember to bring your wallet and be prepared to spend: as everything is imported, custom-designed, hand-made or individually crafted, everything is more expensive than you might be used to at your local retail store.
This year you might have to make a booking and pick a time slot, so it prepares to be really organized.
The entertainment schedule is here: https://www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/entertainment-schedule/ and you can also learn about special days like Date Night, Student Night, Jolly Hour, Apple Cider Day, Pride Night and of course, St. Nikolaus Day on December 6th.
https://www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/tickets/
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