Last year it didn’t take much effort to pull yourself out of winter hibernation: it was 2010, and the Olympics and all the accompanying cultural extravaganzas were livening up those long, dark nights. The Games may be long gone, but big urban events—from massive themed lantern installations to midwinter dance and music celebrations—live on. This year, there’s the added bonus of an unprecedented number of large-scale touring shows joining the midwinter roster, from giant circus-style spectacles to a string of Broadway hits. In other words, unsuture yourself from that sofa and relive some of the magic.

Push International Performing Arts Festival (To February 6, various venues)
The Lowdown: The distinctly Euro-feeling interdisciplinary arts series is getting better known, with a unique mix that spans multimedia installations, site-specific theatre, and more from here and around the world. The Big Attraction: Inside word is that the multi-video installation named for the almost-ghost town of Bonanza is the show not to miss. Check the PuSh Festival website for more info.

Talking Stick Festival (February 1 to 13, various venues)
The Lowdown: It’s the 10th anniversary of the ode to aboriginal art and performance, which spans dancing, drumming, hip hop, fiddling, comedy, live music, and more, gathering artists from as far away as the Yukon and the U.S. The Big Attraction: Tuesday night’s (February 1) opening gala at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre offers a taste of everything, with the traditional Git Hayetsk Dancers, cellist Cris Derksen, slam-poetry champion Zaccheus Jackson, and Yellowknife musician Digawolf. Check the Full Circle Performance website for more info.

Lunarfest (February 3 to 13 at the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza)
The Lowdown: Local Asian communities celebrate the Lunar New Year with an entire “Lantern Aquarium” spanning illuminated lanterns and giant paper sculptures of fish, processions by the Public Dreams Society, and build-your-own workshops. The Big Attraction: An 80-foot-long outdoor undersea tunnel where marine-life-themed lanterns crafted by thousands of children from around the world will hang. Check the Lunarfest website for more info.

Chutzpah! Festival (February 10 to 27, various venues)
The Lowdown: The Lisa Nemetz International Showcase of Jewish Performing Arts encompasses music, theatre, and dance, and continues to expand into venues beyond its home base at the Norman Rothstein Theatre, even hitting the Commodore Ballroom and North Van’s Presentation House Theatre this year. The Big Attraction: The dance program’s major appearance by Israel’s 18-member-strong Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. Check the Chutzpah website for more info.

Winterruption (February 25 to 27 on Granville Island)
The Lowdown: Jazz bands, dancers, and art shows liven up the Island all day long as part of this fifth annual fest. The Big Attraction: Exciting “Under the Bridge” outdoor programming that includes Aeriosa’s inspired aerial dancing, Firebelly’s acrobatic fire dancing, and The Only Animal’s hot jazz with flaming instruments. Check the Granville Island website for more info.

Vancouver International Dance Festival (March 1 to 19, various venues)
The Lowdown: Contemporary dance from as far away as Spain and Japan, all coordinated by our own Kokoro Dance. The Big Attraction: Montreal’s reliably artful and offbeat Deborah Dunn, of Trial and Eros, interpreting T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets. Check the VIDF website for more info.

As if that’s not enough, a nonstop parade of big touring shows are coming to town: adult puppet musical Avenue Q is at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts from Tuesday to Saturday (February 1 to 5); Broadway hit Legally Blonde the Musical comes to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from March 1 to 6; Cirque du Soleil brings not a tent show but a stadium spectacle here when Quidam visits Rogers Arena from March 9 to 13; and Cavalia’s unusual acrobatic mix of horses and circus arts premieres at the White Big Top at Olympic Village from March 22 to April 3.

In other words, there’s really no excuse to stay in.