48 things to do in Metro Vancouver on Saturday, December 31

Looking for something to do on Saturday? The Straight’s got you covered. Here are 48 events happening in or around Vancouver on Saturday, December 31.

CONCERTS

True North features performances at the Vancouver Convention Centre by the Sheepdogs (above), Yukon Blonde, Humans (Live), Delhi 2 Dublin, Meghan Patrick, and DJs Andy Clockwork, Kevin Shiu, and Hebegebe.

New Year's at the Hotel Vancouver features performances by Hedspin, Ricco, Koosh, Erica Dee, Hubbz, Jon Lee, Tainted Lovers, Mr. Pablo, Matt Hudolin, Derrick Vnuk, Wmnstudies, Zeeaa, Florist, Christian Flores, Luciterra, and the Orchid Club.

At Ten Ten Tapas, Gabriel Hasselbach hosts a New Year's Eve party featuring music by Lisa Dunn, Alita Dupray, and Ralph Barrat.

Ring in the new year at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown with music by DJs Alibaba, Earl da Pearl, Daddy Mikey, El-Nino, Kemo, Rexx, Redemption Sound, and Chile Palmer, as well as saxophonist Paul Choisil and Jany and Jorge.

Vancouver heavy-metal band Black Wizard coheadlines with Washington death-metal group Black Earth in a New Year's Eve show at the Rickshaw Theatre.

Lux Lounge's New Year's Eve party features DJs from Mexico, Spain, and South America.

Canadian Celtic-punk rockers the Whiskeydicks perform at the Dubh Linn Gate.

Pat's Pub and Brewhouse celebrates New Year's Eve with music by AC/DC tribute band Bonnie Scott and Ween tribute band Japanese Cowboy, and guests Sabotage.

Canadian rock group Loverboy performs at a New Year's Eve party at the Molson Canadian Theatre at Hard Rock.

New Years Eve at the Eatery includes nibbles, party favours, a midnight toast, and music by Zaac Pick.

At the WISE Hall, you can party on down to music by Devil in the Wood Shack, Gold Stars Are for Suckers, the Godspot, Dadweed, and Rambone and the Wet Reality.

Celebrate New Year's Eve with Elvis impersonator Brian Simpson at the Old Admiral Pub & Grill.

MagnetiQ Club Lounge hosts a New Year's Eve party featuring music by Rumba 7, DJ Rico, and DJ Traxx.

At Open Studios, you can celebrate the new year with performances by Doza, Luke McKeehan, Joel Armstrong, Mike McSuede, and Iain Howie.

BENEFITS

The ongoing Lights of Hope Christmas lights display at St. Paul's Hospital raises funds for the St. Paul's Foundation.

Vote on your favourite gingerbread creation and get your photo with Santa at Grouse Mountain, with proceeds to SOS Children’s Village B.C.'s programs and homes for local foster children and homeless youth.

ETCETERA

Experience a winter wonderland at Bloedel Conseratory's Holiday Heights at Bloedel, complete with magical lights, festive music, a holiday scavenger hunt, seasonal activities, and a Ferris-wheel ride.

See the world's tallest Christmas tree, sing along with the holiday band, and stroll through the lights decorating the suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, rainforest, and canyon at Capilano Suspension Bridge's Canyon Lights.

The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden features over one-million twinkling lights, a carousel, a dancing-lights show, the Make-A-Wish candle grotto, and photos with Santa.

Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum features light displays, vintage shop-window displays, a visit with Father Christmas, live entertainment, fresh heritage baking, kids' crafts, a sing along, and a scavenger hunt.

New Year's Eve at the Brewery features live music, a special cask, beer cocktails, a midnight toast, and snacks at Trading Post Brewing Brewery & Tasting Room.

At the Yale Saloon's Nashville New Years you can take in champagne on arrival, bull-riding competitions, and line-dancing lessons.

Celebrate New Year's Eve and 58 years of the Cuban revolution at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre with food, drinks, live music, a salsa-dance lesson, and DJs 100fuegos and Carlitos Tunes Tunes.

FOOD AND DRINK

Celebrate New Year's Eve with a four-course dinner and beer pairings at the Trading Post Brewing Taphouse and Eatery.

KIDS' STUFF

Experience the holiday-themed lights, displays, and live performers along the miniature-train route at Bright Nights at Stanley Park.

Help Santa search for his missing elves during an exhilarating simulated flight-ride experience across Canada and on to the North Pole at Flyover Canada.

The Vancouver Aquarium hosts holiday highlights such as Scuba Claws, a holiday tree lit by power generated by an electric eel, origami jellyfish, a marine-debris tree, and a 4-D screening of The Polar Express.

COMEDY

The Vancouver TheatreSports presents an improv-comedy show at the Improv Centre inspired by the stories that made the headlines in past year.

GALLERIES

Walker Evans: Depth of Field at the Vancouver Art Gallery features more than 200 black and white and colour prints from the 1920s through to the 1970s.

Juxtapoz x Superflat exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery offers a unique insight into contemporary art and its place in cultural life.

Stare exhibition at Vancouver Art Gallery features photographic works that evoke a fixed and concentrated gaze on the part of artist and viewer.

MUSEUMS

Layers of Influence: Unfolding Cloth Across Cultures at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC features more than 130 diverse cultural garments, from Japanese kimonos, to colourful Indian saris, to the elaborate feather cloaks of the Maori people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC hosts an exhibition that features the carvings of Papua New Guinea's Iatmul people.

At the Museum of Vancouver, you can explore the cultural power and significance of collecting through wall-to-wall displays of unconventional objects.

THEATRE

Performance at the York Theatre of East Van Panto: Little Red Riding Hood, Theatre Replacement's pantomime that sees Little Red Riding Hood battling bike thieves, distracted drivers, and the Big Bad Wolf.

The Arts Club Theatre Company presents Avenue Q--the musical story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate who arrives in New York City looking for love, a job, and his purpose in life--at Granville Island Stage.

Christmas pantomime Captain Hook's Revenge at Deep Cove Shaw Theatre sees Captain Hook and his swashbuckling pirates plot their revenge on Peter Pan.

Carousel Theatre for Young People presents A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Waterfront Theatre.

The Arts Club Theatre Company presents Mary Poppins--a musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film--at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.

ATTRACTIONS

Grouse Mountain resort features a Skyride to the peak with views of Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean, as well as skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating, mountain ziplines, and the Peak of Christmas.

Edgewater Casino offers 24-hour gaming, over 60 table games, a poker room, a high-limit section, 500 slot machines, restaurants and lounges, and live entertainment, including concerts and televised UFC events.

Robson Square Ice Rink offers free ice-skating in downtown Vancouver, with skate rental available.

Mount Seymour features skiing and snowboarding lessons from the Mt. Seymour Ski and Snowboard School, tubing and tobogganing, and snowshoe trails.

Cypress Mountain features skiing and snowboarding lessons, snowtubing park, cross-country ski trails, downhill skiing and snowboarding trails, and snowshoeing tours.

MOVIES

Screening at Vancity Theatre of Spirit Unforgettable, Pete McCormack's documentary about Spirit of the West singer John Mann's struggle with early-onset Alzheimer's.

Screenings at Vancity Theatre of Hunt for the Wilderpeople as part of the Best of 2016 Series.

Screening at Vancity Theatre of Peter and the Farm, Tony Stone's documentary about the life of Peter Dunning, who's worked his farm in Vermont on his own for 40 years.

Screening at Vancity Theatre of Things to Come, Mia Hansen-Løve's story of an academic who is forced back on her own resources as her husband leaves her, her publisher axes her book series, and her needy mother passes away.

For all the latest Metro Vancouver event announcements and updates follow @VanHappenings.