Wesbrook Village on Vancouver’s west side is celebrating the holiday season with the launch of its first Balloon Winter Wonderland and Holiday Craft Fair starting Saturday, December 3. Holiday in Wesbrook will also feature a number of other festive exhibits and events throughout the community, providing free entertainment for the entire family.

The Balloon Winter Wonderland, housed in the 1,600 square foot Wesbrook Welcome Centre, will be open daily (December 3-18) from 10am to 8pm. The exhibit will feature four familiar holiday scenes, made entirely from biodegradable, nitrogen-filled balloons. Created by balloon artist Angela Fraser of A-Star Art Parlour, the display will use over 2,500 balloons and take around seven days to construct.

The Holiday Craft Fair at the new Wesbrook Community Centre is taking place on December 3 from 10am to 5pm and will include offerings from over 50 BC artisans and a number of Wesbrook Village businesses. Holiday shoppers will be able to purchase everything from knitwear, to soaps, to jewelry and baked goods.

Holiday in Wesbrook will also include:

Photos with Santa – Young revelers are invited to take a photo with Santa at the Blenz coffee shop on December 3 from 11am to 1pm.

Balloon Contest Draw - Visitors can enter to win their own 4-foot balloon Snowman to take home. The prize will be drawn on December 19.

Festive Music – The UBC Thunderbird Band and carollers from UBC Theatre entertaining crowds and infusing the neighbourhood with holiday cheer, on December 3 starting at 12pm.

A number of other local businesses will be staging additional holiday events, including brunch at BierCraft Restaurant, the area’s favourite watering hole, a tea sampling at Murchie’s Fine Tea, face-painting at Fido, and a kids’ craft and colouring station at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt. See list of times and additional activities at DiscoverWesbrook.com.

Entry to all events is free and free parking is available across from Save-On-Foods and in the underground parkade.