— Image: Jason D'Great / Creative Commons —
'Tis the season at UTown@UBC! While campus may seem quiet, there's lots to see and do over the next few weeks, and it's the perfect time to explore your community, and take advantage of everything UBC has to offer.
Here are just a few of the fabulous festivities taking place around campus over the next couple of weeks!
UNA Annual Christmas Concert
Stop by the beloved Old Barn Community Centre on Monday, December 9th, for cocoa, carols and a traditional tree lighting! For more information, check out their website.
Explore Cultural Attractions on Campus
With thousands of students heading home for Christmas, the campus can empty out pretty quickly come mid-December. However, this is the perfect time for any students or residents still on campus to enjoy some of UBC’s amazing cultural attractions! Stop by the UBC Botanical Gardens (and pick up a festive wreath on your way out), or the Museum of Anthropology to check out their latest exhibit: The Marvellous Real: Art from Mexico. Stop by on December 14th, and you can also take part in Posada Navidena, a traditional Mexican Christmas procession.
Don’t forget, if you have a UNA or UTown@UBC Community Service Card, you probably have access to many of these great sites for free or reduced-rates!
Christmas at Wesbrook Village
The magic of the holiday season is alive and well in Wesbrook Village, where a decorated Christmas tree can be found in Norman McKenzie Square, and shops deck their halls with lights and decorations. Christmas at Wesbrook has quickly become a great way for UTown@UBC residents to kick off the holiday season with friends and neighbours!
Head to South Campus on Saturday December 14th for some family-friendly festivities— carolers filling the streets with cheer, photos with Santa at Blenz, cookie-decorating at Save-on-Foods, and everyone’s favourite: horse and carriage rides. You’ll find these and more great activities awaiting you at Christmas at Wesbrook! For more information, check out www.discoverwesbrook.com
UBC Bookstore
There’s much more than just English 220 course packages and Econ 101 text books at the UBC Bookstore; it’s a great place to pick up unique gifts! From UBC-branded water bottles and onesies (yes, they make them in adult sizes!), to sock-monkeys and the mouthwatering Mr. Bacon’s Big Adventure board game (so long Candyland, this sounds much more fun and tasty) I’m pretty sure there’s something for everyone on your list. Combine Mr. Bacon with a UBC onesie for what is pretty much the perfect gift for holiday lounging!
Sample the Mayan Hot Chocolate at The Boulevard Café
This elegant little café on University Boulevard serves some killer coffee, but it’s the Mayan Hot Chocolate that is truly the standout! With a kick of cayenne adding a bit of heat, it’s the ideal drink to sip and savour as you walk around campus or stop to enjoy public realm spaces like Martha Piper Plaza or Buchanan Courtyard.
Take in a concert at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
The award-winning Chan Centre for the Performing Arts is an amazing venue for concerts, and their December schedule is full of great performances, including The Bach Cantata Project: Festive Cantatas for Christmas and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Tickets to performances at the Chan also make great Christmas gifts!
Sweat it out with UBC REC
UBC REC’s got you covered in preparation for the cookie exchanges, holiday feasts & eggnog lattes that are guaranteed to dominate the holiday season. The Bird Coop is open and they are running yoga classes, martial arts and Pilates all the way until mid-December.
Sharpen your Skills at the UBC Farm
Did you know that the UBC Farm offers some incredible workshops? From perfecting panettone (traditional Italian cakes gifted during Christmas and New Years), to baking bread to making gingerbeer and more, make it your mission to try something new this holiday! Plus, you’ll have some great home-made gifts to impress your family and friends with!
Have a very safe and happy holiday season!