Bodies and voices. | Photo courtesy of Ballet BC.
As October draws to a close and November begins, Vancouver settles into a quieter, more relaxed pace. The spooky excitement of the Halloween season gradually fades, making way for crisp autumn days, colourful fallen leaves and the familiar shift toward the cooler months ahead. Autumn offers a chance to slow down, enjoy the changing scenery and embrace the cozy atmosphere of the season. Whether exploring local festivals, attending performances or taking part in community activities, it’s a time to appreciate the beauty of fall while looking ahead to the weeks to come. As Remembrance Day approaches, the season also brings an opportunity for quiet reflection and gratitude.
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Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
Oct. 22–Nov. 15
www.artsclub.com/shows/2026-2027/dracula-a-comedy-of-terrors
Everyone knows the story: a vampiric count, a kidnapped young lady and a brave hero to save the day. But this time around, the hero’s a coward, the lady yearns for adventure, and the count is…a cake-baking dreamboat? This Dracu-larious adaptation of the gothic classic gleefully turns the tale on its head but never loses track of its heart – that’s where the stake goes, after all. Whether you’re an eternal vampire-lover or a fresh fan of fangs, you can definitely count on a scarily fun time. For tickets and showtimes, check out the Arts Club website.
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Tosca
Oct. 24–Nov. 1
Passion, politics and betrayal collide in Tosca – a breathtaking opera where love burns bright against the dark tides of tyranny. Set amidst upheaval and war in 1800s Rome, the fiery singer Floria Tosca is caught in a deadly triangle between her beloved, the revolutionary artist Mario Cavaradossi, and Baron Scarpia, the corrupt, sadistic chief of police. More than a tale of doomed love, Tosca is a searing portrait of resistance in the face of oppression, where art and faith are tested against cruelty and injustice. It’s opera at its most visceral – intimate yet grand, deeply human and tragically heroic. In Tosca, the personal becomes political, and every choice cuts deep.
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Water Words
Oct. 27, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.
www.phtheatre.org/water-words-oct-2026
What if water could speak? The Presentation House Theatre invites you and your family to dive into a beautiful international collaboration that bridges two continents and three cultures. Water Words (Parole d’eau) is a poetic, dreamlike exploration of the one element that flows through and connects every living soul on Earth. Mamby and Hélène are friends who live a world apart. While one burns her feet on the hot sand of Senegal, walking to gather water in a bucket each day, the other’s toes tingle in winter boots while she is surrounded by an abundance of water, snow, and ice in Canada. These differences only fuel their imaginations, as the two friends discover that water flows through and connects everything. Through the magic of storytelling, music and movement, Mamby and Hélène call forth water in all its forms, gathering buckets from wells, dancing in the falling rain, melting solid ice and diving into salty oceans.
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Divided We Fall: How we can resist polarizing pressures and strengthen our identity as citizens
Oct. 27, 12:30–2 p.m.
The UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA) will be hosting a book launch and discussion with author Max Cameron, moderated by Kathryn Gretsinger, exploring the dangers of polarization in our country, as well as the forces, both internal and external, that threaten Canadian unity, and offers lessons to strengthen Canada’s democracy. His book offers an analysis of the forces driving polarization in Canada, and a path forward in rebuilding civic community and finding common ground in politics. Rising inequality, regional discontent and growing distrust of democratic institutions are fuelling divisive rhetoric and misinformation, problems that are amplified by social media. But Canadians have rallied around the flag in response to Trump’s threats to our sovereignty. What can we learn from this critical moment in our history?
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Meadows of Stone
Nov. 3–6
www.firehallartscentre.ca/event/meadows-of-stone
Experience the Vancouver premiere of Meadows of Stone, a new Canadian musical inspired by true events, at the Firehall Arts Centre. 1918. France. Two Canadians meet amid the chaos of World War I: a VAD nurse and a bandmaster. He vows to help in the search for her brother, missing at the Front. Both “of a certain age”, they are serving in a war they don’t have to fight. Together they bring music to aid the war effort and unearth clues to the disappearance of her brother. There is camaraderie, laughter, love and loss and through it all, the music that draws them together – as they experience the most exciting chapter in their lives when they least expect it. For tickets and more information, check out the Firehall Arts Centre website.
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Chutzpah! Festival
Nov. 3–15
www.chutzpahfestival.com/chutzpah-2026
This year, the Chutzpah! Festival explores and celebrates the stories and lives of their artists. From hilarious comedy that will have you in stitches to exhilarating dance pieces, concerts and even a panto that will have everyone singing along, the festival is about art – plain and simple. Visit their website for more about the performances, workshops, stimulating conversations and artist engagement opportunities. There is something for everyone, and they are so happy to welcome you to the festival!
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Bodies & Voices
Nov. 5–7
www.balletbc.com/performance/bodiesvoices
Ballet B.C. opens their season with a double bill from Dutch sibling choreographic duo Imre and Marne van Opstal, whose evocative work sees dance as a poetic, emotional laboratory – exploring the vulnerability of being human in all its rawness, beauty and absurdity. Since their 2022 Ballet B.C. debut with the electric Heart Drive, their meteoric rise has included starry collaborations with the likes of Dior and FKA Twigs, Germany’s prestigious Der Faust Award for the visionary and hallucinatory Voodoo Waltz, and major new commissions from the Gothenburg Opera Dance Company and the Paris Opera Ballet, among others. Experience their acclaimed I’m afraid to forget your smile along with Miriam, a highly anticipated new creation featuring the full company and original music by Amos Ben-Tal. Visit the Ballet B.C. website for tickets and more information.
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South African Film Festival Canada
Nov. 5–20
The South African Film Festival Canada (SAFF Canada) presents feature films and documentaries that entertain and inform as they explore the culture, history and politics of South Africa. Returning for its 16th year, this year’s festival will be streaming online across Canada from Nov. 6–20, with in-person screenings in Vancouver on Nov. 5–15. For showtimes and more information about the festival, check out their website.
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Festival of Recorded Movement
Nov. 6–8
The 11th Annual Festival of Recorded Movement is happening from Nov. 6–8 this year. Immerse yourself in this year’s hybrid format of film screenings, events and workshops. Check out the festival’s commemoration of artists, community and evolution of movement-on-screen. For more information about the events, see the festival’s website.
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Bear Creek Lights
Nov. 6–20
www.surrey.ca/news-events/events/bear-creek-lights
Join in on this fall tradition at Bear Creek Park! For over a decade this event has been a source of lasting memories for its visitors. Bear Creek Park is one of Surrey’s most vibrant parks. Hidden within it is one of the Lower Mainland’s finest year-round show gardens which sets the stage for Bear Creek Lights. See nature shine with a series of beautiful light displays that will dazzle you with illuminated natural landscapes, whimsically lit creatures and stunning photo opportunities. Enjoy the safe, accessible, family-friendly light display through the park’s one-kilometre garden walking loop. For free tickets, check out the City of Surrey’s website.
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