From Diwali to Chanukah to Norooz, there are an amazing number of holidays between late October and early April. Our friends at the North Shore Immigrant Inclusion Partnership have some amazing resources about these winter celebrations. Click here to explore their Festival of Lights infographic, which features Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Shab-E Yalda, Kwanzaa, and Chanukah. Click here to explore their New Years Celebrations infographic, which features New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Korean New Year, and Norooz. You can also stop by the library to see these posters displayed in our front windows!
How do you celebrate?
This year, we’d love to hear how you and your family celebrate during the winter! Stop by the library lobby to share a story, craft, or tradition from your favourite winter celebration. If you come to any of our crafty programs listed below, you’ll have a chance to create something to contribute to the display, or you can bring something from home.
Holiday programs at the library
First up, our Grade 1 & 2 Library Fun Club will be making Holiday Ornaments & Cards with Julie on Friday, December 6 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. This program is nearly full, so make sure you email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up!
The Whistler Children’s Chorus will be wrapping up their fall season with a Winter Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 8 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the library’s Fireplace Lounge. All are welcome, no registration required!
If you’re more interested in singing than listening, you should check out Holiday Singapalooza, our annual partnership with Arts Whistler, hosted by Barbed Choir – join Jeanette & Laura at Maury Young Arts Centre on Wednesday, December 11 at 7 p.m. This is Barbed Choir’s only all-ages event of the year, so bring along the whole family!
Next up is a program that was so popular last December, we had to bring it back this year! Join Jen to create Green Screen Holiday Photos on Thursday, December 12 between 3 and 5 p.m. You’ll be able to choose your own background, print your photo on-site, and decorate a festive photo frame. This program will be first come, first served! The only rule? Don’t wear green, or you won’t show up on the Green Screen!
If you’re still frantically knitting that pair of socks or putting the final touches on a cross-stitch project for gifting, join us for Stitches in the Stacks on Thursday, December 12 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. You can work on a project over a cup of tea in the Fireplace Lounge! No registration required.
Kids in Grade 3 & 4 can join Julie’s Crafty Science Club to make paper skiers and mini toque ornaments on Friday, December 13 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up!
Sunday Funday: Create with Paint on December 15 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. will give creatives of all ages a chance to express themselves (and offers a great opportunity to paint something to add to our holiday display!). No registration required.
For something more serene, you may want to check out Mindfulness for the Holiday Season with Susan Reifer on Tuesday, December 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fireplace Lounge. Email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up for this session – grown-ups only!
Another annual event returns on Wednesday, December 18 from 6 to 8 p.m.: Genderbread Decorating with Whistler Rainbow Connection! This year, we’ll be partnering with Art Hive, so this event will feature cookies & cards – come out and decorate some delicious PureBread gingerbread cookies and create holiday cards! This event is open to all ages, and registration is encouraged – email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up.
We’ve got a (local) star-studded cast for our Dramatic Reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Friday, December 20 at 7 p.m. This event will feature Leslie Anthony, Chris Quinlan, Anne Townley, GD Maxwell, Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath, and Mayor Jack Crompton as Ebenezer Scrooge. Email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to claim your seats for this magical evening!
If you haven’t gotten your fill of crafting yet, we invite you to Holiday Craft Fun on Sunday, December 22 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Julie will have supplies on hand to make winter-themed ornaments, mementos, and holiday cards. This is a drop-in session designed for all ages – kids ages 10 and up can join on their own; kids 9 and under, please bring a grown-up!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you this season!
