Edmonton
Edmonton's only surviving art deco–era cinema has operated under various guises since 1940, changing hands most recently in 2011. It's filled with vintage…
Must-see entertainment in Canada
Twillingate/NWI Dinner Theatre
Newfoundland & Labrador
The friendly crew here whip up a multicourse meat-(or fish) and-potatoes kind of meal before launching into a three-hour variety show with lots of…
Acadia Cinema's Al Whittle Theatre
Annapolis Valley
Operated by the volunteer-run Acadia Cinema Co-op, this fabulous historic building, a Wolfville cultural icon, functions as a multipurpose cinema, theater…
Edmonton
The Princess is a grand old theater that defiantly sticks her middle finger up at the multiplexes that are dominant elsewhere. Dating from the pre-talkie…
Entertainment & Financial Districts
One of the best small venues in town – its acoustics are tops – Adelaide Hall attracts both big-name and up-and-coming acts. On other nights, DJs and…
Toronto
This art deco theater with a two-tiered balcony screens a wonderfully varied schedule of new releases, art-house flicks, shorts, documentaries and vintage…
Calgary
There's something on stage here most nights – everything from jazz jams to hip-hop, along with comedy and quiz nights. The rooftop patio is ace in the…
Calgary
Archrival of the Edmonton Oilers, the Calgary Flames play ice hockey from October to April at the Saddledome. Make sure you wear red to the game and head…
Calgary
Built in the 1920s as a garage but turned into a theater during the 1930s depression, the Plaza is the last operating neighborhood theater in Calgary…
Québec City
With live music from 10pm on Friday and Saturday night at the very minimum (more in the summer), this charming bar located in a 400-year-old house also…
Southwestern Ontario
Once a 19th century hotel, today the Gorge is Canada's longest continuously operating repertory movie theater. Seats fully recline, popcorn is prepped in…
Edmonton
This is the sort of place your mother warned you about: dirty, rough, but still somehow cool. It's a great place to check out some live music; blues and…
St John's
Attitudes and ages are checked at the door of this little pub, tucked down Solomon's Lane. You'll hear everything from jazz to indie, and even the odd…
Eastern Newfoundland
One of the mainstays of the Rising Tide theater company is this outdoor dramedy, a heartfelt (and at times hilarious) theatrical exploration of Trinity's…
Vancouver
Vancouver's largest, most popular and most prolific theater company, the Arts Club stages shows at three venues around the city. A new artistic director…
Nova Scotia
Surely the most unusual theater space in Nova Scotia, this place is built around the MV Kipawo, the last of the Minas Basin ferries. There's a summer…
Halifax
Indie acts and local bands are the mainstay at the rough-and-ready Seahorse. It also hosts a monthly dance party, plus retro nights devoted to the '80s…
Vancouver
Screening outdoor, admission-free movies at venues around Metro Vancouver every summer, the company's Stanley Park events often draw thousands of blanket…
Kelowna
The much-beloved local WHL hockey team is a perennial contender, playing in the 6000-seat stadium Prospera Place. Home games see the local pubs fill…
Calgary
Guaranteed to be a fun night out, Loose Moose has digs near the Inglewood neighborhood. It specializes in improv comedy and, at times, audience…
Ottawa
The capital's premier performing arts complex delivers opera, drama, Broadway shows, and performances by its resident symphony orchestra. The grand…
Edmonton
There are only 176 precious seats at the Varscona, a cornerstone of the Old Strathcona theater district that puts on 350 performances annually of edgy…
Vancouver
The city's orchestra plays classical and popular music concerts (think movie music) around the city and beyond. Venues range from the palatial Orpheum…
Calgary
This art-house theater specializes in foreign films and Canadian cinema – both often hard to find in mainstream movie houses. Look for discounts on…
Calgary
This is the hub for live theater in Calgary. With four theaters and one of the best concert halls in North America, you can see everything from ballet to…
Edmonton
This theater opened after Theatre Network's beloved 1940s Roxy theater burned down. Nevertheless, it keeps things eclectic, showing burlesque, live bands…
Saskatoon
This perennial theatrical standout has excellent new quarters in the Remai Arts Centre at River Landing. Comedy, drama and musicals are all regulars.
Victoria
The celebrated Belfry Theatre showcases contemporary plays in its lovely former church-building venue, a 20-minute stroll from downtown.
Victoria
Screening art-house and festival movies in the heart of downtown, the Vic charges a $2 membership alongside your ticket admission.
Thousand Islands
This delightful waterfront theater has presented a quality lineup of mainly light summer plays and musicals since 1982.
Vancouver
The Granville Island arm of Vancouver's leading theater company, this intimate, raked-seating venue is the perfect spot to feel really connected to the…
Entertainment & Financial Districts
The Scotiabank Arena is home to the 13-time Stanley Cup–winning Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian team in the NBA. It also…
Montréal
This brash venue on lively Rue St-Denis has been going strong since 1975. It’s the nightly place for down 'n' dirty French- and English-language blues and…
Montréal
It’s near the sculpture L'Homme that the fantastic Piknic Électronik takes place. DJs mix techno and electronic music while you can dance or lounge on the…
Vancouver
This once-abandoned church has been a gathering place for performers and audiences since being officially designated a cultural space in 1973. Following…
Fairview & South Granville
Vancouver's only flamenco cafe is a great place to chill on a summer evening. If it's really warm, bask in the sun with a beer outside. But be sure to…
Gastown & Chinatown
The Downtown Eastside's most-accessible dive bar started a century ago and, in recent years, it's dusted off the jazz chops that saw Jelly Roll Morton…
Vancouver
Mostly performing at Granville Island's Waterfront Theatre, with some shows at the alternate Performance Works space nearby, this child-focused drama…
Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
Montréal
This internationally renowned orchestra plays to packed audiences in its Place des Arts base, the Maison Symphonique de Montréal, a venue with spectacular…
Vancouver
The city's most popular improv group stages energetic romps – sometimes connected to themes like Tinder dating – at this purpose-built theater. Whatever…
