Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Christmas Movies playing at the Clova Theatre

Missing the good old Clova Theatre in downtown Cloverdale no longer playing movies?

The current occupants are playing a few classic Christmas movies this month. Admission? Food bank donations.

Friday, December 11, 2015 at 7pm: Elf

Friday, December 18, 2015 at 7pm: It's a Wonderful Life

Monday, December 21, 2015 at 1:00 and 3:30 in the afternoon: Arthur Christmas

More information - http://clovatheatre.com/christmas-classics-at-the-clova/




Saturday, December 6, 2014

Clova Theatre Christmas Movies

The Clova will be showing Christmas movies in December. This appears to be an event organized by the current building owners, Crossridge Church, instead of the former Clova staff.


Admission is by donation to the food bank. Bag of popcorn and a pop for $2. Free coffee and hot chocolate.


Showtimes are at 7pm.


December 12: It's a Wonderful Life


December 19: A Christmas Carol


December 22: The Polar Express


If you miss the Clova and want to see a movie on their screen again, don't miss your chance to enjoy some holiday favourites and help out the food bank.


The Clova is located at 5732 176th Street.


Cloverdale Santa Claus Christmas Parade December 7 2014

The Cloverdale Santa Claus Parade will be on Sunday, December 7, 2014. The organizers say between 5 and 7pm but the parade only lasts about 45 minutes. Perhaps it just depends on where you stand on the route, but its not a huge route.


The parade consists of big truck rigs decorated with lights and Christmas decorations. Plus there'll be a lot of local business and organizations taking part in the parade. The parade finale is Santa Claus, who gets off at Hawthorne Square on 176th Street between 57th and 58th Avenue and lights the Christmas tree atop the Dale Building across the street. This is normally the most populated place on the route to find a spot. If you want to get up close with Santa, arrive early to scope out a spot on 176th Street. Don't forget a donation for the food bank. Volunteers will be walking the parade route collecting them.


Signs are up on street posts around downtown Cloverdale warning of no parking between 2 and 7pm. The closer you get to 176th Street the harder it will be to find a parking spot and you'll get snarled in traffic. I've seen traffic backed up for a block because people waited for the last minute to show up and look for parking. Plan on arriving by 4pm to get a parking spot and find a place on the street to watch the parade.


The parade route begins at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Don't look there for parking because Fraser Downs has Sunday afternoon racing and usually the parking lot is full. The parade leaves the fairgrounds and goes south along 177B Street. At 58th Avenue the parade turns west and proceeds to 176th Street. At 176th the parade turns south and ends around 57th Avenue. The trucks head west to the Cloverdale Bypass and then back to the fairgrounds.


Don't look for parking at the old Cloverdale Mall between the Cloverdale Bypass and 176th Street, and 57th and 58th Avenues. Its fenced in while construction workers do .... nothing. Its a vacant lot and will likely stay like that for years. However there is very limited street parking in the alley behind 176th. The public parking lots are at: 56A Avenue, just west of 176th Street behind the fire station; or 176A Street near 57th Avenue (behind the old Clova Theatre) or beside the Bank of Montreal parking lot; and further down 176A at 58A Avenue. Between the 3 lots there are only about 150 or so parking spaces. You'll have to look for street parking on 176A Street, or east of 176A down 57th and 56A Avenues. There are street closures in effect where the parade route takes place so don't wait till the last minute to show up in Cloverdale to look for a parking spot.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Cloverdale Santa Claus Parade - Sunday, December 8, 2013


This year Cloverdale's Santa Claus Christmas Parade of Lights will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2013 starting at 5pm.

Note: this is one week later from the previously announced date. If you show up in Cloverdale on December 1 you will be disappointed.

They changed the parade route last year and I think they are doing the same route again this year. The parade's staging area is in the Fraser Downs parking lot - the fairgrounds on 60th Avenue. The parade will come out of the parking lot and head south on 177B Street. At 58th Avenue, the parade turns west and continues to 176th Street. The parade continues southbound to 56A Avenue and then turns right or westbound. At this point the parade peters out and goes up the back alley to 57th Avenue and then exits at the Cloverdale Bypass and makes their way back to the fairgrounds. Most people try to get viewing spots on 176th Street especially if they have children who want to meet Santa. It's less crowded along 58th Avenue.

The parade features semi truck rigs decked out in Christmas lights and decorations, many coming from Vancouver Island through the Island Equipment Owners Association. There were also be local trucks in the parade. There will be cars, marching bands, and horses taking part. The highlight is Santa Claus at the end of the parade who will disembark his float at Hawthorne Square on 176th Street, between 57th and 58th Avenues, and will throw the switch to light up the Christmas tree on top of the Dale Building.

Last year there were 3 floats that had Santa Claus so perhaps they'll coordinate a bit better this year!

The food bank will be collecting donations and several merchants and vendors will be selling hot chocolate, hot dogs, cookies, and other treats.

Parking around Cloverdale can be a little tricky. All the above mentioned streets on the parade route will have temporary no parking signs on them. If you've parked in the past at the site of the old Cloverdale Mall, you need to find another place to park. The old mall is under construction and behind a fence. There are still some parking spaces around the Cloverdale Legion on 57th Avenue. Public parking lots are on 176A Street at 58A Avenue, 176A Street at 57A Avenue (behind the Clova Theatre, next to the Bank of Montreal), and in the alley behind 176th Street between 56A Avenue and 57th Avenues behind the firehall. These public parking lots between them hold about 150 cars. The old Cloverdale Super Market (Shop-Easy) that closed down on 176th Street and 58th Avenue has a small parking lot that holds about 20 cars. No one is monitoring the parking there but arrive early before the streets get shut down. There is free street parking around Cloverdale, look at 176A and 177B Streets and all the avenues between those streets and then walk downtown. Streets will be shut down by volunteers so car traffic will undoubtedly get quite jammed up as people arriving at the last minute try to find a place to park. If you want to find a good parking spot, arrive before 4pm. If you arrive late, after 4:30pm, try the parking lot at the fairgrounds and catch the parade as it starts.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Taking Down Christmas Decorations in Cloverdale

The Christmas decorations are starting to come down in Cloverdale. About half the wreaths are gone from 176th Street and some of the lights. I saw some workers with the Christmas decorations this morning but they must have decided to call it quits due to the weather.

Usually it takes months for the Christmas deocrations to be taken down in Cloverdale. My guess is that there is a TV or film crew coming to town soon and taking down unseasonal decorations must have become a priority for the city. We'll see if the rest of them come down soon.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

First Christmas Song of the Season

And the winner of the first Christmas song of the season goes to Global TV Morning News. This morning I heard them play a rendition of "Baby Its Cold Outside". Not a traditional Christmas carol but I hear this one played every day during December up to Christmas Day. They played it just before signing off for a commercial. Yup October 25. Not even Halloween yet!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Christmas lights going up!

I just drove down 58th Avenue and on 176th Street are a couple of cherry pickers and men (or at least I didn't notice any females) putting up Christmas decorations.

They picked a good day for it (sarcasm intended). It is raining hard today and although its not really windy right now, the wind is blowing.

The banner that stretches across 176th near the grocery store parking lot entrance with the snowflakes and lights is up. I didn't stick around to see what other Christmas decorations and lights are up.

Its not even Halloween yet!

Monday, December 7, 2009

The first Christmas theft

Don't you love driving by and looking at the houses that are beautifully decorated with Christmas decorations. And then if you read the local newspapers there are always letters to the editor in December from people who've had their decorations stolen from their front yard and wanting to get them back.

We decorate the inside of our house, but don't do much outside, other than string lights on our sundeck railing.

A few months ago we were at a client's house who was getting ready to move and had a lot of garbage outside including a slightly battered, rusty 18" high metal snowman holding a welcome sign. It has a couple of prongs to push it into the ground. Its kind of cute so I asked if I could have it and they said sure because they were just throwing it away. I also have two larger signs, a snowman and Santa Claus that stand on their own. They were also rejects, about to be tossed in a dumpster by a former martial arts studio Kerry used to go to, so he grabbed them.

I put the three of them out in our front yard. The smaller snowman in the garden in front of our front yard, and the larger snowman and Santa further away. Kerry is hoping that someone will steal the larger ones.

This morning when I came outside to walk the dog, the small snowman with the welcome sign is gone. So somebody had to come up within three feet of our front door to steal it.

Oh, well. Its not like it cost me big bucks. It was just a garbage rescue. But it was cute and it was too bad that some low life thief decided they needed a well worn snowman more than I did.

Monday, November 30, 2009

What's happening in Cloverdale in December 2009

December 5, 12, and 13 – Free photo with Santa at London Drugs in Cloverdale Crossing Mall – 17685 64th Avenue. 2 – 4pm on the two Saturdays and Sunday Dec 13 session is from 1 – 3pm.

December 6, 12, and 19 – Cloverdale trolley tours will be operating between 10am and 6pm. A few years ago this was a trolley pulled by two draft horses, but this one is on loan from the Vancouver Trolley Company that operates sightseeing tours around Vancouver. Its free to ride but they ask people to bring donations for Cloverdale’s Christmas hamper. Trolley stops at Kwantlen College on 180th – across from Stampede Tack, stops at Clover Square Village Mall on Hihway 10 and 177B Street, Hawthorne Square on 176th Street, about halfway between 57th and 58th Avenues, Fraser Downs, Cloverdale Crossing Mall at 64th Avenue and 176th Street, and oddly enough at Clayton Crossing up on the Fraser Highway and 188th Street. Probably has something to do with Coast Capital sponsoring the trolley and they have a branch at that location. Takes about half an hour to do a full loop.

Sunday, December 6 – free movie at the Clova Theatre. Elf will be playing starting at 4pm. This is a really funny movie, should be on TV a few times over December if you can't get to the Clova.

Sunday, December 6 – Santa Parade starts at 6pm. Last year they cancelled the parade at the last minute due to snow. Kind of ironic. Christmas, Santa, snow all seem to go together. Freezing temperatures are in the forecast later this week, so we’ll see if any snow hits and makes a repeat cancelled performance. There are several places to watch the parade, but normally the best spot is on 176th Street around Hawthorne Square in order to watch the Christmas tree atop the Dale Building being lit. The parade starts in the fairgrounds and goes down 176A Street and then down 58A Avenue to 176th Street, and ending at 56A Avenue. Various groups are usually selling or giving away hot dogs, popcorn, and hot chocolate. Bring food or cash donations for Cloverdale’s Christmas hamper.

Saturday, December 12 – pancake breakfast at the Cloverdale Legion. For $4, pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, and orange juice. 17567 – 57th Avenue.

Saturday, December 12 – Christmas open house at the Stewart Farm at 13723 Crescent Road from noon to 4pm. Tour the house, make a Christmas ornament, and enjoy a hot apple cider. Admission by donation.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Christmas decorating in downtown Cloverdale

The city crews have started putting up Christmas decorations around Cloverdale. No fun feat for them given the heavy rains and wind we've experienced recently.

There is a string of lights at each end of 176th Street, one closer to Highway 10 and one string closer to 58th Avenue that were put up a couple of weeks ago. The one closest to 58th is only half working. Hope they get that fixed soon.

Some lights are up and they've started putting up wreaths. I don't see the Christmas tree on top of the Dale Building yet. The Christmas parade is only 10 days away so I hope they get the decorating done soon. They usually do a good job and its nice to walk downtown in the evenings and admire the Christmas lights. That is when its not raining.....

Sunday, November 15, 2009

First Christmas song in a store!

And the winner in the first Christmas song I hear in a store goes to the Real Canadian Superstore in Langley.

I was in there yesterday, Saturday Nov 14, and they are playing Christmas songs.

Ironically enough I went in there to buy a food normally associated with Christmas - candy cane ice cream. I wasn't sure if it would be out in the stores yet. My mother used to buy candy cane ice cream every December. But the one sold at the Superstore goes a step further and has a chocolate fudge crackle running through it. I don't always find it because it sells out fast. They didn't have any yesterday, so I don't know if that means its not stocked yet or was and its all sold and they're waiting for more. There was nothing else I wanted to buy there so I left empty handed.

I did see candy cane ice cream (no chocolate in it) at Price Smart Foods in Cloverdale.

I saw Egg Nog for sale in the stores in September. There's something not quite right about drinking egg nog in the summer so I haven't bought any yet. I'll probably buy some in early December and then again closer to Christmas. Kerry makes very nice egg nog lattes so I'll be looking forward to them very soon.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Is it too early for Christmas music?

When I was growing up just after Halloween the stores would all start putting up their Christmas displays. These days, the Halloween stuff seems to come out in August.

But what about the Christmas music? I do like it in December, but not earlier than that.

Who’s the first to come out with Christmas music? I won’t include Staples who start in the summertime every year with their back to school campaign and It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

The first Christmas tune I heard was on November 1, a commercial on TV for MADD featuring the music of Deck the Halls.

Today on Global TV Morning News a group came on to sing White Christmas. After the first chorus one of the singers called out “Its never too early for this song!” and they did another round. Some people might disagree with that statment. It is too early.

Many years ago a company I worked for had piped in music. Around the middle of November we heard the worst rendition ever of Little Drummer Boy. I guess they must have got a lot of complaints because we didn’t hear any more Christmas music until December.

I haven't done a lot of shopping this month but so far none of the stores or restaurants I’ve been in are playing Christmas music yet. Though Christmas music by the end of November isn’t so bad.

Several years ago we were down in Hollywood during the Thanksgiving long weekend, and down in the states that’s pretty much the kick off to the Christmas season. The main reason for our trip was to watch Hollywood’s Christmas Parade. It was the last weekend in November and Christmas music was being played everywhere. Around Hollywood are a few Christmas tree lots, with trees going for well over $200 apiece. Metal trees and trees flocked in just about every color imaginable. I believe there were also live Christmas trees brought down from Oregon, but those were really big bucks. And with Christmas over a month away, what is the longevity?

Although its still a little too early for Christmas music for my liking, I’m looking forward to hearing the carols in a couple of weeks time.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

What's happening in Cloverdale in November 2009

A few things going on in and around Cloverdale this November. Definitely Christmas is in the air.

Saturday November 7 - 9:30am - 2:30pm - Christmas bazaar and craft sale at the Cloverdale Senior's Centre. Its located in the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, the former museum building. 6022 - 176th Street.

Saturday November 7 - 10am - 3pm - craft and bake sale at the Hazelmere United Church located on 184th Street at 16th Avenue, on the north east corner of the intersection.

Wednesday November 11 at 10:15am Remembrance Day services at the Cloverdale Cenotaph, in the square outside the museum on Highway 10 and 176A Street. (17710 - 56A Ave.). Wreath laying and there are usually several planes doing fly pasts.

Saturday November 14 - 8am - 11:30am - pancake breakfast at the Cloverdale Legion 17567 - 57th Avenue. $4 gets you pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee or tea, and juice.

Friday November 20 from 6pm - 10pm and Saturday November 21 10am - 5pm is Christmas in Cloverdale gifts and crafts for sale in Shannon Hall in the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. $2 admission donated to the food bank.

Please remember to buy a poppy.