December has officially arrived on campus, bringing colder days, brighter lights, and a full lineup of of Arts events to help you ease into the end of term. From live music to handmade gifts (and yes, rabbits), there’s lots to help you slow down and find a little joy before the break.
UBC Music Ensemble Performances
December 1 and 8 | Early Music Ensembles | Free
Experience Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque works brought to life by UBC’s mixed instrumental and vocal ensemble. Program available on the day of the performance.
December 3 | Concert at the Belkin: Abbas Akhavan | Free
UBC Contemporary Players bring a live musical response to the Belkin’s Abbas Akhavan exhibition, animating the gallery with an afternoon performance.
December 6 | UBC Symphony Orchestra and Choirs: Bernstein & Holst | Tickets: $13–35
An epic evening featuring the UBC Symphony Orchestra and UBC Choirs performing Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Holst’s The Planets.
14 Not Forgotten Ceremony
Monday, December 1 | 11:30 AM–1:30 PM | Fred Kaiser Atrium
Free
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women honours the 14 women killed at L’École Polytechnique de Montréal on December 6, 1989. On December 1, the 14 Not Forgotten ceremony invites the UBC community to come together in remembrance and reflection. Hosted by the Engineering Undergraduate Society and the APSC EDI.I Office.
Relax with Rabbits
Wednesday, December 3 | 12:00–3:00 PM | The Compass Hub
Free
As the term comes to an end and you prep for exams, take some time out to relax and recharge. Hang out with the Rabbits from Rabbitats! Enjoy some free snacks for yourself and have fun feeding the bunnies 🐰
Indigenous Holiday Craft Fair
Wednesday, December 3 | 3:00–5:30 PM | Sty-Wet-Tan Great Hall, First Nations Longhouse
Free
Join First Nations House of Learning at the Longhouse for the annual December craft fair, featuring First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists and artisans selling their handmade creations. Pick up original art, beaded jewellery, leather goods, and unique gifts crafted by student makers.
Beyond your B.A.
December 3, 4, 10 or 11, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM | Online
Free
If you’ve just graduated (or you’re getting close!) Beyond Your B.A. offers practical tools, grounded mindsets, and real support as you sort out your next steps. Join Arts Career Strategist Robyn Stalkie for virtual workshops and drop-in advising sessions throughout December, along with a curated resource guide to help you move forward with confidence.
Commedia dell’Arte 2025: The Tale of Two Troupes
December 3–6,2025 | 7:30–8:30 PM | Dorothy Somerset Studio
Free (RSVP required)
Performed by the Acting Class of 2027, this lively, big-hearted show drops you right into Market Day in Lyon, where a French troupe and a wandering Italian commedia company try to out-perform each other as tensions rise around them. Come for the humour, stay for the chaos, and cheer on a brand-new cohort of emerging actors.
Everyone Says I Look Like My Mother: Artist + Curator Tour
Saturday, December 6 | 11:00 AM or 1:30 PM | Museum of Anthropology
Free with museum admission
Experience Everyone Says I Look Like My Mother with artist Jaad Kuujus–Meghann O’Brien and guest co-curator Kate Hennessy. This one-hour tour offers an intimate look at how traditional Northwest Coast weaving and spinning practices are carried forward through contemporary digital and material forms, creating descendant works rooted in kinship. Space is limited.
Learn to Knit Workshop Presented by: Slow Fashion Season
Monday, December 8 | 4:00–6:00 PM | Audain Art Centre/ Ponderosa Commons East (Spruce House)
Free
Kick off Slow Fashion Season with a cosy, beginner-friendly knitting workshop where you’ll learn to make your own hand-knit scarf. Needles and yarn are provided, and you’ll head home with a handmade gift for the holidays. Space is limited.
UBC WinterBANG! Festival
Wednesday, December 10 | 12–1 PM & 7:30–9:30 PM | Roy Barnett Recital Hall
Free
Experience the intersection of technology and sound as UBC Music students perform new electroacoustic and interactive computer music works. Expect inventive digital instruments, gesture-tracking, live video, and custom software alongside traditional performance.
12 PM — Electroacoustic Music (MUSC 319): Immersive multichannel works and spatialized soundscapes.
7:30 PM — Laptop Orchestra (MUSC 419): Students and dancers merge movement, sound, and light through real-time digital interaction.
Chan Centre Made in Canada: Luna Li
Saturday, December 13 | 7:30 PM | Chan Centre, Chan Shun Concert Hall
Tickets: $30–$50
Step into Luna Li’s hyperlush world of dream pop, where shimmering strings, guitar riffs, and celestial soundscapes meet. The Korean-Canadian multi-instrumentalist has earned global attention for her viral instrumental “jams,” acclaimed albums, and spellbinding live performances. Experience her blend of insight and delicate power in a night of dreamy, sonic wonder.
Soweto Gospel Choir: PEACE
Friday, December 19 | 7:30 PM | Chan Centre, Chan Shun Concert Hall
Tickets: $40.50–$95
Experience the soaring harmonies and vibrant energy of the two-time Grammy Award–winning Soweto Gospel Choir in Peace, a joyful program of South African freedom songs, spirituals, and beloved classics. Expect soaring harmonies, vibrant choreography, and an uplifting celebration of music and community.
Wesbrook Village Holiday Market
December 1–21 | Fridays: 3–9 PM, Saturday & Sunday: 12–7 PM | Norman MacKenzie Square
Free entrance
Enjoy festive lights, live music, and a rotating lineup of local artisans at the Wesbrook Village Holiday Market. Grab a hot chocolate, browse handcrafted gifts and seasonal treats for a dose of holiday cheer!
