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Party Guide to the Vancouver Olympics
Where Fans Find the Celebrations for the 2010 Games
The (party) games have begun – having fun in Vancouver's Yaletown.
There is more – much more – to the 2010 Winter Olympics taking place in Vancouver and Whistler B.C., than athletes, medals and sporting activities.
The Olympics, scheduled for February 12-28 are, first and foremost, a celebration. They are a celebration of the spirits of achievement, the togetherness of people coming together from all over the world and, well, just a celebration.
The Olympics are also a party. A huge party.
Canadians KNOW how to party for big events.
To encourage this festive atmosphere, Vancouver and Whistler are providing fans plenty of opportunities to celebrate each day and night. They are provinding free gathering spots and concerts.Plus the city of Vancouver and the village of Whistler have many fun bars and nightclubs which add to the action.
This article focuses on the free events open to the public and not the private corporate or sponsored events that are as prevalent at the Olympic games as the flame.
– OLYMPIC PARTY VENUES & EVENTS –
At Buffalo Bills in Whistler, everyone parties like they won a medal.
The Olympics are taking place in areas, Vancouver and Whistler. The former hosts many of the activities and is the hub of the activity. Whistler, some two hours up the "Sea to the Sky Highway" is the ski resort hosting the downhill and related sports. Listed here are free, non-ticketed events that are open to any and everyone.
Downtown Vancouver is small enough to comfortably walk and the party activity will be in three main areas, Yaletown, Georgia Street (by the hockey arena) and Robson Square.
Yaletown is the area of the "young and single" residents of the city. So it's lively anytime. For the Games, it's being turned into LiveCity Yaletown. Held at David Lam Park (Pacific and Drake), it features live music, appearances by Olympians and has a giant screen showings of Olympic events and highlights. It is open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
All the Olympic area of Vancouver is pretty much downtown but organizers have designated the corner of Georgia Street and Beatty Street at LiveCity Downtown.
Live City Downtown is definitely a lively spot in Vancouver.
Like its sister down the street, it features a big screen with Olympic action and highlights, plus food and drink. And in this venue, the drinks include a beer garden! Well, actually a beer tent. And it rocks.
There are two bands each night, a dance floor, big plasmas showing all the Olympic events – which makes it kind of like a sports bar – and a DJ after the bands pack up their guitars. Beers are $7.50, which makes them among the best-priced in town and there is also food (a very good slice of pizza is $6). It's open until 12:30 p.m.
Basically, LiveCity is for younger audiences (say snowboard types) while LiveCity Downtown is for the party-seeking adults.
Along Granville, people go crazy at places like The Roxy.
The second big party place in Vancouver is on Granville Street. This is a pedestrian-only, busy-as-a-blur place with the city's youth roaming around, cramming into the dance clubs and trying to squeeze into the city's top live music venue, The Roxy, which also appens to be one of PubClub.com's Best Bars.
Robson Street is the shopping mecca of Vancouver. The Roots store – sure to be popular among Canadians – is at the corner of Robson and Burrard. During the Games, at Robson Square (between Hornby and Howe streets), there is outdoor ice skating at GE Plaza, multimedia displays and live television broadcasts from the British Columbia International Media Centre. This runs from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
The bars bring out the party spirit in Whistler
Whistler Live draws crowds for the free late afternoon daily concerts.
Up the hill in Whistler – which is a world-class ski resort and year-round party palace – is WhistlerLive! Encompassing all of Whistler Village (an easily walkable area with shops, restaurants and many, many bars) it has dance, arts, a fire and ice show and "a mountain canvas come to life."
Whistler Village has fire (and ice) for the Games.
The real attraction for the party people are the daily concerts. These take place in the main square area in frtont of the Amsterdam Pub and Citas which, for those with a cold Canadian beer on the patio, makes for a perfect ending to a perfect day, and a great beginning to the night that awaits in the Village's pubs and clubs.
– VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC LINKS –
• Lindsey Vonn, America's Next Olympic Star,
• How to Spot a Canadian at the Winter Games.
• On Location: Vancouver,
• On Location: Whistler.
• Official Olympics Site. www.Whislter2010.com• Vancouver Visitor's Guide,
Get orientated so you can cruise the streets like a local.
• Learn about Vancouver's nightlfe through its pubs and clubs.
• Explore the city and its beautiful surroundings in this
Sightseeing & Activities Guide
• See what bars are always happening in Whistler.
• Ski the great mountain with this Whistler ski & snowboard guide.
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