Kid-Friendly Theatre Fun for Toddlers in Vancouver
Vancouver truly has it all in terms of experiences for children. Similar to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra show for kids (you can read about our full experience here), I was hopeful but skeptical that a two-year-old Yuyu would sit through a full theatre show.
I would often peek into her daycare when I dropped her off and secretly watch her dutifully sit on her little chair and enjoy story time. I often wondered how long the kids sit still before they lose interest and start running around and looking for something else to do. At home, we get about 20 minutes before she wants to move on to the next thing. So, I was skeptical but willing to try in the name of new experiences. It’s always fun to be amazed by your toddler, she happily sat through the shows, interacted with the cast, and would stare up at us in wonder at some of the props. What a win!
1. Venue 1: Carousel Theatre for Young People
The Official Info: https://www.carouseltheatre.ca/
Set your GPS to: 1411 Cartwright St. Granville Island, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R7.
Parking:
The Theatre is on Granville Island, next to the Kids Market. Paid parking is available, but it’s notoriously busy, so give yourself plenty of time.
Price Check:
Price: 1–4 years old was $19, Adults $31. Baby Gabriel came for free.
Snack Situation:
There is a small concession stand available.
Wheely Friendly?
You can bring your strollers into the building and leave them in the designated stroller parking area at the entrance of the theatre.
Potty Proximity: There is a bathroom and change tables right near the theatre hall entrance.
Mum Musings & Hacks:
Another reason we'd come back to Granville Island is the amazing Carousel Theatre. We enjoyed our first experience of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe so much that we went again to watch the all-ages show Stuart Little.
Age Note: While Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe had an age recommendation of 5+, Yuyu at two years old still appeared to enjoy it. She was mesmerized, even if she didn't understand it fully.
Toddler Hacks:
The Cushion: They provided a yoga cube-looking "cushion" to prop Yuyu up into her seat, which was sweet. She preferred to sit on our lap, but it’s great to have the option for her to see clearly from her own seat.
Duration: The show is an hour long, without any intermission. This is just enough time to keep Yuyu entertained.
Flexible Policy: We appreciated the relaxed come-and-go theatre policy (needed when Gabriel got fussy). This really takes the stress off taking young kids to the theatre.
Pre-Show Fun: Doors open an hour before the show. For those enviable families who manage to arrive early, the lobby has a concession stand, a little library nook, and a theatre-show-themed crafts table which Yuyu and Jamie enjoyed doing together after the show.
Punctuality: Shows start on time! While we were a bit late for the first show, we proudly made it on time for the second show.
Toddler Tolerance level: The one-hour duration of the show is the limit. Jamie and I also enjoyed the professional performances. We weren't just suffering through it for Yuyu’s sake!
Nap Roulette Options: As we had time after the show, we simply walked around Granville Island before heading back home for nap time.
2. Presentation House Theatre (North Vancouver)
The Official Info: https://www.phtheatre.org/
Location & Parking: They have free parking on site, but it was full when we arrived. Jamie found some on-street parking in the neighbourhood.
Price Check: 2+ years old need a ticket. Babies are welcome on a parent's lap (we did this with Gabriel).
Inclusive Payment: They have an inclusive payment structure where you pay what you can (tickets vary from $15–$35 per person). This is really neat.
Wheely friendly? You can bring your strollers into the building and leave them in the designated stroller parking area at the entrance of the theatre.
Potty Proximity: In their second floor bathrooms ( there is a staircase) they have bathrooms with a change table.
Snack Situation: There is a concession stand available
Mum Musings & Hacks
It was pouring rain the day we all came for the show and it was chaotic trying to get my mum, Jamie, Yuyu, and baby Gabriel out the door! But, the show was well worth the drive out to North Van. I’d do it again!
Interactive Fun: We watched The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe (roughly an hour). This was different from the Carousel Theatre shows in that it was fully interactive and playful, with kids being called up to participate and engage with the actress. Yuyu preferred to sit and watch, but eventually went on stage at the very end to participate and share her shoe.
Pre-Show Hack:
There is a colouring station for kids before the show.
I only thought about this afterwards, but next time we go to the theatre with Yuyu, I’ll get the stories out from the library to introduce her to the characters ahead of the play. I think that would bring her even more joy.
Future Planning: Their most popular annual production is "Where the Wild Things Are." If all their plays are this fun and interactive, I would definitely put this on your radar to look up.
Nap Roulette Options:
The theatre is a 10-minute walk from the Lonsdale Quay. If it was a sunny day, we would have likely gone for a walk on the waterfront. But, because it was raining and lunchtime, we opted to have lunch in North Van and came across a delightful Greek restaurant, Anatoli Souvlaki.
Final thought:
Taking a toddler to the theatre is an experiment, but both the Carousel Theatre and Presentation House Theatre proved for me that it is absolutely worth the effort. They provide high-quality, professional entertainment that both parents and toddlers can genuinely enjoy.
Author
I’m Mimi, the writer behind Mi & Yu. This blog was born out of a year spent exploring Vancouver with my toddler Yuyu and newborn son Gabe while my husband Jamie worked through a demanding fellowship.
What started as a way to survive the newborn phase turned into a collection of tried-and-tested family adventures, real reviews, tested logistics, and the occasional toddler meltdown included. Now back home in Newfoundland, I’m sharing those adventures so other parents can skip the decision fatigue and get straight to the fun part.
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