Light displays, movies and drinking: what people do during the holidays
Posted December 22, 2016 10:41 am.
Last Updated December 22, 2016 1:03 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Everyone has something specific they love doing in their downtime during the holidays and a new poll is breaking it down. The folks at Insights West discovered public light displays are the go-to preferred activity for people living in Metro Vancouver.
“One of the things that jumped out was the proliferation of Christmas light displays and the activities that people love to attend. Christmas lights are up there at 55 per cent. Forty-six per cent of us said Christmas market,” explains pollster Steve Mossop who adds visiting Santa Claus at the mall was third at 18 per cent.
Popular venues to visit, according to the survey, were VanDusen Botanical Garden and the Stanley Park Bright Lights display, both of which are in Vancouver. “The Capilano Canyon Lights and some of the suburban ones are [also popular.] St. Paul’s Hospital was also up there at 27 per cent,” says Mossop.
When it comes to shopping, many people say they will do their gift-buying online, but that still doesn’t beat the mall. “Across Metro Vancouver, 76 per cent of residents bought or plan to buy gifts at a mall, while 65 per cent will do at least some of their gift shopping online.”
Most people have a list of go-to Christmas movies they watch during the holidays, but there wasn’t a winner in Metro Vancouver. Home Alone came in at 24 per cent, It’s a Wonderful Life and Elf tied at 23 per cent, How the Grinch Stole Christmas was popular with 22 per cent and The Polar Express rounded out the top four at 18 per cent.
“There is a clear generational gap when it comes to the movies Metro Vancouverites will enjoy during the holiday season,” says Mossop. “Millennials are more likely to express a preference for Home Alone and Elf, while baby boomers choose It’s A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. There is also a pronounced gender gap on two films: Die Hard (mentioned by 17 per cent of men but just 9 per cent of women) and Love Actually (on the list for 22 per cent of Women and only seven per cent of men).
As for throwing back a few during the holidays, overwhelmingly, people said rum and eggnog was the beverage of choice.
