A lot happens in Metro Vancouver over the holiday season including markets, Christmas lights, winter sport activities, Santa and more.
This article contains information about the following Christmas-themed events, attractions and activities.
Christmas Events in Vancouver
PNE Winter Fair | FlyOver Canada | VanDusen Garden | Bright Nights | Big Elf Run | Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours | Destination Downtown | Canada Place| Vancouver Christmas Market | Vancouver Boat Parties | Goh Ballet Nutcracker | Robson Square | Gingerbread Lane | Vancouver Christmas Concerts
Events Elsewhere in Metro Vancouver
Canyon Lights | Dundarave Festival | Shipyards Christmas Market | Fort Langley | Holiday Hi-Light Festival | Surrey’s Christmas Train | Lights at Lafarge | Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market | Christmas Tea Lights | Peak of Christmas | WinterFest at MOS | Burnaby Village | Christmas Glow | Martini Town | Lower Mainland Christmas Parades
Christmas Events in the Fraser Valley
Christmas Glow | Martini Town | Lights by the Lake | Holiday Lights at Williams Park | Christmas at Greendale Acres
Events in the Sea-to-Sky Regions
Britannia Mine | North Pole Express | Vallea Lumina | Squamish at Dusk
Top Winter Holiday Activities in Vancouver
Below we list Christmas events that happen in the Lower Mainland. Most of the events should happen in 2025. Some, though, don’t take place every year.
We list over 24 activities. Although numbered from 1 to 36, they aren’t ranked in any particular order.
The VanDusen Garden Festival of Lights is without doubt one of the Lower Mainland’s best places to admire Christmas light decorations.
The Festival of Lights typically runs from end of November until the second week of January. There are over a million lights to enjoy in very intricate and dazzling display
See our article about the Festival of Lights to learn more.
FlyOver is a multi-dimensional theatre flying experience at Canada Place. It’s fun any time of the year, but only from late November until early January do guests get to accompany Santa on an exhilarating adventure across the country and to the North Pole.
This attraction is a top pick on days with both good and bad weather (because it’s indoors).
The Christmas show starts towards the end of November and runs until January 1st.
Click FlyOver Canada at Christmas for more details or visit flyovercanada.com.
3. Martini Town Merry & Bright
One of the Lower Mainland’s newest holiday attractions of significance is Martini Town Merry & Bright. The third edition of the event kicks off at a film studio in Langley on November 21st this year and it runs until December 31st in 2025.
Martini Town is a cute little backdrop town that’s used in movies. It opens to the public during the Christmas season. The place is decorated with holiday lights. There are also musicians, artisan vendors and food trucks.
Click Martini Town Merry & Bright to learn more.
Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver’s best and most popular tourist attractions. Arguably the best time of the year to visit is between the end of November and late January. That’s when the Canyon Lights festivities and illuminations happen.
During Canyon Lights the park is lit up with some of the Lower Mainland’s most beautiful Christmas light displays, both close to the ground and way up high among the trees.
If you’re a BC resident, for the price of regular admission, you can get an annual pass which will allow you back in for the following 364 days. An annual admission includes a bit of the Canyon Lights season for the following year.
Canyon Lights begins in the third week of November and runs until around mid-January. This Christmas season it runs from November 21st, 2025, until January 18th, 2026.
See our article about Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge for more details.
5. Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours are guided experiences in downtown Vancouver. The tours are a great way to explore the area and hear stories from the city’s past.
Last winter, there was a special holiday-themed tour to check out. The Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour ran most days between November 15th and January 10th. It didn’t run on December 25th and January 1st.
See our article about Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours to learn more.
6. Humbug Holidays at Fort Langley
Fort Langley National Historic Site gets decorated for the holiday season in December. The historic site hosts Humbug Holidays. Visitors craft ornaments and help the fort look even more festive.
Th event typically runs from mid to end of December.
See the Parks Canada website for the latest information.
7. Vancouver Boat Parties
Boat parties are great ways to celebrate and have fun anytime of the year, but especially during the holiday season.
Vancouver Boat Parties hosts two New Year’s Eve cruises on December 31st. Last year there was A Night on the Waves on the Burrard Queen and the Hip Hop X Latin event on the Magic Spirit yacht. Both parties are for ages 19+ and include lots of music and dancing.
There are usually Christmas-themed boat parties as well. 2025 details are to be confirmed.
Click Vancouver Boat Parties to learn more.
Presented by StayVancouverHotels.com, Destination Downtown involves pretty light displays along the Coal Harbour Seawall and other locations in downtown Vancouver including outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. The main part of the Destination Downtown series of events runs from the end of November until just before Christmas. Between those dates there is live entertainment at various locations and times. Between late December and February, however, the light displays continue to be up along the Coal Harbour Seawall. They make for a pretty destination for a walk at night.
Note: It’s not directly part of Destination Downtown, but it is in the heart of it and should also be considered a top Christmas-type activity, there is Winterlust at the Westin Bayshore Hotel. With it, you can dine in your own exclusive glass dome with up to six people. The food is exquisite and the experience is most memorable! Either before or after dinner you can then walk outside and enjoy the various Destination Downtown light sculptures.
Check out our article about Destination Downtown to learn more.
The Dundarave Festival of Lights is a small and normally fairly quiet and simple community event in West Vancouver that features a forest of decorated Christmas trees throughout most of December. It’s a nice destination to combine with a walk along the seawall on a sunny day (or evening around dusk).
The Dundarave Festival of Lights usually lighs up on the last day in November and stays that way until early January. Last year there were also special events on the Saturdays of November 30th, December 7th, December 14th and continued on December 21st.
See our article about the Dundarave Festival of Lights for more information.
10. Vallea Lumina
Vallea Lumina offers an enchanting walking experience through a forest filled with illuminations, projections and special effects. It’s located on Cougar Mountain which is just past Whistler. The attraction runs throughout the year.
The first day of the winter season is usually starts on November 1st and it runs until late April. Guests can walk at their own pace at this attraction, although the walk-through experience takes between 30 and 45 minutes on average.
Click Vallea Lumina for more information.
A great downtown holiday venue is the Vancouver Christmas Market which sets up at Jack Poole Plaza by the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Open daily until Christmas Eve, the Vancouver Christmas Market is a regular fixture in downtown Vancouver over the festive holidays. The market features numerous German and other European-themed stalls selling all kinds of Christmas items. They range from souvenirs to European festival food to festive “adult” beverages to add to the holiday season celebrations.
The Vancouver Christmas Market typically runs from mid-November to December 24th.
See our article about the Vancouver Christmas Market to learn more about this popular annual event.
12. Christmas Glow
Christmas Glow is a popular indoor and outdoor event in Langley. The attraction usually runs on select dates between end of November and end of December.
The attraction takes place at Milner Gardens with all sorts of light displays. The event has an “Enchanted Forest” theme with mini games, arts and crafts, and more.
Click Christmas Glow in Langley for further details.
13. Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market
The Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market is a new event that debuted in 2024. It took place at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey from November 28th to December 1st, December 5th to 8th, and again from December 12th to 23rd. The dates will likely be similar in 2025, although details are to be confirmed.
At the event you can expect to see more than one million lights, plus a market with a variety of vendors. There are also photo opportunities with Santa, live entertainment, face painting, a Ferris Wheel, and other things to see and do.
See our article about the Noel Holiday Light Festival for more details about the event.
14. PNE Winter Fair
The PNE Winter Fair features a variety of family-friendly activities. There are magical light displays and live performances, as well as indoor skating and shopping opportunities. Last year’s live entertainment also included The Nutcracker on Ice as well as The Magic of Santa holiday musical.
The PNE Winter Fair usually runs on a weekend in early December and again from mid-December until just before Christmas.
Read our article about the PNE Winter Fair to learn more about this event.
15. Shipyards Christmas Market
The Shipyards Christmas Market is a new event that started in 2024. It opened on November 29th and ran until December 24th.
The event has a European theme and is free to attend. Expect to see around 75 vendor booths and some live entertainment. There’s also an outdoor skating rink, light displays and other family-friendly things to see and do.
See our article about the Shipyards Christmas Market for more details.
Greendale Acres is a farm in Chilliwack that hosts events throughout the year. During the holiday season, Christmas at Greendale Acres features beautiful light displays, train rides, a market and other interactive things to do.
In 2025 the attraction opens on November 22nd. It likely runs until around the third week of December (although exact details are to be confirmed).
For more information see our article about Christmas at Greendale Acres.
In years when it takes place, Bright Nights at Stanley Park is arguably the most wonderful and magical place to take children to admire Christmas decorations in the Lower Mainland. Admission is normally by donation benefiting the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.
(Note: Bright Nights isn’t happening in 2025. Instead, Stanley Park hosts a touring Harry Potter event starting on November 7th.)
If you like snow, Christmas decorations and any kind of winter sport, then you need to visit Grouse Mountain for the Peak of Christmas.
Running from the end of November until the first few days of January, the Peak of Christmas features Christmas lights, ice skating, snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding opportunities. It also features one of the best views of Vancouver at night.
Last year’s Peak of Christmas started on Friday, November 22nd, and it finished on Christmas Day.
See our article about the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain for more details.
Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park is a great place to visit in December. The Lake is wonderful to walk around during the day when it’s sunny and Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village is a festive place to be in the afternoons and evenings.
Burnaby Village is usually free this time of year and open until the first day or so in January. Best times to go include evenings on days when it’s open late and lit up with all its Christmas decorations.
This past winter, the museum opened for the holiday season on November 23rd, 2024, and closed on January 3rd, 2025.
Click Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village for more details.
Another great winter tradition is ice skating at Robson Square. Skating usually takes place on the outdoor rink at the corner of Robson and Howe. The skating is free if you bring your own equipment, and rentals cost about $5.
There is also ice skating at recreation centres all over the Lower Mainland most years, as well as at the top of Grouse Mountain during the Peak of Christmas and at the Shipyards in North Vancouver.
The free ice skating at Robson Square usually begins at the end of November and runs until the end of February.
See our article about Ice Skating at Robson Square to learn more about this activity.
Lights by the Lake is a free holiday lights attraction at Harrison Hot Springs. All along the waterfront are Christmas displays and illuminations. It’s quite spectacular!
The event has a sasquatch theme, so a fair number of the twinkling art displays feature Big Foot characters and members of his or her family doing everything from skiing to windsurfing to cycling. New a couple of years ago, there was also a small outdoor ice skating rink at one end of the greenspace along the water.
The Christmas lights go up around the third week of November and they stay up until around mid-January.
See our article about Lights by the Lake to learn more.
Halfway between Canada Place and St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (where a number of Christmas concerts usually take place) is Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt Regency.
For most of December the hotel’s foyer becomes one of the best places on the West Coast to see amazing gingerbread creations. Because of its location, and the fact that it’s such a tiny event, this is a great activity to combine with other events while in the area. Last year there were nearly 36 gingerbread creations on display.
Gingerbread Lane typically opens at the end of November and runs until the end of December.
See our article about Gingerbread Lane to learn more.
23. Christmas at Canada Place
If you plan to be in downtown Vancouver between 8:00 am and around 10:00 pm between late November and the end of December, then check out The Canadian Trail along Canada Place’s West Promenade. It’s just a few blocks from Waterfront Station (so convenient to get to) and only a few blocks from Gastown and the Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre.
Christmas at Canada Place is a fairly simple event, but free. In a typical year it includes an avenue of decorated Christmas trees and holiday displays to look at.
The displays usually go up at the end of November and come down on January 1st.
Click Christmas at Canada Place to learn more about the event.
Christmas is celebrated in the Tri-Cities area with the Lights at Lafarge event at Lafarge Lake in Town Centre Park in Coquitlam. It’s a free event featuring holiday lights and Christmas decorations all around the lake.
Lights at Lafarge usually takes place from late November until mid to late January most years. Typically, the lights are on between 4:30 pm and 11:00 pm every day, except for New Year’s Eve when the event runs until 1:00 am.
This past season the event kicked off on Friday, November 22nd and ended around mid-February.
Click Coquitlam’s Lights at Lafarge for more information.
If you plan to be in North Vancouver over the holidays and want to see some great free Christmas lights, then check out the displays at Park & Tilford mall. Admission is free or by donation.
The lights and displays aren’t quite as amazing as what you’ll see at Stanley Park, or at places like VanDusen Garden or Capilano Suspension Bridge, but they are still beautiful, impressive and recommended.
The Holiday Hi-Light Festival is a great place to visit on your way back from one of the local ski hills, and especially on Friday evenings leading up to Christmas when they have special family activities.
The Holiday Hi-Light Festival usually begins with a launch event at the end of November with special activities. After that, the lights can be admired up until the end of December.
See our article about the Holiday Hi-Light Festival to learn more.
One of the best places to take children for holiday season activities in Surrey is Bear Creek Park at 13750-88th Avenue. That’s where you’ll find the Miniature Train Rides through the Christmas forest.
In a typical year at the attraction kids get to visit with Santa Claus and do activities on the platform while waiting for the train ride.
The Santa Express tends to run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm throughout December. It’s only closed on Christmas Day. During the same period, the Christmas Night Train runs from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm most Wednesdays to Sundays.
Click Surrey Miniature Train Rides to learn more.
27. Goh Ballet Nutcracker
Goh Ballet puts on its annual production of The Nutcracker during December most years. The Christmas-themed show features ballet dancing and acting with over 200 talented performers.
The family-friendly story is a battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King plus his army of mice. It’s a classic play with toys and children. The show also usually features music by Tchaikovsky played live at the event by the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
In 2025 the Goh Ballet Nutcracker shows happen at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on December 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st.
28. WinterFest at MOS
The Museum of Surrey hosts an annual Christmas celebration. Formerly known as the Cloverdale Christmas Tree Festival, WinterFest at MOS is a family-friendly event that’s free to attend. At the festival there are Christmas trees to admire and scavenger hunts to enjoy.
The Christmas trees and special activities usually run until December 21st.
Click WinterFest at MOS for more information.
29. Squamish at Dusk
Squamish at Dusk is a festive holiday display at Rose Park. It’s a light art experience featuring illuminations and art installations on select evenings in November and December. The event is ticketed and great for all ages.
The event typically runs on the last weekend in November and then again from early to mid-December.
Click Squamish at Dusk for more information.
30. Christmas at Britannia Mine
Britannia Mine is a great place to explore anytime of the year. Last year, if you went on the Saturdays and Sundays of December 7th and 8th, and 14th and 15th, you would also be there for Photos with Santa. The event ran from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each day.
If you just want your family photo and treats, it costs $35 (for up to five people). Each additional person costs $5. If you also want to see everything at the museum, then you have to pay for general admission.
See our article about Photos With Santa at Britannia Mine to learn more.
31. North Pole Express
One of the most popular Christmas activities in the Lower Mainland is the North Pole Express at the West Coast Railway Museum in Squamish. It runs from late November until just before Christmas. It’s so popular, in fact, that tickets for it sell out way in advance. (Note: This event used to be called the Polar Express.)
Just like in the movie of the same name, the North Pole Express train ride includes hot chocolate and cookies, chefs, entertainment, singing and a magical 40-minute train ride to the North Pole. Also just like in the movie, the event dress-code is pyjamas, at least for the kids.
The trains last year ran on November 23rd, 24th and 30th, and again on December 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th and 21st.
Click North Pole Express at Christmas for more information.
32. Holiday Lights at Williams Park
Holiday Lights at Williams Park is a free Christmas lights attraction in Langley. Unlike other similar events in the Lower Mainland, it’s a drive-through attraction where you drive around the park and admire the lights from the comfort of your car. The event takes place at Williams Park which is at 238 Street and 68th Avenue in the Township of Langley. The attraction usually happens from early December until just before New Year’s Eve. Admission is by donation.
33. Vancouver Christmas Concerts
A number of Christmas concerts take place in Vancouver over the winter holidays. They include performances by Chor Leoni, the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. There are lots of other performances too.
See our article about Vancouver Christmas Concerts for a list of other concerts happening this year.
34. Christmas Tea Lights at Camp Howdy
Christmas Tea Lights is an annual festival at Camp Howdy near Belcarra Park. The event venue transforms into a festive environment over the holiday season. There are light displays, domed dining experiences, boat rides and other activities.
The event tends to run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from mid-November until just a few days before Christmas.
See our article about Christmas Tea Lights to learn more.
35. Big Elf Run at Stanley Park
Taking place in Vancouver’s Stanley Park each December is the Big Elf Run. It’s a fun Christmas-themed event at which people wear elf hats and then walk, jog or run up to 15 kms. There are shorter runs available for kids, as well as for anyone who wants to bring strollers or dogs.
The Big Elf Run takes place on December 13th in 2025. Prices vary depending on the distance you run.
Click Big Elf Run to learn more about the event.
36. Lower Mainland Christmas Parades
Santa Claus parades are great places to see the big guy in red and get into the festive spirit, especially when you have young children.
The City of Vancouver’s Santa Claus Parade used to take place on the first Sunday in December beginning at noon. Attracting as many as 300,000 people in good years, this event hasn’t happened for a few years now.
The good news is that Vancouver isn’t the only municipality to have a Santa Claus parade in the Lower Mainland. Other communities do too including Aldergrove, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Steveston Village, Surrey and a few other places.
See our article about Lower Mainland Christmas Parades for a comprehensive list of Santa Claus parades in Metro Vancouver and the surrounding area.
Other Information
Check out the Vancouver December Calendar for more ideas on things to do over the Christmas holidays.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Free December Events in Vancouver
- What’s Happening This Weekend
- Vancouver Festivals & Events
- Vancouver Shows & Entertainment
- Lower Mainland Christmas Craft Fairs
- Vancouver Events for Children
- Vancouver Rainy Day Activities
