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Best Vancouver Christmas Activities

Top December Things to Do

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 ATTRACTIONS IN JANUARY

Christmas might be over, but some winter holiday attractions are still happening in early 2024!

Winter holiday-themed attractions running until the first weekend in January include the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden, Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tours with Forbidden Vancouver, Bright Nights at Stanley Park, and Soar With Santa at FlyOver Canada. There is also Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village which runs until January 5th. Lights on the Lake at Harrison Hot Springs, meanwhile, doesn’t end until January 7th.

On the North Shore, Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge continues until January 21st. In Coquitlam, Lights at Lafarge runs until late February.


 

Space Explorers: The Infinite

 


Christmas Events in Vancouver

PNE Winter Fair | FlyOver Canada | VanDusen Garden | Holidays at Hycroft | Bright Nights | Big Elf Run | Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours | Granville Island | Canada Place| Vancouver Christmas Market | Vancouver Boat Parties | Goh Ballet Nutcracker | Robson Square | Gingerbread Lane | Vancouver Christmas Concerts


 

2024 PuSh Festival

 


 

Events Elsewhere in Metro Vancouver

Canyon Lights | Dundarave Festival | Christmas at the Shipyards | Fort Langley | Holiday Hi-Light Festival | Surrey’s Christmas Train | Lights at Lafarge | Christmas at the Cannery | Peak of ChristmasBurnaby Village | Christmas Glow | Martini Town | Lower Mainland Christmas Parades

 


 

Christmas Events in the Fraser Valley

Christmas Glow | Martini Town | Lights by the Lake

 


 

Events in the Sea to Sky Regions

Britannia Mine | North Pole Express | Vallea Lumina

 


 

Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge

VanDusen Garden Festival of Lights

 

Top Winter Holiday Activities in Vancouver

Below we list Christmas events that happen in the Lower Mainland. Most of the events are definitely happening in 2023. Some though aren’t and others are to be confirmed.

We list over 24 activities. Although numbered from 1 to 31, they aren’t ranked in any particular of order.

 

A great downtown holiday venue most years is the Vancouver Christmas Market which takes place at Jack Poole Plaza by the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Open daily until Christmas Eve, the Vancouver Christmas Market features numerous German and other European-themed stalls selling all kinds of Christmas-y items, from souvenirs to European festival food to a range of festive “adult” beverages to help with the holiday season celebrations.

The Vancouver Christmas Market runs from November 16th until December 24th in 2023.

To learn more about the annual event see our article about the Vancouver Christmas Market.

 

Vancouver Christmas Market

 

2. PNE Winter Fair

The PNE Winter Fair features all sorts of family-friendly activities. There are magical light displays and live performances, as well as indoor skating and shopping opportunities. This year the live entertainment also includes The Nutcracker on Ice as well as The Magic of Santa holiday musical.

In 2023 the PNE Winter Fair runs on December 8th and 9th, and again from December 14th to 23rd.

To learn more about this event, read our article about the PNE Winter Fair.

 

2023 PNE Winter Fair

 

3. Christmas Glow

Christmas Glow is a popular indoor and outdoor event in Langley. After happening in a drive-through format for a couple of years, the event returned as a walk-through experience in 2022. It’s taking place in 2023 as well, and folks can walk around the venue once again.

This year, Christmas Glow runs on select dates between November 23rd and December 30th. The attraction takes place at its original home at Milner Gardens with all sorts of light displays. The 2023 event has a carnival theme with mini games, arts and crafts, and more.

For further details, click Christmas Glow in Langley.

 

French Light Displays at Glow Christmas
2020 Christmas Glow Drive-Through in Langley

 

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.

In 2023 Canyon Lights begins on November 17th and runs until January 21st in 2024.

See our article about Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge for more details.

 

Capilano Bridge Visitors in Winter
Capilano Bridge in Winter

 

The VanDusen Garden Festival of Lights is without doubt one of the Lower Mainland’s best places to admire Christmas light decorations.

In the 2023/2024 season, the Festival of Lights runs from November 24th to January 7th.

To learn more, see our article about the Festival of Lights.

 

VanDusen Garden Lights and Archway
VanDusen Festival of Lights

 

FlyOver Canada‘s home is at Canada Place. The multi-dimensional theatre flying experience is 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 happens this season from November 16th, 2023, until January 2nd, 2024.

Click FlyOver Canada at Christmas for more details or visit flyovercanada.com.

 

Soar With Santa at FlyOver Canada

FlyOver Canada Entrance at Christmas
FlyOver Canada at Canada Place

 

7. Martini Town Merry & Bright

The Lower Mainland’s newest holiday attraction of significance is Martini Town Merry & Bright. It takes place at a film studio in Langley from December 1st, 2023, until January 1st, 2024.

Martini Town is a cute little backdrop town that’s used in movies. During the Christmas season this year it’s open to the public. The place is decorated with holiday lights. There are also musicians, artisan vendors and food trucks.

Click Martini Town Merry & Bright to learn more.

 

Martini Town Merry and Bright

 

8. 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 a Christmas Boat Party on December 16th in 2023.

There is usually also at least one New Year’s Eve Boat Party on the last day of the year. On December 31st in 2023 the New Year’s Eve Boat Party and Latin New Year’s Eve Boat Party take place on the Magic Spirit. There is also the Vancouver New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise on the Burrard Queen.

The Christmas and New Year’s Eve boat parties are lots of fun and for adults ages 19+.

Click Vancouver Boat Parties to learn more.

 

New Year's Eve Boat Party

 


CHRISTMAS GIFT TIP

A Christmas gift idea, or simply something fun to do over the holidays, is Space Explorers: The Infinite. It’s a virtual reality experience where you can explore the International Space Centre in outer space (via the attraction at the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver). TIP: Click Save Ten Bucks to buy your tickets online. Do it via this link and you’ll save about $10 on admission.


 

Space Explorers: The Infinite

 

9. Vancouver Christmas Concerts

A number of Christmas concerts take place in Vancouver over the winter holidays. They include performances by the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir as well as a How the Grinch Stole Christmas concert with the Vancouver Academy of Music. There are lots of other performances too.

For a list of other concerts happening this year, see our article about Vancouver Christmas Concerts.

 

VAM Orchestra's Grinch Concert

Goh Ballet's Nutcracker in 2023

 

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).

Last season, the Dundarave Festival of Lights took place from December 3rd until January 8th. There were also special events on the Saturdays of December 3rd, 10th and 17th. Details about the 2023/2024 season are to be confirmed.

See our article about the Dundarave Festival of Lights for more information.

 

Dundarave Christmas Forest of Miracles
Forest of Miracles in West Vancouver

 

11. 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.

In 2023 and early 2024, there’s a special holiday-themed tour to check out. The Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour runs on all weekends between December 2nd and 24th. It also runs daily from December 27th to 31st, and from January 2nd to 7th.

To learn more see our article about Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours.

 

12. Christmas at the Cannery

Steveston Village’s Festival of Trees takes place at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Richmond during the month of December. The National Historic Site is worth visiting any time of the year, but especially on rainy winter days and at Christmas when it’s full of decorated trees.

The Festival of Trees isn’t actually a “festival” so much as a Christmas-y display that showcases the artistic talents of local businesses and community organizations who each sponsor and decorate a tree. In addition to the holiday decorations there is sometimes some kind of craft activity for children (but not always).

In 2021, the Christmas trees and decorations were up from December 1st to 24th. In 2022, however, the attraction was also open every day of the month except for December 25th. 2023 details are to be confirmed.

Click Steveston Festival of Trees for more information.

 

13. 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 kilometres. 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 9th in 2023. Prices vary depending on the distance you run.

Click Big Elf Run to learn more about the event.

 

Big Elf Run

 

14. Humbug Holidays at Fort Langley

Fort Langley National Historic Site gets decorated for the holiday season in December. In 2022, instead of hosting Heritage Holidays, the historic site hosted Humbug Holidays. Visitors crafted ornaments and helped the fort look even more festive.

This year’s event runs daily from December 16th to the 24th, and again from December 27th to the 30th.

See the Parks Canada website for the latest information.

 

15. Christmas at Britannia Mine

Britannia Mine is a great place to explore anytime of the year. In 2023, if you go on the Saturdays and Sundays of December 9th and 10th, and 16th and 17th, you’ll also be there for Photos with Santa. The event runs from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each day. Additional details are to be confirmed.

Last year, if you just wanted your family photo and treats for the kids, it cost $35 (for up to five people). If you also wanted to see everything at the museum, then you had to pay for general admission. This may or may not be the case again in 2023.

To learn more, see our article about Photos With Santa at Britannia Mine.

 

Photos with Santa at Britannia Mine

 

16. 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 2023 the Goh Ballet Nutcracker shows happen at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on December 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th.

 

Goh Ballet's Nutcracker in 2023

 

17. 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 2023/2024 winter season was October 14th and it runs until around mid-May. Guests can walk at their own pace at this attraction, although the walk-through experience takes between 30 and 45 minutes on average.

For more information, click Vallea Lumina.

 

18. Christmas at the Shipyards

A great place to find holiday lights and festive cheer in the Lower Mainland is at the Shipyards in North Vancouver.

The Spirit of the Season Festival happens in early December each year. In 2023 it takes place on Saturday, December 2nd. The entire neighbourhood, though is lit up throughout the season, which makes it a great place to explore pretty much any evening in December.

To learn about the festival, see our article about the Spirit of the Season Festival.

 

North Vancouver Christmas Activities

 

19. Holidays at Hycroft

Holidays at Hycroft is a fundraising event at the University Women’s Club in Vancouver. The event used to just feature a Christmas artisan market (which was one of the Lower Mainland’s best). In recent years, however, there have also been other events!

In 2023 the Artisan Market happens from November 16th to 19th. There are also Brunch events taking place on the Sundays of November 26th and December 3rd.

To learn more about these events click the above links or see our article about Holidays at Hycroft.

 

Hycroft for the Holidays

 

Bright Nights at Stanley Park is arguably the most wonderful and magical place to take children to admire Christmas decorations in the Lower Mainland. Open from the beginning of December until the beginning of January, this attraction is especially fun to visit with kids.

In the 2023/2024 season Bright Nights runs from November 30th until January 1st. As usual, admission is by donation benefiting the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. The Christmas train is operating this year as well. Tickets to ride the train cost extra.

See our article about Bright Nights at Stanley Park to learn more.

 

Stanley Park Christmas Train
Bright Nights Train at Stanley Park

 

21. Holiday Lights at Granville Island

There is more to Granville Island than just shops, restaurants and theatre venues, especially during the Christmas season. Between the middle of November and the beginning of January the district is decorated with all kinds of beautiful holiday lights.

In 2023 the Christmas displays and illuminations run from November 12th until January 3rd. Admission to the area, as always, is free.

To learn more about the lights see our article about Granville Island at Christmas. For information about unique Christmas shopping opportunities in the area, click Shopping at Granville Island.

 

Star Light Display at Granville Island
Granville Island at Christmas

 

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.

In 2023 the Peak of Christmas started on Friday, November 24th, and it finishes on Christmas Day (which is more than a week earlier than last year).

See our article about the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain for more details.

 

Grouse Mountain Skating Rink
Ice Skating at Grouse Mountain

 

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.

In 2023 the museum is open for the holiday season between November 25th and January 5th, 2024.

Click Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village for more details.

 

Burnaby Village at Christmas with Snow
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village

 

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 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm until the end of February, and until 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights. 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 began on December 2nd in 2022 and ran until the end of February in 2023. Details about the 2023/2024 season are to be confirmed.

To learn more about this activity, see our article about Ice Skating at Robson Square.

 

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.

This season the Christmas lights are up between November 18th in 2023 and January 7th in 2024.

Click Lights by the Lake to learn more.

 

Harrison Christmas Light Reflections
Lights by the Lake

 

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.

In years without global pandemics, 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. In a typical year there are between about 24 and 36 gingerbread creations on display.

Gingerbread Lane runs from December 1st to 29th in 2023.

To learn more see our article about Gingerbread Lane.

 

Kasian Architecture Gingerbread Display
Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt

 

27. Christmas at Canada Place

If you plan to be in downtown Vancouver between 8:00 am and around 11:00 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.

In 2023 the displays are up from December 1st until January 2nd, 2024.

Click Christmas at Canada Place to learn more about the event in normal years.

 

Canada Place at Night at Christmas

 

28. 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.

In 2019 the Vancouver Santa Claus Parade happened on Sunday, December 1st. The 2020 Santa Claus Parade in Vancouver was cancelled due to COVID-19 and it didn’t happen in 2021 or 2022 either. It has also been cancelled in 2023.

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.

For a comprehensive list of Santa Claus parades in Metro Vancouver and the surrounding area, see our article about Lower Mainland Christmas Parades.

 

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 on New Year’s Eve when the event runs until 1:00 am.

Last season the lights were up until mid-February. In 2023 the event kicked off on Friday, November 24th.

For more information, click Coquitlam’s Lights at Lafarge.

 

Top Vancouver December Things to Do

30. 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, a visit by the hobo, 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 pajamas, at least for the kids!

In 2023 the trains ran on November 25th and 26th as run again on December 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th.

Click North Pole Express at Christmas for more information.

 

Polar Express Conductor with Golden Ticket
The Polar Express in Squamish

 

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.

In 2023 the Holiday Hi-Light Festival began with a launch event on December 1st with live entertainment, treats, hot chocolate and more. After that, the lights remain up to check out until the end of the month.

See our article about the Holiday Hi-Light Festival to learn more.

 

Park and Tilford Gardens in Snow
North Vancouver’s Holiday Hi-Light Festival

 

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 usually runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for the full month of December every day except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. During the same period, the Christmas Night Train typically runs from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm Wednesdays to Sundays.

In 2023 the trains runs almost every day between December 2nd and the 31st.

To learn more, click Surrey Miniature Train Rides.

 

Santa, Mrs Claus and the Bear Creek Train
Christmas Train at Bear Creek Park

 

Other Information

For more ideas on things to do over the Christmas holidays, check out the Vancouver December Calendar.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

 

 

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