Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration

The Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration features a giant bonfire and boats with Christmas lights in mid-December at Deep Cove in North Vancouver.

This free Christmas-themed community event has been running for over 20 years and features live music and family-friendly activities.

(Note: A number of companies offer events on the water during the Christmas season and other times of the year. A couple of them are Vancouver Boat Parties and Vancouver Cruises.)

Deep Cove Christmas Festivities

Deep Cove is a seaside community in North Vancouver that, in typical years, celebrates the Christmas season with its Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration event. In 2019 the festivities happened on Saturday, December 14, from 7:30 pm until 9:00 pm.

Because of COVID-19, the event didn’t happen in 2020. It probably didn’t happen in 2021 either. Fortunately, the event returned at 6:00 pm on December 3rd, 2022. The date for the event in December, 2023, is to be confirmed. Hopefully it will happen again (but it also might not). Fingers crossed that it can!

The Festival of Lights normally takes place at Panorama Park near the Deep Cove Yacht Club at 4420 Gallant Avenue. However, in 2022, the decorated ships departed from the Burrard Yacht Club at 10 Gostick Place. The ships sailed to the Shipyards and Coal Harbour before heading back to the Burrard Yacht Club.

At the Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration there is typically music, live entertainment, craft activities, a massive bonfire and food and drink. There is also usually a face-painting station and someone making balloon animals for kids.

Santa Claus usually makes an appearance around midway through the evening, and a procession of boats decorated with Christmas lights typically arrives towards the end.

It’s not a huge event, as it runs for only about 90 minutes, but it can attract hundreds of people (especially on nights with good weather).

The event is free to attend. However, participants are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food or unwrapped Christmas gifts. All items usually benefit the Harvest Project or the Greater Vancouver Food Bank which are both great causes.