Lights at LaFarge

Lights at Lafarge is a free winter attraction that features over 100,000 Christmas lights and festive displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at night.

Lights at Lafarge kicked off for the season on November 24th in 2023. On December 1st and 2nd, there was also the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market which takes place each year at the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

Other winter holiday-themed events happening this time of year include the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Gardens and Canyon Lights on the North Shore at Capilano Bridge. There is also Christmas Glow and Martini Town Merry & Bright in Langley, plus other attractions elsewhere in Metro Vancouver and the surrounding area.

This article contains the following information about Lights at Lafarge:

Christmas Lights at Lafarge

Lights at Lafarge is a free attraction that usually runs from late November until around the third or fourth week of January. The first night of the season in 2023 was on Friday, November 24th. February 29th, 2024, was the last day of the season.

The 1.2-kilometre pathway around Lafarge Lake is decorated with sparkling holiday lights. There are usually illuminated archways to walk under, Christmas light reindeer to admire and various themed areas throughout the park.

Each year the attraction seems to get more and more lights. The winter holiday displays at Lights at Lafarge are always beautiful and highly recommended (especially if you’re on a budget).

XMAS TIP: GET AN ANNUAL PASS AT CAP BRIDGE!

You’ve probably heard that Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver is one of the Lower Mainland’s most impressive Christmas Lights attractions. Did you know, though, that locals can get an annual pass for the same price as regular admission to Canyon Lights?

So for the same price you can go to Canyon Lights this year, and to Canyon Lights again next year, plus to the famous bridge as many times as you want between now and when your pass expires next year! Got out-of-town friends or family visiting? Then you can join them when they visit the suspension bridge and you won’t have to pay anything!

To learn more about the famous North Shore attraction, see our article about Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge.

Lights at Lafarge at Night — Lafarge Lake at Night

Lights at Lafarge Video

Check out the following video to see what you can expect at the event in future years. The video is of scenes from 2019. Lights at Lafarge looks very similar each year, although each season there are slight changes with new things added and displays switched around.

The video begins outside the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Inside that building is where the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market usually takes place.

As you’ll see in the video, there is an extensive selection of light displays and illuminations all around the lake, and hundreds of people turn out each night to enjoy them. It’s an impressive event and well worth checking out.

Where is Lights at Lafarge?

The attraction takes place in Town Centre Park at Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way which is right next to the Evergreen Line’s new Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain Station.

When is Lights at Lafarge Happening?

Last year, the first day of the season was on Friday, November 24th. On that date there was a special opening night event. The lights likely stayed up until the end of February.

On December 1st and 2nd of last year, the attraction was extra special as the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market also took place at the Evergreen Cultural Centre which is right by Lafarge Lake.

The lights are usually illuminated daily from dusk until 11:00 pm.

Square Tunnel at Lights at Lafarge — Lights Tunnel in 2021

November 24th Opening Night

On opening night of the season there is a special free outdoor event at Lafarge Lake. In 2023 the event took place on Friday, November 24th. It ran from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

This past year’s opening night event featured a variety of live entertainment. There was music with DJ Joe Pound, plus Christmas carols by the Coastal Sound Children’s Choir. Chris Yuill performed a mix of comedy and magic, and there was also a special fire performance by NZR Productions.

Last year’s event also included several food trucks. Featured vendors were Big Red’s Poutine, Betty’s Greek Honey Ballz, Gary’s Kettle Corn, Shameless Buns, and more.

Lights at Lafarge in Coquitlam — Arbour Walk at Lights at Lafarge

Coquitlam Christmas Night Market

The Coquitlam Christmas Night Market took place at the Evergreen Cultural Centre right beside the Lights at Lafarge event on the evenings of December 1st and 2nd last year. It ran from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm on the Friday and from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm on the Saturday. Admission cost just $2 for folks ages 17 and older. It was free, though, for younger children.

The night market features artisan vendors selling everything from hand-made jewellery to wood products, chocolates, clothing and apparel, health and beauty products, toys and other items that make for great Christmas gifts. It’s a really good market and highly recommended.

See our article about the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market for more details.

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips to help you make the most of your experience at Lights at Lafarge.

TIP #1: If you’ve never been to the event but like Christmas lights, then definitely go! It’s a beautiful venue, free and highly recommended.

TIP #2: Lights at Lafarge is worth seeing any night of the season, at least on days when it’s not pouring with rain. The best nights to go are on opening night and when the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market takes place. There are extra crowds those evenings, but there are also more things to do and see.

TIP #3: Take public transit if you can. The Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain Station is right by the venue. There is lots of parking, but spaces can be harder to find on weekend nights with good weather and just before Christmas.

TIP #4: If you don’t like crowds, don’t go on a weekend or just before Christmas on an evening with good weather. Rainy days, weekday nights and dates early in the season are usually the quietest. After the Christmas holidays, so in early January, is also typically a time with fewer people.

Lights at Lafarge