With its Christmas trees and free concerts, West Vancouver‘s Dundarave Festival of Lights is a great place to enjoy holiday festivities on the North Shore.
The 2025 festival runs from Saturday, November 29th, to Saturday, December 20th, with the “Forest of Miracles” remaining on display until early January 2026.
Continue reading or visit the official Dundarave Festival of Lights website for full details about the festival.
This article contains the following information about the festival:
When and Where is the Festival? | What You’ll See | Forest of Miracles | Saturday Concerts & Events in 2025 | Also in the Area | Other Information
Christmas Trees and Activities in West Vancouver
Billed as “The Ultimate Canadian Christmas,†the Dundarave Festival of Lights has been brightening the West Vancouver waterfront for over 25 years. The festival celebrates light, community and giving, with free concerts, carolling and one of British Columbia’s largest outdoor displays of decorated Christmas trees.
More than 55,000 visitors enjoy the month-long celebration each year. It’s a peaceful spot to stroll during the week and a lively destination on Saturdays when the concerts and cultural events take place.
In 2025, the festival continues to expand, with more volunteer opportunities, easier online donation options, and an even stronger focus on community connectedness and sustainability.
Click Dundarave Festival of Lights for the event’s official website.
When and Where is the Festival
The Dundarave Festival of Lights runs from Saturday, November 29th, 2025, through early January 2026. This holiday season, the festival hosts event days on four Saturdays: November 29th, December 6th, December 13th, and December 20th.
This annual Christmas festival takes place at Dundarave Park in West Vancouver, right on the waterfront by 150-25th Street. That’s where most of the trees are located and where the live events take place on Saturdays. Additional trees and displays extend east to Grosvenor Ambleside Galleria at 1355 Bellevue Avenue. This second venue is covered. It’s also near 14th Street and Marine Drive, about a 30-minute walk from Dundarave Beach along the seawall.
In addition to the waterfront area at Dundarave Beach and Grosvenor Ambleside, in past years, Christmas trees used to be decorated at Millennium Park which is located by the waterfront at the end of 15th Street by Argyle Avenue.
Admission is free, and the Forest of Miracles trees remain lit 24 hours a day (weather permitting).
What You’ll See at the Festival
The Dundarave Festival is both a celebration and a fundraiser. The Forest of Miracles features hundreds of decorated trees sponsored by families, schools, community groups and businesses. Each tree helps support housing initiatives through the Lookout Housing and Health Society.
The festival also features free concerts, Indigenous blessings, multicultural performances, and the popular Christmas Wassail and Bonfire Night.
The best times to visit the Dundarave Festival of Lights are during the special events on select Saturdays in the afternoons and at night when the Forest of Miracles is lit up. You’ll find lots of decorated trees most evenings, but it won’t be too crowded. It’s quite beautiful.
Heading to Dundarave in the late afternoon is also really nice. You can see the Christmas trees in the daylight and then go for a walk along the seawall towards Ambleside Park. You can then walk back to Dundarave at around dusk in time to see the trees again with all their lights at night. See below for a video showing what the place looks like.
Click Dundarave Festival of Lights for the event’s official website.
Forest of Miracles
The Forest of Miracles is the heart of the Dundarave Festival of Lights. The display now spans the entire West Vancouver waterfront, from Dundarave Beach to Grosvenor Ambleside. It’s a festive fundraising attraction where local businesses, organizations, schools, and residents make a donation to the Lookout Society’s North Shore Shelter and then decorate their sponsored Christmas tree.
The collection of trees in the Forest of Miracles is a sight to see, and it’s all for a great cause. It’s also a nice addition to what is already one of the most beautiful places in the entire Lower Mainland.
Since 2008, the festival has helped generate over $1 million for the North Shore Shelter and housing support services. To sponsor a tree, contributors pay a Tree Fee of $300 and make a minimum $250 donation to the Lookout Foundation.
If sponsoring a tree isn’t in the plans, visitors can still make a difference with a custom donation (starting at $10) on the official website. Visit Dundarave Festival of Lights to make a custom donation or learn how to get involved as a volunteer.
Click Dundarave Festival of Lights for the event’s official website.
Forest of Miracles Video
Check out the following video for an idea of what to expect with respect to the Christmas trees. The short video shows scenes of the Forest of Miracles both during the day and at night. As you’ll see, both the Christmas trees and the area in general are beautiful!
Filming took place at the beginning of December a few years ago. We arrived at around 4:00 pm, took some video, and then went for a walk along the seawall. We returned about an hour later at dusk and then filmed until it was dark. The winter sunset at Dundarave alone was worth the trip!
Concerts & Events in 2025
Concerts and community activities light up the Dundarave Festival of Lights on the Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Each weekend features a themed afternoon of live music, performances and merry gathering.
All events are free and take place at Dundarave Beach Park (25th Street & Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver) unless noted. Below is the 2025 schedule.
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Saturday, November 29th – Dundarave Christmas Fair (Presented by Hollyburn House by Venvi)
The season opens from noon – dusk as tree sponsors decorate the Forest of Miracles across the beach park. There is live entertainment creating an afternoon of shoreline cheer and community spirit.
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Saturday, December 6th – Nativity & Paddle Songs
A thoughtful day from noon to dusk featuring the blessing of the Dundarave Nativity at 12:30 pm by a Squamish Elder, followed by storytelling and music.
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Saturday, December 13th – World Christmas (Presented by Westerleigh PARC)
Celebrate global holiday traditions from noon-dusk with a lively mix of multicultural performances. This event showcases winter customs from around the world.
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Saturday, December 20th – Christmas Wassail & Bonfire (Presented by MacLean Homes)
The Christmas Wassail & Bonfire Night is the festival finale. The event runs from 3:00-8:00 pm and gathers the community around a giant beach bonfire for festive music and carolling. Bring your singing voice and your mittens. The event is a cosy send-off to the season.
Note: Additional decorated trees and displays also appear at the Grosvenor Ambleside Galleria (between 13th & 14th Streets, near Marine Drive).
Click Dundarave Festival of Lights for the event’s official website.
Dundarave Christmas Fair
The Dundarave Christmas Fair returns on Saturday, November 29th, 2025 (noon-dusk). Sponsors decorate trees throughout the Forest of Miracles while live entertainment sets a festive tone. The 2025 entertainment lineup is yet to be confirmed.
For a sense of what to expect, last year’s schedule looked like the following:
- 12:00 pm – The Delibles
- 1:00 pm – Mariachi Los Dorados
- 2:00 pm – You Can Uke Too (audience members were encouraged to bring their own ukuleles and play too)
- 3:00 pm – Pacific Spirit Choir
- 4:00 pm – West Van Youth Band & the official opening of the Forest of Miracles
Note: Check the festival website closer to the date for the 2025 schedule.
Dundarave Nativity Paddle Songs
In 2025, the Nativity and Paddle Songs program happens on Saturday, December 6th, from noon until dusk at Dundarave Beach Park. The afternoon features Indigenous-led storytelling, music and dance, with a blessing of the Dundarave Nativity by Squamish Elder Wendy Charbonneau at 12:30 pm.
The 2025 performance lineup is still to be confirmed. For a sense of what to expect this year, below is the 2024 schedule.
- 11:30 am – Squamish Welcome
- ​12:00 pm – Viper Central Duo (a local band) and Metis Jigging
- ​1:00 pm – Sara Magal Trio
- ​2:00 pm – West Van Adult Pops Band
- 3:00 pm – Mark Kiliansky
Note: Check the festival website closer to the date for the 2025 schedule.
Click Dundarave Festival of Lights for the event’s official website.
World Christmas Concerts
Celebrate global holiday traditions at World Christmas on Saturday, December 13th, 2025 (noon-dusk) at Dundarave Beach Park. Expect an afternoon of multicultural music and dance spanning many communities and styles.
The 2025 performance lineup is yet to be confirmed. For context, the planned 2024 program (which was ultimately cancelled due to high winds) included:
- 12:00 pm – UBC African Drummers
- 1:00 pm – Shiamak (who leads a Bollywood dance class)
- 2:00 pm – Scottish Country Dance & Ceilidh
- 3:00 pm – Burstin’ with Broadway (which is a choir with 100+ members)
- 4:00 pm – Sarah Jane Scouten
Note: Check the festival website closer to the date for the 2025 schedule.
Wassail & Bonfire Night
The last Saturday before Christmas Day is Christmas Wassail & Bonfire Night. In 2025, it happens on Saturday, December 20th, from 3:00–8:00 pm. It’s the festival finale, with a giant beach bonfire, community carolling, festive music, and a visit from Santa. The bonfire typically ignites at dusk (around 4:00-5:00 pm), and Santa usually arrives close to 5:00 pm.
The event took place on Saturday, December 21st last year. It started at 2:00 pm, an hour earlier than in most years. That’s because the World Christmas event the weekend before was cancelled due to high winds. The choir Burstin’ with Broadway was going to perform that day but it was added to the December 21st weekend schedule instead.
This past holiday season, the event featured carolling around the bonfire, some square dancing, and music with the Psych Latin Funk band Los Duendes.
The bonfire normally gets lit at dusk, sometime between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Santa arrives at about 5:00 pm and there are performances by Circus West too.
The 2025 entertainment lineup is still to be confirmed. For reference, the 2024 schedule included:
- 2:00 pm – The Delibles
- 3:00 pm – Burstin’ with Broadway (which is a choir with 100+ members)
- 4:00 pm – Amanda Wood & Friends
- 5:00 pm – Hot Mammas
- 6:00 pm – Los Duendes
- 7:00 pm – Square Dancing
- 8:00 pm – Community carolling around the bonfire
See our article about Wassail & Bonfire Night to learn more about this event.
Click Dundarave Festival of Lights for the event’s official website.
Wassail Night Video
Check out the following video for an idea of what a Dundarave Festival of Lights event looks like. The video shows scenes of Wassail & Bonfire Night from 2021.
You’ll see the decorated Christmas trees. The tent filmed in the distance is where the live entertainment takes place. There isn’t always a bonfire at the events – just at the final event – on Wassail Night. There is, however, live music under the tented area on the first three or so Saturdays in December.
Also in the Area
While in the area, consider combining your trip to the Dundarave Festival of Lights with a visit to other nearby places of interest. The Beach House is a popular restaurant right beside the event venue at Dundarave. Just be sure to make reservations in advance, though, especially on Saturdays when there are live events at the beach.
Dundarave is also right on the water and connected to Ambleside by the seawall, making the area a great place for walks. And finally, just a couple of minutes away is the West Vancouver Aquatic Centre. The facility has one of the region’s best swimming pools, making it a fabulous place to visit most years if you have kids or want some indoor exercise.
Also on the North Shore, there is the Shipyards District in North Vancouver. There you’ll find more Christmas lights as well as free ice-skating opportunities.
Other places to check out on the North Shore this time of year are the Local Ski Hills (which offer snowshoeing, tubing and other winter activities). There are also Christmas attractions like Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge, the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain, and the Holiday Hi-Light Festival at the Park and Tilford Gardens in North Vancouver.
If all these amazing places aren’t enough, just on the other side of the Lions Gate Bridge are the millions of Christmas lights at Bright Nights in Stanley Park. The Pacific National Exhibition also hosts the PNE Winter Fair in December, and the multi-dimensional film Soar with Santa shows at FlyOver Canada. Other great places to visit are the Vancouver Christmas Market and Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
Other Information
See the Dundarave Festival of Lights website for more information about the West Vancouver event.
Click Top Things to do at Christmas for more ideas on places to see Christmas lights in the Lower Mainland.
Click Vancouver’s December Calendar for more fun things to do in December.
