Christmas at the Cannery Trees

The Steveston Festival of Trees is a Christmas event at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site in Richmond‘s Steveston Village in December.

This year the Steveston Festival of Trees runs from November 30th, 2024, until January 5th, 2025.

Other Christmas-themed events and attractions during the holiday season include the PNE Winter Fair, VanDusen Festival of Lights, Vancouver Christmas Market and the Soar with Santa film at FlyOver Canada. There’s also the Dundarave Festival of Lights in West Vancouver, Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge, Photos with Santa at Britannia Mine, and both Christmas Glow and Martini Town Merry & Bright in Langley.

To learn about all of the Lower Mainland’s main holiday attractions this year, see our article about Vancouver’s Best Christmas Activities. To learn about the Steveston Festival of Trees, continue reading.

Christmas at Steveston Cannery in 2024

At Christmas time there are festive attractions throughout Metro Vancouver. In Richmond, one of the main things to see during the holiday season is the Christmas at the Cannery Steveston Festival of Trees event.

During December the Gulf of Georgia Cannery is home to dozens of elaborately decorated Christmas trees. The trees are designed and sponsored by local merchants, and people vote for their favourite ones.

The Steveston Festival of Trees is a nice bonus when visiting the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Historic Site. The site is an interesting place to visit any time of the year, but especially pretty in December.

Cannery Admission

The regular cost of admission to the Cannery is the following as of November, 2024 (recognizing that prices are subject to change):

- Adults – $13.25
- Seniors (65+) – $11.25
- Children & Youth (ages 17 and under) – Free
- Cannery Society Members – Free

The Cannery is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

Festival of Trees Location

The Steveston Festival of Trees takes place indoors at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery which is located at 12138 Fourth Avenue in Steveston Village.

TIP: While in the area, if it’s not raining or you have an umbrella, go for a walk along the waterfront in Steveston Village. The Britannia Heritage Shipyard is just a 15- to 20-minute walk away and the route there on a nice day is beautiful.

Cannery Christmas Tree — Christmas at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery

What to Expect

The Festival of Trees is a community event where local businesses and organizations elaborately decorate trees for display. Everyone who visits the Cannery from November 30th to December 31st can vote on which trees they like the most, and the winners are announced at the beginning of January (before they all get taken down).

There are other activities at the Cannery as well. New in 2024 is the “What’s Cooking?” Recipe Exchange, where people are encouraged to share a family recipe and story behind it on a designated wall, and take home some new recipes from others to try. There’s also ornament-making to enjoy in the Cannery Kids Corner.

Finally, on Sunday, December 8th, there’s a special Santa at the Cannery day. Families can take pictures with Santa from 2:00 to 4:00 pm for no additional cost (they do have to take the pictures themselves as there’s no on-site photographer). Tickets for Santa pictures are available first-come, first-served on the day of the event.

Christmas in Steveston Village

On the first Sunday in December each year Steveston Village usually celebrates the start of the Christmas season with a number of events, including some at the Cannery. In 2024 “Christmas in Steveston Village” takes place on Sunday, December 1st.

At the Christmas in Steveston Village event there is a classic car show. Santa arrives by boat at Fisherman’s Wharf. On the same day, Santa Claus sometimes hangs out at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery for part of the afternoon.

Santa typically arrives at the wharf in Steveston Village at around 1:00 pm. The Christmas Classic Car Cruise takes place from noon-ish until 1:30 pm. Exact details for 2024 are to be confirmed as of early November. Both of these events are free to enjoy.

Click Christmas in Steveston Village for more details about the special one-day event.