Vancouver Christmas Market

The Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza is a great place to shop and get into the festive spirit with friends in November and December.

Last year, the Vancouver Christmas Market ran from November 16th until December 24th. It happens downtown beside the Vancouver Convention Centre. Last day of the season is on Christmas Eve when it closes at 6:00 pm (which is three-and-a-half or four hours earlier than other days).

For the attraction’s official website, visit vancouverchristmasmarket.com.

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Click on any of the following topics to jump to specific information, or continue reading for full details about the Vancouver Christmas Market.

Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza

The Vancouver Christmas Market is a fun outdoor European-style market. It’s great for holiday window shopping and festive things to eat. It’s also the best place to Christmas shop while sipping mulled wine!

Where and When

The Vancouver Christmas Market is located at Jack Poole Plaza outside the Vancouver Convention Centre by the Olympic Cauldron at 1055 Canada Place. The plaza is on the far side of the Convention Centre from Canada Place.

The market celebrated its 13th year in 2023. It was open daily from November 16th until December 24th. Hours are listed below. They varied depending on the month and day.

November 16th to 30th: 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm from Monday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am to 9:30 pm on Sunday.
December 1st to 23rd: 11:00 am to 9:30 pm on Sunday to Thursday, and 11:00 am to 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday.
December 24th: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

For tickets and more information, see the Vancouver Christmas Market website.

Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza — Jack Poole Plaza at Christmas

Admission to the Christmas Market

Tickets cost slightly more if you buy them in-person at the gate. If you purchase them online they cost slightly less. If you plan to go more than a couple of times, we recommend you get a season’s pass. Season passes often sell out though, so, if you want one, buy it soon!

Ticket purchased online in advance last year cost the following:

Adults (ages 18 to 64) – $19.99
Seniors (ages 65 and above) – $16.99
Youth (ages 7 to 17) – $11.99
Children (ages 6 and under) – Free

Season passes in 2023 cost $35.99 and included unlimited entry throughout the season. New that year were family season passes which cost $99.99 and included unlimited entry for two adults and two youth.

Early bird discounts are also available for all types of tickets and season passes. The earlier you book, the more you’ll save! Arrival time slots can be booked in 30-minute intervals.

For tickets, see the official Vancouver Christmas Market website.

Christmas Market Video

To give you an idea of what to expect at the Vancouver Christmas Market, check out the video below. It includes scenes of the market from 2022.

For tickets and full details about the event, see the Vancouver Christmas Market website.

What to Expect at the Market

If you are looking for an outdoor market to do your Christmas shopping, or just want to see all kinds of interesting quality gift ideas and tasty things to eat, then the Vancouver Christmas Market is definitely worth visiting. It’s a very popular attraction! As many as a quarter of a million people shop there in a season!

At the market you’ll find a wide selection of vendors selling food and Christmas-y souvenirs of all kinds. There is also a carnival carousel and scavenger hunt for the kids, as well as hot apple cider and mulled wine (for those ages 19+).

The Vancouver Christmas Market is arguably the Lower Mainland’s best outdoor market anywhere this time of year. It’s one of the very best in Canada in fact. There are other good ones including Vancouver’s regular weekly Winter Farmers Markets which feature local produce and artisan products. The Vancouver Christmas Market, however, is in a league of its own!

Open from mid-November until Christmas Eve, the Vancouver Christmas Market has a German theme. Numerous European-style stalls sell everything from German beer steins to specialty soaps, chocolates, handicrafts and craft-distilled spirits. There are also hundreds of Christmas-y stocking-stuffer kinds of gifts. The quality of goods tends to be very high.

In addition to all the retail stalls, food for sale most years includes glühwein drinks, pretzels, schnitzels and all sorts of pastries. There is also beer and a range of other festive beverages. A mug of steaming hot chocolate goes down well as you browse the artisan stalls on chilly days and nights.

Regular features every year include things like the mulled wine and entertainment. There is a 30-foot walk-in Christmas tree with thousands of lights. Since 2021, carousel rides are free (although donations to the Make-A-Wish charity are greatly appreciated).

Vancouver Christmas Market Shoppers — Christmas Market Shoppers

Christmas Market Zones

In recent years the Vancouver Christmas Market has been divided up into four or so main sections to make it easier to find different things. When the attraction first started up years ago there were around 24 vendors. Now there are over 90!

In typical years, zones include the Christmas Tree Terrace, Artisan Market, Merchant Alley, Marktplatz and Alpine Haus.

Zones include the Marktplatz (with artisan vendors), Gourmetstrasse (with gourmet food-product vendors), and Kaufmannsgasse (an area with additional vendor stalls). There is also the Tannenbaum Terrace (where there are food and drinks for sale), Christmas Tree Terrace (where the giant walk-in Christmas tree is), and Schnapslplatz (where you’ll find a couple of wine and spirits vendors).

The carousel is near the entrance to the Vancouver Christmas Market on Canada Place Street. The Alpine Haus, meanwhile, is at the far end of the venue, near the waterfront. It’s where you’ll find covered seating and indoor activities like Karaoke Night on select dates. In the middle of the market, near the start of the Tannenbaum Terrace with all the food and beverage vendors, is the Christmas Pyramid & Flying Stage where the live entertainment takes place.

For a map of the Vancouver Christmas Market, click Market Venue Map or see the image below.

2023 Vancouver Christmas Market Map — 2023 Venue Map

Walk-In Christmas Tree

In the middle of the venue, near the Olympic Cauldron, there’s the Tannenbaum Terrace. At the start of it is where you’ll find the giant Christmas tree you can walk inside and take photos in.

Artisan Market (Marktplatz)

Along the western or northwestern edge of the Vancouver Christmas Market, along the Cactus Club restaurant side, there are artisan vendors. There are lots nearby in front of the Alpen Haus covered-shelter area too. The Marktplatz features local artisans selling a wide variety of handmade products. There are a few artisan vendors near the entrance to the market, not far from where the carousel is. Most, though are in the Marktplatz area.

Merchant Alley (Kaufmannsgasse)

Along the eastern edge of the venue, on the side closest to the Vancouver Convention Centre, there is the Kaufmannsgasse or Merchant Alley. That’s where the market has another 24 or so vendors selling things like imported beer steins, exotic clothing and natural handmade goods.

For tickets and full details about the event, click vancouverchristmasmarket.com.

Marktplatz Eats & Treats

It’s usually in the central area of the Marktplatz that you’ll find the attraction’s 24 or so food and drink vendors. There are other food vendors nearby, though in the Tannenbaum Terrace area too.

Menu items at the market typically include things like cheese & potato raclette, stews, pork hock, and bratwurst sausages.

Dessert items in the Marktplatz typically include things like waffles, some kind of donut, Belgian chocolates and chimney cakes. There are also usually shish kabob-style chocolate-covered fruits and marshmallows. Beverages include everything from craft beers to German beers, glühwein, schnapps and hot apple cider.

Alpen Haus

At the north/northeast end of the Marktplatz, at the edge of Burrard Inlet, there is a large indoor area with places to relax and socialize. The area has a ski-theme and is called Alpen Haus.

For tickets and more information, see the Vancouver Christmas Market website.

Market Entertainment

Most days at the Vancouver Christmas Market there is live music. Most of it happens on weekdays in the evenings, or on weekends throughout the afternoon and evening.

The live entertainment takes place from up high on the stage on the second floor of the Christmas Pyramid. Performances happen on weekdays at various times between around 5:00 pm and 9:30 pm and on weekends between 12:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

To see the full entertainment lineup and schedule for 2023 visit the Vancouver Christmas Market website or see our article about Entertainment Schedule.

Vancouver Christmas Market Vendor

Market Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions and information to help you make the most of your visit to the Vancouver Christmas Market.

TIP #1: Best times to go are when it’s not raining (unless you want to avoid the crowds) and during live music scheduled times. It’s an interesting place to visit, though at pretty much any time.

TIP #2: Unless the place is really busy, chat with the vendors. They have interesting stories about their products and can be fun to talk with.

TIP #3: While in the area, and if the weather is good, then go for a stroll around nearby Canada Place either before or after your trip to the market. Christmas at Canada Place isn’t a huge attraction, but it is free, and it does have nice lights and decorations in December. FlyOver Canada also has Christmas-themed shows, and its theatre is just a short stroll away. FlyOver Canada is highly recommended!

For tickets and more information, see the Vancouver Christmas Market website.