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.

The Vancouver Christmas Market opened its gates on November 13th and runs until December 24th in 2024. The venue is next to the Vancouver Convention Centre downtown.

TIP: Take advantage of the Festive Fives dates and times and your ticket will cost just $5 (but only while these special ticket supplies last)!

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 perennial favourite over the festive season. It’s a fun outdoor European-style market with a German flavour to it. There are a number of vendors selling unique Christmas products such as Christmas decorations, scented soaps and oils, and imported chocolates you would not typically find in a grocery store. The market is a great place to shop for unusual Christmas gifts and festive things to eat. Mulled wine or a cup of steaming hot chocolate are wonderful to warm up to as you make your rounds, shopping from one vendor to the next. If you’re stuck for Christmas gift ideas, the Vancouver Christmas Market won’t disappoint in its festive offerings to put under the tree.

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 celebrates its 14th year in 2024. It’s open daily from November 13th until December 24th. Operating hours are listed below. They vary depending on the month and day.

November 13th 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 19th: 11:30 am to 9:30 pm from Monday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am to 9:30 pm on Sunday.
December 20th to 24th: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm on Saturday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on Sunday and Monday, and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Christmas Eve.

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

There are three types of tickets you can purchase. The first is general admission and the cost to buy a single ticket is $21.99.

Next is the single season pass that gives you unlimited entry to the market throughout the season. Individual season passes cost $35.99 per person closer to the event, but can be purchased for $30.99 if bought in advance. Finally, there are family season passes that cost $100 for two adults and two youth, but discounted to $75 if you book in advance.

General Admission Prices for 2024

Tickets usually 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 early!

Ticket purchased online in advance this year cost the following:

Adults (ages 18 to 64) – $21.63
Seniors (ages 65 and above) – $18.42
Youth (ages 7 to 17) – $13.07
Children (ages 6 and under) – Free

Early bird discounts are also available. The earlier you book, the more you’ll save!

There are a few specific days with discounted tickets in 2024. That includes “Festive Fives” days where tickets are just $5! That much cheaper price applies to a couple of specific timeslots on seven days between mid-November and early December.

There are also Grey Cup Festival passes which cost $25. They gave visitors unlimited access to the market during the Grey Cup Festival (from November 13th to 17th).

For full details on how you can save when you visit the Vancouver Christmas Market, click Promos & Events.

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 souvenirs of all kinds. There is also a carnival carousel and scavenger hunt for the kids, as well as alcoholic beverages for adults.

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 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 a variety of pastries. There is also beer and a range of other festive beverages. A mug of steaming hot chocolate topped with whipped cream goes down well as you browse the artisan stalls on chilly days and nights.

Regular features every year include things like mulled wine and entertainment. There is a huge walkthrough Christmas tree with tons of lights. Since 2021, carousel rides are free (although donations to charities 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 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 close to 100!

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 to snack on a meal and rest from your shopping, 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.

See the image below for a map of what the Vancouver Christmas Market looks like most years.

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 most years. You can walk inside and take photos as well.

Artisan Market (Marktplatz)

Along the western or northwestern edge of the Vancouver Christmas Market, along the Cactus Club restaurant side, there are normally 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 (or at least that was the case in previous years).

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+ 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 typically run 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 this year’s entertainment lineup and schedule, see our Vancouver Christmas Market Entertainment Schedule.

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.