Vancouver’s 2017 January calendar features important dates and events in the Lower Mainland including festivals, shows and recommended winter activities.
JANUARY – FEBRUARY – MARCH – APRIL
MAY – JUNE – JULY – AUGUST – SEPTEMBER
January Events Calendar
- Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day (Stat Holiday)
- Jan. 25 – Robbie Burns Day (birthday of Scotland’s national poet).
- Jan. 28 – Chinese New Year
January Events in Vancouver
Below is what’s happening on the different days of the month in January. Note: schedules are subject to change – check official websites for exact details.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
- Polar Bear Swims
- Polar Bear Swim – an icy cold dip in the waters of English Bay at 2:30 pm to celebrate the New Year. Thousands of people are expected! Click Polar Bear Swims for details.
- Penguin Plunge – live music and festivities from 12:30 until 3 pm at Deep Cove‘s Panorama Park in North Vancouver with a quick dip in the ocean for those that dare at 2 pm. Click Polar Bear Swims for details.
- White Rock Polar Bear Swim – the Rotary Clubs of White Rock & South Surrey host the 47th annual Polar Bear swim at White Rock Beach at noon. Click Polar Bear Swims for details.
- Vancouver New Year’s Day Fat Ass 50K Run and Freeze Your Fat Ass Swim – a 1 km to 50 km run and swim beginning at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park at 9 am. Cost is about $25.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Canyon Lights – Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Bright Nights – last day of the season for the world-famous Christmas lights and miniature train rides at Stanley Park.
- Peak of Christmas – Christmas holiday activities at Grouse Mountain.
- Heritage Christmas – Christmas lights and seasonal activities at Burnaby Village Museum.
- Gingerbread Lane – free Christmas gingerbread house displays at the Hyatt Regency.
- Spirit of Christmas – last day of the season for Christmas festivities at the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Holiday Heights at Bloedel – Christmas lights, glowing plants, a Ferris wheel and family fun at the Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park.
Monday, January 2, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Canyon Lights – Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Peak of Christmas – Christmas holiday activities at Grouse Mountain.
- Heritage Christmas – last day of the season for Christmas lights and activities at Burnaby Village Museum.
- Gingerbread Lane – last day of the season for the free Christmas gingerbread house displays at the Hyatt Regency.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Holiday Heights at Bloedel – Christmas lights, glowing plants, a Ferris wheel and family fun at the Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Canyon Lights – Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Peak of Christmas – Christmas holiday activities at Grouse Mountain.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Cheap night at most Lower Mainland movie theatres.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Canyon Lights – Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Peak of Christmas – Christmas holiday activities at Grouse Mountain.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Canyon Lights – Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Peak of Christmas – Christmas holiday activities at Grouse Mountain.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Friday, January 6, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Canyon Lights – last weekend of the season for the Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Peak of Christmas – last weekend of the season for the Christmas holiday activities at Grouse Mountain.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
- Family Favourites Movies – $2.99 movie on Saturday morning at select Cineplex theatres. Today’s film is Ratchet and Clank.
- Nat Bailey Winter Farmers Market – between 10 am and 2 pm at Vancouver’s Nat Bailey Stadium at 4601 Ontario Street.
- Squamish Farmers Market – at Squamish Elementary School at the corner of Buckley at Cleveland from 11 am to 3 pm.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm.
- Canyon Lights – Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Peak of Christmas – last day of the season for the Christmas holiday activities at Grouse Mountain.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Sunday, January 8, 2017
- Hastings Park Farmers Market – at Hastings Skatepark by the PNE off Renfrew Street from 10 am to 2 pm.
- Port Moody Winter Farmers Market – from 10 am until 2 pm at 300 Ioco Road.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Canyon Lights – last day of the season for the Christmas light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Monday, January 9, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Cheap night at most Lower Mainland movie theatres.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Friday, January 13, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Vancouver Giants Hockey – vs. Moose Jaw at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
- Nat Bailey Winter Farmers Market – between 10 am and 2 pm at Vancouver’s Nat Bailey Stadium at 4601 Ontario Street.
- Squamish Farmers Market – at Squamish Elementary School at the corner of Buckley at Cleveland from 11 am to 3 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Port Moody Winter Farmers Market – from 10 am until 2 pm at 300 Ioco Road.
- Hastings Park Farmers Market – at Hastings Skatepark by the PNE off Renfrew Street from 10 am to 2 pm.
Monday, January 16, 2017
- PuSh Festival – International Performing Arts Festival (January 16-21, 2017).
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
- PuSh Festival – International Performing Arts Festival.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Cheap night at most Lower Mainland movie theatres.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Vancouver Giants Hockey – vs. Victoria at 7:00 pm.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
- Vancouver International Boat Show – at both BC Place Stadium and the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina (January 18-22, 2017).
- PuSh Festival – International Performing Arts Festival.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
- Vancouver International Boat Show – at both BC Place Stadium and the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina (January 18-22, 2017).
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town (January 19 until February 14).
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Friday, January 20, 2017
- Vancouver International Boat Show – at both BC Place Stadium and the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina.
- PuSh Festival – International Performing Arts Festival.
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
- Vancouver Giants Hockey – vs. Kelowna at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
- Vancouver International Boat Show – at both BC Place Stadium and the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina.
- Nat Bailey Winter Farmers Market – between 10 am and 2 pm at Vancouver’s Nat Bailey Stadium at 4601 Ontario Street.
- LightWaterDrums Festival – a winter lantern festival at Hastings Park by the PNE that features fire, lanterns, drumming and other live entertainment from 5:30 until 8:00 pm on Saturday, January 21.
- Women’s March – a march of solidarity starting at Jack Poole Plaza at 10 am. Thousands are expected.
- Squamish Farmers Market – at Squamish Elementary School at the corner of Buckley at Cleveland from 11 am to 3 pm.
- Royal City Winter Farmers Market – in the 600 block of Belmont Street in New Westminster from 11 am until 3 pm.
- PuSh Festival – International Performing Arts Festival.
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays from 4:30 until 11 pm around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at the corner of Guildford Way and Pinetree Way.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
- Vancouver International Boat Show – last day of the show at both BC Place Stadium and the Granville Island Maritime Market and Marina.
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Vancouver Chilly Chace – 5K, 10K, 15K and half marathon routes around False Creek.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Lights at Lafarge – last day of the winter light displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake for the season.
- Port Moody Winter Farmers Market – from 10 am until 2 pm at 300 Ioco Road.
- Hastings Park Farmers Market – from 10 am to 2 pm at Hastings Skatepark by the PNE (at Renfrew Street and Pandora).
Monday, January 23, 2017
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town (January 19 until February 14).
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Shred for the Cause Ladies Night – ladies ski for a minimum $10 donation at Mount Seymour from 6 to 10 pm.
- Vancouver Giants Hockey – vs. Prince George at 7:00 pm.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Cheap night at most Lower Mainland movie theatres.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
Friday, January 27, 2017
- Chinese New Year’s Eve – amazing and culturally impressive celebrations take place in the evening at the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond.
- Vancouver Lunarfest – Chinese New Year activities at the Queen Elizabeth Plaza from 11 to 6 pm.
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Friday Night Live – first night of the year for comedy improv at the Lynn Valley United Church at 3201 Mountain Highway in North Vancouver. Cost is $10.
- Vancouver Giants Hockey – vs. Victoria at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
- Chinese New Year – celebrations throughout the Lower Mainland.
- Chinese New Year at International Village – expect to see crowds of people, lots of vendor stalls selling Year of the Rooster souvenirs and a stage with live entertainment all weekend at the International Village Mall at 88 West Pender Street in Chinatown.
- Dharma Drum Center New Year’s Celebrations – special hands-on activities for children plus lion dance, drumming and other traditional musical performances at 8240 No. 5 Road in Richmond from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
- Vancouver Lunarfest – Chinese New Year activities at the Queen Elizabeth Plaza from 12 to 6 pm.
- Nat Bailey Winter Farmers Market – between 10 am and 2 pm at Vancouver’s Nat Bailey Stadium at 4601 Ontario Street.
- Squamish Farmers Market – at Squamish Elementary School at the corner of Buckley at Cleveland from 11 am to 3 pm.
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am until 11 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
- Chinese New Year – day two of celebrations throughout the Lower Mainland with a parade in Chinatown starting at 11 am.
- Dharma Drum Center New Year’s Celebrations – special hands-on activities for children plus lion dance, drumming and other traditional musical performances at 8240 No. 5 Road in Richmond from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
- Chinese New Year at International Village – expect to see crowds of people, lots of vendor stalls selling Year of the Rooster souvenirs and a stage with live entertainment all weekend at the International Village Mall at 88 West Pender Street in Chinatown.
- Vancouver Lunarfest – Chinese New Year activities at the Queen Elizabeth Plaza from 12 to 6 pm.
- The Year of the Rooster Temple Fair – a one-day festival celebrating the Chinese New Year at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown at 578 Carrall Street. Admission is by donation.
- Cavalia Odysseo – a large and technologically-sophisticated production involving dozens of horses, riders, acrobats and dancers under a big top at Olympic Village at 2 pm.
- Shen Yun – an amazing Classical Chinese dance performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (January 29-31).
- Cannery Farmers Market – indoors at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery at 12138 Fourth Avenue in Richmond from 10 am to 3 pm (with FREE admission to the Cannery).
- Port Moody Winter Farmers Market – from 10 am until 2 pm at 300 Ioco Road.
- Hastings Park Farmers Market – from 10 am to 2 pm at Hastings Skatepark by the PNE (at Renfrew Street and Pandora).
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
Monday, January 30, 2017
- Shen Yun – an amazing Classical Chinese dance performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (January 29-31).
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town.
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Shred for the Cause Ladies Night – ladies ski for a minimum $10 donation at Mount Seymour from 6 to 10 pm.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
- Shen Yun – an amazing Classical Chinese dance performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (January 29-31).
- Cavalia Odysseo – a large and technologically-sophisticated production involving dozens of horses, riders, acrobats and dancers under a big top at Olympic Village at 7:30 pm.
- Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town (January 19 until February 14).
- Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver from 9 am to 9 pm.
- Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants.
- Cheap night at most Lower Mainland movie theatres.
Click February Calendar for a list of what’s happening in February.
Top Things to do in January
For a detailed list of the Best Things to do in January, click the above icon. Other recommended top activities include the following:
- Go skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb, Cypress, Grouse or Mount Seymour ski hills.
- Eat out as much as you can in restaurants all over town during the Dine Out Vancouver Festival the last two weeks of the month.
- Visit one of Vancouver’s best places for indoor activities as the weather forecast will probably include a lot of rain. Top recommendations include Science World or the Vancouver Aquarium if you have young kids, or the Museum of Anthropology at UBC or Museum of Vancouver if you like museums.
- Free ice skating at Robson Square all month at the corner of Robson and Howe.
- Visit the UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC if it’s a sunny day. Winter is definitely not their finest time of year, but admission is by donation until the spring.
- If it’s miserable outside, then also check out Vancouver’s Best Things to do on a Rainy Day.
- Celebrate the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Fire Chicken begins on January 28 and the Chinese New Year Parade takes place that weekend, in Chinatown along Pender Street, Gore and Keefer starting at 11 am. Other Chinese New Year Festivities also take place in Chinatown at the International Village Mall at 88 West Pender Street, as well as at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
For more, check out Vancouver’s Best Places for Winter Activities.
Typical January Weather
January in Vancouver is typically fairly cloudy, cool and wet, with average high temperatures of 6 or so degrees Celsius (or 43 F), and the lows around 1 (or 34 F).
January gets an average of about 150 mm of rain (or 6 inches), making it the third wettest month of the year on average. Except for in the higher elevations, it doesn’t snow often in Metro Vancouver – only a little each year, and it doesn’t stay long – but it can snow. Sometimes January can be surprising though, with unexpected consecutive days of sun.
Recommended Activities
January can be one of the best months for skiing in Vancouver, as the cold weather and precipitation can make for lots of snow on the mountains, plus it’s after the December holidays so the crowds are much less.
For downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing (at Seymour and Cypress), cross-country skiing (at Cypress) and snowshoeing (especially at Seymour and Grouse Mountain), hit the hills on the North Shore. There is also skating at most community rec centres (so good places to go on rainy days), and free skating in downtown Vancouver at Robson Square at 800 Robson Street.
Although not typically a great month weather-wise, January can be the best time of the year to visit the city and sample its culinary talents. If you are in town during the last two weeks of the month (plus often the first couple of days in February), then definitely check out the Dine Out Vancouver Festival where close to 250 restaurants in the region offer special multi-course menus at exceptional rates (and some hotels offer fantastic deals too). Want to stay inside and eat great food all day at some of Vancouver’s best restaurants, then visit Vancouver in the latter half of January.
