Vancouver’s 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

OCTOBER – NOVEMBER – DECEMBER

January Calendar of Events

• Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day (stat holiday)
• Jan. 25 – Robbie Burns Day (birthday of Scotland’s national poet)

(Note: Schedules are subject to change. This is the case any year, but especially in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, see official event websites for the most up-to-date details. Also, whatever you do, be responsible and stay safe!)

Vancouver January Events in 2021

Below is what’s happening on the different days of the month in January. Alternatively, for a list of events that cost nothing or only very little, see our article about Free Events in January.

Note: Schedules are subject to change – check official websites for exact details.

Week of January 23rd to 24th

January 23-24 | January 25-31

Saturday, January 23, 2021

• A Robert Burns Celebration – an online event celebrating Scotland’s national poet.
• Christmas Glow Langley – a drive-thru-style winter holiday attraction featuring in Langley.
• Riley Park Farmers Market – between 10 am and 2 pm at Vancouver’s Nat Bailey Stadium at 4601 Ontario Street.
• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel.
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• White Rock Festival of Lights – the holiday illuminations at the waterfront are still up in White Rock for locals to enjoy.
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Vancouver Motorcycle Show – a motorbike trade show at Tradex in Abbotsford. (CANCELLED)
• Vancouver Canucks Hockey – the team plays against the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Arena. (Fans can’t attend in person, but they can watch the game on TV and at sports bars around the Lower Mainland.)

Sunday, January 24, 2021

• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel.
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Sunday Markets
  • 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.
  • Cloverdale Flea Market – a massive market at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey from 6 am until 3 pm. (TBD, but likely cancelled.)
  • Abbotsford Flea Market – a giant flea market at Abbotsford Exhibition Park from 6 am to 4 pm. (TBD, but likely cancelled.)
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Vancouver Motorcycle Show – a motorbike trade show at Tradex in Abbotsford. (CANCELLED)
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

Week of January 25th to 31st

January 23-24 | January 25-31

Monday, January 25, 2021

• Robbie Burns Day – a day to celebrate the birth of Scotland’s poet laureate.
• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel. (Note: Ski tickets are 21% off at Grouse today as well as every weekday in January.)
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Vancouver Canucks Hockey – the team plays against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena. (Fans can’t attend in person, but they can watch the game on TV and at sports bars around the Lower Mainland.)
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel. (Note: Ski tickets are 21% off at Grouse today as well as every weekday in January.)
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Vancouver Art Gallery – admission is by donation from 5 to 9 pm (because it’s Tuesday).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

STAY SAFE & BE RESPONSIBLE!

Whatever you do, don’t forget to wear a mask in indoor public places, stay 6 feet away from other people, and hang out just with folk from within your household/bubble. Also, avoid non-essential travel, stay home if you aren’t feeling well, and support small local businesses as much as you can!

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel. (Note: Ski tickets are 21% off at Grouse today as well as every weekday in January.)
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Vancouver Canucks Hockey – the team plays against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena. (Fans can’t attend in person, but they can watch the game on TV and at sports bars around the Lower Mainland.)
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

Thursday, January 28, 2021

• PuSh Festival – an international performing arts festival.
• Christmas Glow Langley – a winter holiday attraction featuring a light maze, live entertainment and family-friendly activities in Langley.
• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel. (Note: Ski tickets are 21% off at Grouse today as well as every weekday in January.)
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Vancouver Canucks Hockey – the team plays against the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena. (Fans can’t attend in person, but they can watch the game on TV and at sports bars around the Lower Mainland.)
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

When it’s next possible to travel, be sure to vacation close to home! Also, don’t forget to check out StayVancouverHotels the next time you want to stay in a hotel in downtown Vancouver.

Friday, January 29, 2021

• PuSh Festival – an international performing arts festival.
• Christmas Glow Langley – a drive-thru-style winter holiday attraction featuring in Langley.
• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel. (Note: Ski tickets are 21% off at Grouse today as well as every weekday in January.)
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

Saturday, January 30, 2021

• Christmas Glow Langley – a drive-thru-style winter holiday attraction featuring in Langley.
• PuSh Festival – an international performing arts festival.
• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel.
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

Sunday, January 31, 2021

• PuSh Festival – an international performing arts festival.
• Lower Mainland Ski Hills – all 5 regional ski hills are open. Just remember to enjoy the snow sports in your own region and avoid non-essential travel.
  • Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
  • Sasquatch Mountain in the Fraser Valley.
  • Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
  • For ski conditions and to see how the mountains compare click Vancouver Ski Hills & Snow Conditions.
• Christmas Lights at Cap Bridge – the North Shore attraction is open between 11 am and 6 pm (and the illuminations are on during the last couple of hours or so).
• Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – special hot chocolate offerings around town. So it’s not really a “festival.” It’s more just an excuse to enjoy a hot winter treat!
• Granville Island – the Public Market is open as are most of the art studios and other unique places to shop.
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special deals at hundreds of local restaurants. (POSTPONED until a few weeks later than usual. Running from February 5th until March 7th this year.)
• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival – an LGBTQ-themed event at Whistler-Blackcomb. (CANCELLED)

To return to the top of the page, click January Calendar.

To see what’s happening next month, click February Calendar.

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, Mount Seymour or Sasquatch Mountain ski hills.
• 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 as well as at Shipyard Commons in North Vancouver (although not in 2020 because of COVID-19).
• If it’s miserable outside, then also check out Vancouver’s Best Things to do on a Rainy Day.

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 in 2020 because of COVID-19).

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.

In normal years, 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.