Burnaby Village at Christmas

Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village is when Vancouver’s most interesting outdoor museum comes alive with Christmas lights and decorations in December.

The Christmas attraction ran from November 26th, 2022, until January 2nd, 2023. The official launch event, however, wasn’t until Saturday, December 3rd. Exact dates for the 2023/2024 event are still to be confirmed.

This article contains the following information about Heritage Christmas:

Burnaby Village at Christmas

An especially good time to visit Burnaby Village Museum is between late November and the beginning of January. In normal years, that’s when the place becomes festive with Christmas lights and seasonal displays of all kinds. There is usually entertainment and admission is free – which makes Burnaby Village one of the best Christmas deals in town.

Other exceptional Christmas-themed attractions that happen in the Lower Mainland include the Vancouver Christmas Market, Soar with Santa at FlyOver Canada, Christmas Glow in Langley, and Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge. There are also Christmas activities at the PNE Winter Fair and the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden.

In addition to the above, there are also lots of free places to see Christmas lights. They include Bright Nights at Stanley Park, Lights at Lafarge in Coquitlam, Lights by the Lake at Harrison Hot Springs and the Dundarave Festival of Lights in West Vancouver, among other venues.

To learn about the above attractions see our article about Best Vancouver Christmas Activities. Or, to learn about the free attraction in Burnaby, continue reading.

Christmas Blacksmith Demonstrations at Burnaby Village — Being Entertained at the Blacksmith Shop

About Burnaby Village

Located at 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby Village Museum is “Where History Comes to Life.” This outdoor museum includes old-fashioned streets, period-costumed townsfolk, and a blacksmith. Historic buildings such as a school, church and old homes are also included, along with a historic Vancouver streetcar and even an ice-cream parlour, among other stores.

Want to see a place with historical value and Christmas lights? Then be sure to check out Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village!

About Heritage Christmas

Burnaby Village is a great place for people of all ages, especially during its Heritage Christmas season. In years that the event takes place, there are festive Christmas lights and decorations to admire as well as special entertainment at certain times.

Even if it wasn’t free, this attraction would still be highly recommended. Don’t miss it!

People at Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village — Light Displays at Heritage Christmas

Christmas Hours & Dates

Heritage Christmas didn’t happen in the 2020 season due to COVID-19, but it returned in the winter of 2021 and happened again in 2022! This past season, Heritage Christmas began on Saturday, November 26th, and ran until January 2nd, 2023.

Hours of operation from November 26th until December 18th were 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm on weekdays and 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm on weekends. The exception was Monday, December 5th, when the event closed at 4:00 pm.

Then, from December 19th to January 2nd the event was open from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm every day. The exceptions were Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when the entire village was closed. We expect the hours to be comparable during the 2023/2024 season.

Heritage Christmas Activities

Activities that take place daily most years at Burnaby Village over the winter holiday season include a Twelve Days of Christmas scavenger hunt for children and carousel rides. Christmas movies in the theatre and a Swans a-Swimming light display are also part of the experience.

All of the above are free, except for the carousel rides which in years that it operates usually cost $2.65 per person to ride. There is also live entertainment most years.

Unfortunately, there were no carousel rides in 2022. There were still plenty of things to enjoy though. There were numerous demonstrations along with a bird-themed scavenger hunt and seasonal entertainment. There were also Christmas-themed decorations and illuminations to admire.

Christmas Music at Burnaby Village Church — Live Music at the Burnaby Village Church

Heritage Christmas Schedule

Every year at Heritage Christmas entertainers usually perform at various times on different days, but mostly on the weekends.

The official launch of the 2022 season took place on Saturday, December 3rd, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a special Bright in Burnaby event. See below for details.

Bright in Burnaby Launch Event

The official launch event for Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village is the Bright in Burnaby event, which in 2022 was on December 3rd.

It serves as the official launch of the whole Heritage Christmas event. Activities on the day include the lighting of the museum’s Christmas tree and live entertainment. There are also cookies and other light snacks and drinks for sale, with proceeds benefitting the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.

Activities Schedule on Other Days

Live entertainment and special family-friendly activities take place on other days throughout the season too, especially on the weekends leading up to Christmas in normal years.

In addition to scavenger hunts and demonstrations, there are also children’s crafts and live performances like caroling or street performers at various times.

2022 Entertainment Schedule

The entertainment lineup for performances in the second half of December and early January 2023 is listed below. Details are to be confirmed for the entertainment lineup for the 2023/2024 season.

Note: Event details were subject to change. Also, with each group, they didn’t perform non-stop. They sang or played for half an hour, then took a 30- or 45-minute break, and returned to entertain some more.

Saturday, December 17th, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Father Christmas
3:00 pm to 5:30 pm – Christmas Harmony (Roving)
3:30 pm to 7:55 pm – Matt Henry (Juggler)
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Noel (Carolers)

Sunday, December 18th, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Father Christmas
4:00 pm to 8:25 pm – Matt Henry (Juggler)
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm – North Vancouver Community Band
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Christmas Revelers (Roving)

Monday, December 19th, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Father Christmas
1:30 pm to 5:55 pm – Matt Henry (Juggler)
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Noel (Carolers)

Tuesday, December 20th, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Father Christmas
1:30 pm to 5:55 pm – Matt Henry (Juggler)
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Noel (Carolers)

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

1:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Christmas Harmony (Carolers)
2:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Father Christmas
3:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Jorg & Borg’s Homespun Elf Band
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Christmas Revelers (Roving)

Thursday, December 22nd, 2022

1:30 pm to 4:00 pm – Christmas Harmony (Carolers)
2:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Father Christmas
3:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Jorg & Borg’s Homespun Elf Band
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Christmas Revelers (Roving)

Friday, December 23rd, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Father Christmas
2:30 pm to 8:00 pm – Stories on Wheels
3:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Jorg & Borg’s Homespun Elf Band
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm – Christmas Harmony (Carolers)

Tuesday, December 27th, 2022

1:30 pm to 4:30 pm – The Lucky Trappers (Music)

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Stories on Wheels
7:00 pm to 7:45 pm – Melodia (Carolers)

Thursday, December 29th, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Stories on Wheels

Friday, December 30th, 2022

2:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Stories on Wheels

Sunday, January 1st, 2023

2:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Stories on Wheels
4:30 pm to 7:15 pm – Murphy & The Jazz Cats (Music)

Monday, January 2nd, 2023

2:00 pm to 4:15 pm – The Lucky Trappers
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Stories on Wheels
5:30 pm to 8:00 pm – Murphy & The Jazz Cats (Music)

Heritage Christmas Video

Below is a video of the Heritage Christmas event in 2019. The attraction features all kinds of beautiful exhibits and illuminations. There is also live entertainment, with carolers singing pretty much every night.

As you’ll see, the place looks magical at night and makes for a wonderful family-friendly activity.

Note: Every year the place looks a little bit different. In 2021, for example, there wasn’t the scene with the white maids that appears in this video and that has been part of the attraction for the last few years. Instead there was a display featuring a couple of giant blue herons inside a large blue cage of lights.