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 typically runs from late November until the beginning of January. The official launch event last year was on Saturday, November 30th.
This article contains the following information about Heritage Christmas:
About Burnaby Village | About Heritage Christmas | Hours and Dates | Activities | Schedule | Video | Tips & Advice | Other Information
Burnaby Village at Christmas
An especially good time to visit Burnaby Village Museum is between late November and the beginning of January. That’s when the place is 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, Christmas Glow in Langley, Noel Holiday Light Festival in Surrey, 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 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.
See our article about Best Vancouver Christmas Activities to learn about the above attractions, or continue reading to learn about the free attraction in Burnaby.
About Burnaby Village
Burnaby Village Museum is at 6501 Deer Lake Avenue. The museum prides itself as being “Where History Comes to Life.” This outdoor attraction 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. 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!
Christmas Hours & Dates
During the 2024/2025 winter season, Heritage Christmas began on Saturday, November 23rd and ran until Friday, January 3rd.
Hours of operation from November 23rd until December 15th were 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm on Tuesdays to Fridays and 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm on weekends. The attraction was closed on Mondays.
From December 17th to January 3rd, 2025, the museum was open daily except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hours of operation when open were from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Heritage Christmas Activities
Burnaby Village offers a Twelve Days of Christmas scavenger hunt for children and carousel rides daily most years over the winter holiday season. Christmas movies in the theatre and a Swans a-Swimming light display are also part of the experience, as are all the Christmas-themed decorations and illuminations.
All of the above are free, except for the carousel rides which cost around $2.60 per person. There is also usually live entertainment at the event.
Heritage Christmas Schedule
Every year at Heritage Christmas, entertainers perform at various times on different days, but mostly on the weekends.
The official launch of the 2024/2025 season happened on Saturday, November 30th, 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.
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. Proceeds from carousel rides on the day go to 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 addition to scavenger hunts and demonstrations, there are typically children’s crafts and live performances like caroling or street performers at various times.
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.
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.
Tips & Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your visit to the Heritage Village event.
TIP #1: Check the event schedule and take in as much of the entertainment and free activities as you can.
TIP #2: Dress warmly if you’re going at night. It can get pretty cold in December (although not as cold as other parts of Canada).
TIP #3: The venue is at its busiest on weekends leading up to Christmas, in the evenings and on days without rain.
TIP #4: Parking can be a challenge. Be prepared to walk a decent distance (like from other parts of Deer Lake Park).
Other Information
Click Burnaby Village Museum to learn more about the venue at other times of the year.
See the official Burnaby Village website for more information on Heritage Christmas.
Check out Top Things to do at Christmas or Vancouver’s December Calendar for more ideas on places to see Christmas lights in the Lower Mainland.
