Some of Metro Vancouver’s best Christmas attractions are on the North Shore in places such as Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge and the Shipyards.
This article contains information about the following topics:
Canyon Lights | Bonfire & Christmas Ships Festival | Christmas in Lower Lonsdale | Dundarave Festival of Lights | Holiday Hi-Light Festival | Peak of Christmas | Christmas Markets
Click any of the above links to jump to specific information or continue reading to learn about all of the North Shore’s main Christmas attractions and events.
Amazing Christmas Attractions in North and West Vancouver
There are some amazing Christmas attractions over the holiday season in the Lower Mainland most years. See below for some of the best.
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
At the Capilano Suspension Bridge there is Canyon Lights which features amazing Christmas decorations and illuminations, as well as lit up bridges above the canyon and through the trees. It’s one of Vancouver’s top attractions and especially amazing during the winter holiday season.
Canyon Lights starts November 21st, 2025, and runs until January 18th, 2026.
Click Canyon Lights or see the official Capilano Bridge website for further details.
Canyon Lights Video
The following video is of the Cliff Walk at the Capilano Suspension Bridge attraction during the Canyon Lights Christmas season. The Cliff Walk is just one of many areas lit up at night between late November and January each year.
To learn about all the other things to see and do at the attraction during the winter holiday season, see our article about Canyon Lights. In that article is a video showing all the many other beautiful Christmas type scenes.
Santa’s Christmas Ships & Bonfire
The Santa Christmas Ships Celebration (formerly known as Carol Ships) happens on Saturday, December 6th. It’s a free event that features a massive bonfire, live music, kid-friendly activities and a procession of boats decorated with Christmas lights at Panorama Park in Deep Cove.
FREE HOLIDAY BONFIRE EVENT IN DEEP COVE
To kick off the holiday season in 2025, the District of North Vancouver hosts a Community Bonfire Event at Panorama Park in Deep Cove. It’s a free event on December 6th with live music, crafts, hot chocolate and other activities (including a visit by the carol ships). For full details, see the nvrc.ca website.
Christmas in Lower Lonsdale
North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood celebrates the holiday season with the Spirit of the Season Festival which is a wonderful family-friendly (and free) event.
The festival takes place November 29th, 2025 from 4 pm until 8 pm, and the lights stay up to admire throughout the holiday season.
See our article about the Spirit of the Season Festival to learn more.
Dundarave Festival of Lights
West Vancouver celebrates the Christmas season with its Festival of Lights event at Dundarave Beach.
During the event, area businesses and community organizations decorate Christmas trees which are then on display throughout December. The decorations are pretty to see at night, and on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas there is usually live entertainment and other family-friendly activities at the beach.
In 2025 there are events happening on November 19th as well as December 6th, 13th and 20th.
Click Dundarave Festival of Lights for more information.
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
At Grouse Mountain there is the Peak of Christmas which includes outdoor skating and much more. Most years there are also sleigh rides, gingerbread house displays and holiday movies. And that’s not including all the great skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing that take place up on Grouse Mountain all winter long.
In 2025, the Peak of Christmas runs from November 21st, until Christmas Eve.
Click Peak of Christmas for more information.
North Shore Christmas Markets
November and December are usually “Christmas craft fair season” in the Lower Mainland. The North Shore offers some of the best places to find products made by both local and international artisans.
Christmas craft markets feature all kinds of handmade products. They are fabulous places to buy unique and quality gifts. Items that you’ll typically find at a holiday market include fancy candles, handmade jewellery, exotic soaps, knitted products, greeting cards, homemade preserves, glass work and a wide range of other products that make ideal gifts.
Some of the best markets that take place on the North Shore include Made in the 604 Pop-Up Markets, the Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market, and the new Shipyards Christmas Market. Below you’ll find details about all three events.
Made in the 604 Holiday Markets
Made in the 604 Pop-Up Markets take place in the Pipe Shop at the Shipyards at various times over the course of the year including during the Christmas shopping season.
There are a series of markets planned for the 2025 season. The first is Foodie Fest on November 21st, and then there will be several pop-up markets and night markets throughout December. For the full schedule, check out the Madeinth604 website. Admission is free!
Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market
The Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market is a great market that features dozens of local artisan vendors. The market runs on the weekend of December 13th and 14th, 2025. It happens at the Pipe Shop at 115 Victory Ship Way.
Admission to the market is free on both days. They gratefully accept donations at the door, however, and give whatever they collect to the North Shore Neighbourhood House (which is a very worthwhile cause).
Shipyards Christmas Market
The Shipyards Christmas Market debuted last year. It’s a European-themed market that runs from November 28th, 2025, until Christmas Eve. It takes place at the Shipyards at 125 Victory Ship Way.
The event features close to 75 different vendor booths, in addition to live music, ice skating, light displays and more. Admission is free.
Holiday Hi-Light Festival
In the Gardens at Park and Tilford Mall there is the free Holiday Hi-Light Festival with holiday decorations and thousands of lights. Admission is by donation with proceeds benefiting the North Shore Women’s Centre.
In 2025, the Christmas lights and decorations are up from November 28th until December 31st. Around mid-December there is Family Friday with extra activities including face painting, visits from Santa and more.
Click Holiday Hi-Light Festival for additional information.
Other Information
All of the above attractions are among the Lower Mainland’s best places to see Christmas Lights and enjoy the festive holiday season.
Check out Top Things to do at Christmas for more ideas on other great places to see Christmas lights in the Lower Mainland.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s November and December Calendars of Events
- Lower Mainland Christmas Craft Fairs
- Vancouver’s Best Christmas Activities
- Vancouver Theatre in December
- Vancouver Christmas Concerts
- Lower Mainland Ski Hills
