Home Christmas Events Vancouver’s North Shore Christmas Events and Activities

Vancouver’s North Shore Christmas Events and Activities

November 14, 2015

Some of Metro Vancouver’s best Christmas attractions are on the North Shore including at Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge and the Shipyards.

This article contains information about the following topics:

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.

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 end of November and runs until mid-January. In 2025 the light displays are up until January 19th.

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.

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 2024 the Christmas lights and decorations are up from November 29th until December 31st. December 13th is Family Friday with extra activities including face painting, visits from Santa and more.

Click Holiday Hi-Light Festival for additional information.

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 on November 30th in 2024, 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 Wassail Bonfire — Dundarave Festival of Lights Bonfire

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 for the month of 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 2024 there are event days on November 30th as well as December 7th, 14th and 21st.

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 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 2024 the Peak of Christmas runs from November 22nd until December 25th.

Click Peak of Christmas for more information.

Grouse Mountain Skating Rink at Night — Skating Rink at the Peak of Christmas

Santa’s Christmas Ships

The Santa Christmas Ships Celebration (formerly known as Carol Ships) takes place on a weekend evening in early December. 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.

In 2024 the event runs on Friday, December 6th.

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. Products 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.

In 2024 the market happens on the weekend of December 6th to 8th. Admission is free!

Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market

The Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market is a great market that features dozens of local artisan vendors. In 2024 the market runs on the weekend of December 14th and 15th. 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

New for 2024, the Shipyards Christmas Market is a European-themed market that runs from November 29th until December 24th. 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.