Free ice skating takes place in North Vancouver’s Shipyards District in winter. In December there are also Christmas decorations and other activities.
The Shipyards District’s Skate Plaza usually opens for the season at the end of November and runs until around mid-March.
Also happening at the Shipyards in December is the Shipyards Christmas Market. 2025 is the market’s second year. Beginning on November 28th and running until Christmas Eve. It has a European theme, similar to the Vancouver Christmas Market in downtown Vancouver.
Other holiday markets happen in the Shipyards in December, including the Made in the 604 pop-up market and the Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market. Both happen at the Pipe Shop Venue.
Christmas and Ice Skating at the Shipyards
North Vancouver‘s Shipyards and Lower Lonsdale District is where you’ll find holiday lights and decorations during the Christmas season. It’s also where you can go ice skating for free at Shipyard Commons between December and February each year.
Shipyards Skate Plaza
The Shipyards is home to the biggest outdoor skating rink in the region. At around 12,000 square feet, it’s twice the size of the Robson Square skating rink in downtown Vancouver. Both venues are free to enjoy for all. Skates, though, cost extra to rent.
The Skate Plaza is part of Shipyard Commons which is by the waterfront in the Lower Lonsdale District of North Vancouver. It opened to the public for the first time in 2019.
For the 2025/2026 season, skating opens on Saturday, November 29th. Daily public skate hours from 12:00 to 8:00 pm. The plaza is scheduled to remain open until late March.
Admission is free for those who have their own skates. You can rent skates for a reasonable price, $8 for adults and $5.50 for children. The Plaza usually closes for about 30 minutes every day at 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and again at 5:30 pm for cleaning.
The Shipyards Christmas Market
Part of the Lower Lonsdale district, the Shipyards hosts a number of events throughout the year. In December, it becomes a hub for North Vancouver’s Christmas holiday celebrations.
The Shipyards Christmas Market returns for 2025. The market operates Monday to Friday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, and on weekends and a select few days before Christmas, it stays open until 10:00 pm. The event has a European theme, with plenty of vendors, food, live music, and other activities.
Spirit of the Season Celebration
Spirit of the Season usually serves as the opening to the City of North Vancouver’s holiday celebrations. In 2025, the festival takes place on Saturday, November 29th, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at The Shipyards. The event is free for everyone.
The Celebration features an evening of performances, including Ballet Bloch, Casey Thomas-Burns Jazz Quintet, and many more. There are also arts and crafts activities, carolling, food and drinks.
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by City fire truck at 3:45 pm, with free photo opportunities from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Cates Deck. The mayor of North Vancouver normally teams up with Santa and Mrs. Claus to light the big Lonsdale Christmas tree.
While the festival is free, donations are encouraged, with proceeds supporting various local charities.
Spirit of the Season Video
Below you’ll find a video of the Shipyards area in December of 2020 (so in a year when there wasn’t a festival, but the place was still all lit up and looking festive). There were extra lights and decorations that year. The place is still pretty at night, but not to the same extent as during the height of the COVID era.
Pipe Shop Holiday Markets
The Pipe Shop is the site for a couple of different markets during the Christmas holiday season. The building is located near the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue at 115 Victory Ship Way in Shipbuilders’ Square.
The Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market happens on Saturday and Sunday, December 13th and 14th, 2025. This market has dozens of local vendors who sell a variety of products like homemade liquors, preserves, toys, jewellery, Christmas cards, desserts and more.
There’s also the Vancouver Etsy Co. Holiday Pop Up Market. This market takes place on Saturday, November 29th, and Sunday, November 30th, 2025, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Additionally, the Made in the 604 holiday market is happening on multiple dates in December. The market usually features over 90 vendors offering a wide range of unique, handcrafted items. In 2025, it takes place on the first weekend in December and on the 22nd and 23rd.
Other Holiday Events and Activities
There are other events to enjoy during the holiday season. In past years there was a Holiday Sip & Shop event in the Shipyards District. You could do your Christmas shopping in Lower Lonsdale while enjoying some nice wine and snacks.
A couple of years ago, in December, Presentation House Theatre hosted nightly Holiday Sing-alongs. The carol-filled evenings took place at PHT’s home venue at 333 Chesterfield Avenue, about a 10-minute walk from the Shipyards.
Check out the Shipyards District website for the full list of events taking place in and around the Shipyards. Visit the City of North Vancouver website to see the complete entertainment schedule for the Spirit of the Season Festival.
As mentioned above there are holiday lights on display the entire month of December and into January. The place is well-lit at night and is a good spot to walk around and enjoy.
Other Information
Visit the City of North Vancouver website for more information about the area in December. Click North Van Skating to learn more about ice skating activities.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Shipyards Christmas Festival
- The Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market
- Shipyards Christmas Market
- Best Vancouver Christmas Activities
- Vancouver Christmas Craft Fairs
