Shipyards Skating Rink

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 opens for the season at the end of November and runs until around mid to late March.

Also happening at the Shipyards in late November and most of December is the Shipyards Christmas Market. This year is the market’s third year. Beginning on November 27th and running until Christmas Eve, the market has a European theme, similar to the Vancouver Christmas Market in downtown Vancouver.

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 late November and February or March 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. Skate rentals, if you need them, cost extra.

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 2026/2027 season, skating starts on November 28th (and it likely continues until March 28th, although exact details are to be confirmed). Weather permitting, , daily public skate hours are from 12:00 to 8:00 pm.

Admission is free for those who have their own skates. You can rent skates until 7:30 pm daily for a reasonable price of $8 for adults and $5.50 for children. The rink usually closes for about half an hour every day at 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and again at 5:30 pm for cleaning.

North Vancouver Shipyards in Snow — The Shipyards in Snow

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 its third year in 2026. When open early in the season, the market operates Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays, it stays open until 10:00 pm. For the week before Christmas, between December 18th and 23rd, the market is open until 10:00 pm everyday, with Christmas Eve closing at 8:00 pm. The event has a European theme, with plenty of vendors, food, live music and other activities.

North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale Christmas Tree — Christmas in North Vancouver

Spirit of the Season Celebration

Spirit of the Season serves as the opening to the City of North Vancouver’s holiday celebrations. In 2026 the festival takes place on Saturday, November 28th, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at The Shipyards.

The Celebration features an evening of performances. There are also arts and crafts activities, caroling, food and drinks.

Santa and Mrs. Claus usually arrive by City fire truck in the afternoon, with free photo opportunities usually 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.

Outside the Pipe Shop at Christmas

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.