Home Christmas Events Vancouver’s PNE Winter Fair Christmas Event

Vancouver’s PNE Winter Fair Christmas Event

November 22, 2023

The PNE hosts some of the best Christmas events in Metro Vancouver. 2023 was no exception. This past year, the event was the PNE Winter Fair.

Last year, the winter holiday attraction took place at the PNE Fairgrounds on select days from December 8th until the 23rd. It featured light displays, ice skating, live entertainment, shopping opportunities and more. The winter attraction returns on select dates in December of 2024.

For tickets and full details about the event, visit the pne.ca website.

This article contains the following information about the PNE Winter Fair:

PNE Winter Fair in Vancouver

The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) hosts a special event during the Christmas holidays. The venue hosted its second PNE Winter Fair in 2023. It ran over 12 days and featured lots of family-friendly things to do.

Last year’s event featured WinterLights displays, the Nutcracker on Ice, Magic of Santa Holiday Musical Stage Show, and Sparkle in the Night Holiday Show. There was also the PNE Express Train, ice skating at the Agrodome, ice bumper cars, and so much more (including food vendors, Santa Claus and other family-friendly things to see and do)!

Where and When is the PNE Winter Fair?

The 2023 PNE Winter Fair took place on the Friday and Saturday of December 8th and 9th. After that, it then ran daily from December 14th to the 23rd. Hours of operation were from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm every day. 2024 dates and hours are to be confirmed.

Playland’s address is 2901 East Hastings Street in Vancouver.

For full details about the PNE Winter Fair, click pne.ca/winter-fair.

Admission Details and Ticket Prices

Admission to the PNE Winter Fair in 2023 varied depending on your age and when you bought your tickets.

General admission included access to all the activities including the market, light displays, ice skating and regular live entertainment.

Admission to the PNE Winter Fair

General admission rates for the 2023 winter attraction, when purchased online in advance, are listed below. (Note: Exact details were subject to change.)

Adults (ages 18 and over) – $25
Seniors (ages 65 and over) – $19
Youth (17 and under) – $19
Children (ages 4 and over) – $12
Little Kids (ages 3 and under) – Free

Most things at the PNE Winter Fair were included with general admission. That included rides on the PNE Express Train and shows like the Nutcracker on Ice and Magic of Santa Holiday Musical Stage Show. You had to pay for any food, drinks and souvenirs you bought. The ice skating and ice bumper cars were $7 each.

Below are some tips from last year on ways you could have saved a few dollars.

TIP #1: Tickets bought on the day of the event or at the gate cost between $3 and $5 more per person. It was better to purchase your tickets in advance online.

TIP #2: You could have saved an additional $5 on certain dates with the promo code WSBFVBP when buying your tickets online. (There was a place to enter the promo code in the menu bar at the top of the ticketleader.ca website.)

TIP #3: When purchasing tickets online on certain dates, you could have received a free pass for Playland in the summer to use in May or June. At least, that was the case in 2023.

TIP #4: BCAA members saved 30% when they bought their tickets online.

For full details about the event, see the PNE Winter Fair website.

What to Expect at the PNE at Christmas?

In 2023 the PNE Winter Fair featured activities for everyone to enjoy. The Winter Lights section of the event was where you could stroll through magical light displays. There was also an outdoor market with local vendors selling everything from clothes to handmade Christmas decorations and gift ideas.

The PNE Winter Fair also included a frozen pond for ice skating at the Agrodome. Folks were able to skate on the surface or ride in ice bumper cars for $7 extra. There were also live performances of The Nutcracker on Ice. Another entertaining show was The Magic of Santa holiday musical. The fair also had roving entertainers and more live shows at the Winter Chalet.

There were multiple food trucks on site selling holiday treats and tasty snacks. Last year’s fair also included a new PNE Express Train, along with an interactive set of activities for kids wanting to meet Santa Claus.

For full details about the PNE Winter Fair, click pne.ca/winter-fair.

PNE Winter Fair Video

For an even better idea of what to expect at the PNE Winter Fair, check out the video below. It includes footage from when we visited the event in 2022. As you can see, there was live music, beautiful light displays and all sorts of food trucks to choose from.

Nutcracker on Ice Video

One of the main live shows at the PNE Winter Fair last year was The Nutcracker on Ice. To learn more about the show, watch the following promotional video.

Other Information

To learn more about the winter event at the Pacific National Exhibition, see the official PNE Winter Fair website.

The Pacific National Exhibition is owned and operated by the City of Vancouver. Other Christmas events hosted by the city usually feature miniature train rides at Bright Nights at Stanley Park and the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden. All three of these city-run events are family-friendly and highly recommended.

To learn more about the venue and its various other events check out the following: