Squamish at Dusk

Squamish at Dusk is a new Christmas attraction with festive holiday light displays and illuminations. It calls itself a light art experience.

Squamish at Dusk in 2023

Squamish at Dusk is an immersive illumination wonderland. The event brings light to the otherwise dark, drab months of Vancouver’s rainy winter season. The inaugural attraction ran from late November until early December in 2023. It was a pilot to gauge public participation. Depending on how successful it was, it may return next holiday season. Fingers crossed that it does!

The colourful lights are set up at Rose Park in Squamish. The venue is right by the Squamish Adventure Centre and Rope Runner Aerial Park (the latter of which is usually only open from May until September). Last year, the park had seven light installations that told stories of the region and kicked off the festive season.

Near Rose Park is the Squamish Adventure Centre. During the event you could drop in and warm up with a hot beverage. There was more festive fun in the Adventure Centre to enjoy too. The centre always provides excellent information about Squamish in general and some of the top attractions to visit and experiences to be had in the region. They probably recommend visiting the Britannia Mine Museum during the day too.

This new holiday lights festival in 2023 was coordinated by The Wilder, a group of people who love to share immersive experiences and important messages displayed through art, all in nature. The Wilder partnered with Best Coast Lights. They provided the lights and illuminations throughout Rose Park.

Where and When

Squamish at Dusk is an experiential lights display in Rose Park. The venue’s address is 38400 Loggers Lane. It’s about an hour’s drive from Vancouver heading north along the picturesque Sea-to-Sky Highway (BC-99 N) to Squamish. (TIP: If getting there by car, ensure you have good winter tires fitted as these are mandatory when travelling along this highway and other roads leading into BC’s interior this time of year.)

Alternatively, you can always take a bus to Squamish, if you don’t want to drive, and enjoy this beautiful ride as you wind your way through mountains capped in snow to reach the Squamish Adventure Centre. The centre is very close to Rose Park. The bus ride is slightly longer than a car ride and departs from Vancouver City Centre in downtown Vancouver five times a day.

The holiday lights attraction ran on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from November 23rd to December 9th in 2023. The lights display was open to visit hourly between 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm, with the last entry being at 9:00 pm. It was best to arrive 30 minutes before your ticketed time slot. The gates to the park closed at 9:30 pm each night. It took about 20 minutes to see everything. Also, the nearby Squamish Adventure Centre was free to visit during the event and stayed open until 9:30 pm or 10:00 pm.

How Much Does Squamish at Dusk Cost?

The festive lights display was a ticketed attraction in 2023. Visiting the place on Thursdays was cheaper. On those days it cost about $10 for adults (ages 18+) and $7 for children and youth (ages 4 to 17). If you preferred to visit Squamish at Dusk on a Friday or Saturday, you would have had to pay $15 for adults and $10 for children or youth. Taxes and online fees were extra. Kids ages 3 and under had free admission on all three days of the week.

Photo opportunities with Santa were also available. They cost $13 per family. Photo ops with Santa were available only on Fridays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and tickets were limited.

Admission to Squamish at Dusk is available online from the Squamish at Dusk website.

What to Expect

If the event returns, expect to be dazzled by mesmerizing lights as you feel the festive season take hold in gorgeous surroundings. This is an immersive experience in the world of light and art, out in nature.

At the attraction in 2023 was a 60-foot tunnel of lights and a glowing, enchanted forest. There was also a sparkling grotto and a tree of life to enjoy. Organizers even included colourful doorways and a themed immersive installation under the water.

All in all, the Squamish at Dusk immersive festive lights display was a fantastic attraction to visit in 2023. It’s a family-friendly event in a wonderful part of the Lower Mainland. And it’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit with family and friends while seeing nature lit up. Hopefully the event returns in the future!