Wondering what to do in Vancouver this weekend? Lots of events are happening in the Lower Mainland including festivals, theatre performances and more.
See below for a list of what’s taking place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For a list of what’s happening on other days of the month, see our December calendar of events.
Click on any of the following to skip to a specific section:
Weekend Overview | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Other Upcoming Events
Events This Weekend in Vancouver
Highlights of the weekend of December 12th to 14th include the Big Elf Run, Vancouver Christmas Boat Party and lots of Christmas Attractions and Holiday Markets, plus Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. For folks who like craft fairs, there is the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market and New West Holiday Market, plus others.
A number of shows and concerts happen this weekend. They include an ABBA Christmas with ABRA Cadabra tribute concert, Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir concerts, and the Singing Christmas Tree. There is also the Movie Singalong: Mary Poppins at Presentation House Theatre, live comedy theatre at The Improv Centre, and multidimensional films at Flyover. In Abbotsford there is the Songs, Strings & Steps Concert. There is also the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at Metro Theatre in Vancouver and the musical Annie at Gateway Theatre in Richmond.
Lots of other winter holiday events and attractions are happening too. In Vancouver there is the Vancouver Christmas Market, Soar With Santa, Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden, and Wesbrook Village Holiday Market. On the North Shore there is Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge, the Dundarave Festival of Lights, and Shipyards Christmas Market. Elsewhere in Metro Vancouver, there is the Santa Experience at the Met, Timberline Country Christmas in Maple Ridge, Heritage Christmas in Burnaby and Noel Holiday Light Festival in Surrey.
In the Fraser Valley, there is Merry & Bright at Martini Town, Christmas Glow, Lights by the Lake at Harrison Hot Springs, and Christmas at Greendale Acres. In the Sea-to-Sky region, meanwhile, there is the North Pole Express and Toys Thru the Decades at Britannia Mine.
See below for a list of what’s taking place, when and where. As you’ll see, so much is happening in the Lower Mainland!
Friday, December 12th, 2025
- Winter Festival at UBC – free family-friendly activities at the same time as the Wesbrook Village Holiday Market at Norman McKenzie Square.
Holiday Markets
- Coquitlam Christmas Night Market – at the Evergreen Cultural Centre at 1205 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam.
- Made in the 604 Market – artisan vendors set up at the Pipe Shop in North Vancouver today and admission is free.
- Vancouver Christmas Market – a festive, world-famous, German-themed attraction with market vendors, carousel rides, food stalls and live entertainment at Jack Poole Plaza. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 to save 10% on general admission, although not on $6.99 tickets which are already discounted.)
- Wesbrook Village Holiday Market – a free Christmas attraction with holiday lights and market vendors at UBC.
Shows & Concerts
- Metro Theatre – Jack and the Beanstalk shows at the venue in South Vancouver.
- Gateway Theatre – the musical Annie shows at the theatre in Richmond. Today is Opening Night.
- Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir – the popular choir hosts a concert this evening at Highlands United Church in North Vancouver.
- Flyover at Canada Place – the multi-dimensional theatre has a film about Canada. Also playing at the theatre for a limited time is Soar With Santa.
- The Improv Centre – live comedy theatre at Granville Island.
- Singing Christmas Tree – a free concert at Vancouver’s Broadway Church.
- Songs, Strings & Steps Concert – a Christmas concert at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford with Conductor Calvin Dyck.
City of Vancouver Christmas Attractions
- Festival of Lights – over a million lights and decorations at beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden.
- Soar with Santa at Flyover – a winter holiday-themed multi-dimensional film experience at Canada Place.
- Vancouver Christmas Market – the world-famous European-themed market with artisan vendors, a carousel, food stalls and live entertainment at Jack Poole Plaza. Santa is on site today and there’s music bingo too.
Other Christmas Events & Attractions
- Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge – Christmas light displays at the world-famous bridge. (TIP: BC residents can get an annual pass to the attraction for the same price as a single-day ticket!)
- Merry & Bright at Martini Town – a Christmas attraction with holiday decorations and live entertainment at a movie studio in Langley.
- Glow Christmas – a winter holiday festival featuring illuminations, music and festive, family-friendly activities in Langley.
- Dundarave Festival of Lights – Christmas trees to admire in West Vancouver.
- Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market – a large Christmas celebration at Surrey’s Cloverdale Fairgrounds with light displays, live performances, artisan vendors and more.
- Timberline Country Christmas – a wholesome, Old West-themed Christmas holiday attraction at Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge.
- Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village – Christmas lights and decorations at the outdoor museum in Burnaby.
- Shipyards Christmas Market – a European-themed Christmas market with vendors and live entertainment.
- Christmas at Greendale Acres – holiday lights, train rides, market vendors and more at the farm in Chilliwack.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake.
- Bright Nights – the family-friendly fundraising Christmas lights event is happening in Surrey as part of the Noel Festival this year (instead of at its usual location at Stanley Park).
- Lights by the Lake – Christmas illuminations at Harrison Hot Springs.
- Santa Experience at the Met – Mr. Claus is at Burnaby’s Metropolis at Metrotown in his traditional red and white suit for photos.
- In addition to the above, for more, see our articles about Vancouver’s Best Christmas Activities or Free Events in December.
Other Vancouver Events and Activities
- Christmas Tree Sales – various charities and farms are selling Christmas trees around the Lower Mainland.
- Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour.
- Fort Langley – the national historic site in Fort Langley is a great place to explore. (Note: Admission is free today and for the rest of this month thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program.)
- Museum of Surrey – the museum in Cloverdale has free admission as well as a new interactive hockey exhibit.
- Chinese Canadian Museum – a relatively new museum full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
- Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – a touring attraction that’s set up in Stanley Park.
- The Legend of the Gastown Gold – an indoor detective game that’s played at a hotel in downtown Vancouver.
- Britannia Mine – the historic mining museum at Britannia Beach (which is half an hour north of Horseshoe Bay on the way to Squamish and Whistler).
- Vancouver Mysteries Games – outdoor adventure games in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games.)
- Vancouver Maritime Museum – the family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!)
- Winterlust – domed dining at the H Tasting Lounge at the Westin Bayshore Hotel for parties of 1 to 6 guests. (Minimum spend requirements apply.)
Saturday, December 13th, 2025
- Big Elf Run – fun and social 1 km, 5 km, 10 km and 15 km running events at Stanley Park where participants get complimentary elf toques! (TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 and save 10% on the price of registration.)
- Vancouver Christmas Boat Party – a nightclub-style event on the Burrard Queen with Vancouver Boat Parties.
- Vancouver Christmas Market – a festive, world-famous, German-themed attraction with market vendors, carousel rides, food stalls and live entertainment at Jack Poole Plaza. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 to save 10% on general admission, although not on $6.99 tickets which are already discounted.)
- Winter Festival at UBC – free family-friendly activities at the same time as the Wesbrook Village Holiday Market at Norman McKenzie Square.
- Aldergrove Light Up Parade – Christmas parade in Langley.
- North Pole Express – special Christmas activities with a Polar Express theme at the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish.
- Toys Thru the Decades at Britannia Mine – winter holiday decorations and Santa photo opportunities at the national historic site. (Access to the lower level of the museum is free today, although donations are appreciated.)
- Dundarave Festival of Lights – Christmas trees to admire at West Vancouver’s Dundarave Beach. Today is also World Christmas at the festival which features an afternoon of multicultural music and dancing.
Shows & Entertainment
- Presentation House Theatre – the community theatre presents Movie Singalong: Mary Poppins in North Vancouver.
- Metro Theatre – Jack and the Beanstalk shows at the venue in South Vancouver.
- Gateway Theatre – the musical Annie shows at the theatre in Richmond.
- Flyover at Canada Place – the multi-dimensional theatre at Canada Place has a film about Canada. Also playing at the theatre for a limited time is Soar With Santa.
- Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir – the popular choir performs this evening at Shaughnessy Heights United Church in Vancouver.
- The Improv Centre – live comedy theatre at Granville Island.
- Songs, Strings & Steps Concert – a Christmas concert at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford with Conductor Calvin Dyck.
- Singing Christmas Tree – a free concert at Vancouver’s Broadway Church.
Holiday Markets
- Coquitlam Christmas Night Market – at the Evergreen Cultural Centre at 1205 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam.
- New West Holiday Market – an artisan and food market featuring dozens of vendors outside the City Hall in New Westminster. (The event is hosted by the New West Farmers Market.)
- Wesbrook Village Holiday Market – a free Christmas attraction with holiday lights and market vendors at UBC.
- Feliz Natal Market – a Latin American-themed market with free admission at the Latin Hub in Gastown.
- Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market – an indoor market in the Pipe Shop at the Shipyards in North Vancouver.
- Vancouver Christmas Market – the world-famous European-themed market with artisan vendors, a carousel, food stalls and live entertainment at Jack Poole Plaza. Today also features storytelling with Santa.
- Shipyards Christmas Market – a European-themed Christmas market with vendors and live entertainment.
Christmas Attractions & Activities
- Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge – Christmas light displays at the world-famous bridge. (TIP: BC residents can get an annual pass to the attraction for the same price as a single-day ticket!)
- Soar with Santa at Flyover – a winter holiday-themed multi-dimensional film experience at Canada Place.
- Lights by the Lake – Christmas illuminations at Harrison Hot Springs.
- Festival of Lights – over a million lights and decorations at beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden.
- Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market – a large Christmas celebration at Surrey’s Cloverdale Fairgrounds with light displays, live performances, artisan vendors and more.
- Glow Christmas – a winter holiday festival featuring illuminations, music and festive, family-friendly activities in Langley.
- Merry & Bright at Martini Town – a Christmas attraction with holiday decorations and live entertainment at a movie studio in Langley.
- Timberline Country Christmas – a wholesome, Old West-themed Christmas holiday attraction at Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge.
- Christmas at Greendale Acres – holiday lights, train rides, market vendors and more at the farm in Chilliwack.
- Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village – Christmas lights and decorations at the outdoor museum in Burnaby.
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake.
- Bright Nights – the family-friendly fundraising Christmas lights event is happening in Surrey as part of the Noel Festival this year (instead of at its usual location at Stanley Park).
- Christmas by the Railway – Kilby Farm features holiday decorations and ginger cookies in the Fraser Valley.
- Santa Experience at the Met – Mr. Claus is at Burnaby’s Metropolis at Metrotown in his traditional red and white suit for photos.
- In addition to the above, for more, see our articles about Vancouver’s Best Christmas Activities or Free Events in December.
Other Events and Activities
- Christmas Tree Sales – various charities and farms are selling Christmas trees around the Lower Mainland.
- Chinese Canadian Museum – a relatively new museum full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
- Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour.
- Vancouver Maritime Museum – the family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!)
- Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – a touring attraction that’s set up in Stanley Park.
- Fort Langley – the national historic site in Fort Langley is a great place to explore. (Note: Admission is free today and for the rest of this month thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program.)
- Museum of Surrey – the museum in Cloverdale has free admission as well as a new interactive hockey exhibit.
- WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge. (TIP: They have a special offer currently where you can get a discount equal to your age. E.g., If you are 25 years old, you’ll save 25% on all activities!)
- Vancouver Mysteries Games – outdoor adventure games in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTPLACES to save 10%.)
- Winterlust – domed dining at the H Tasting Lounge at the Westin Bayshore Hotel for parties of 1 to 6 guests. (Minimum spend requirements apply.)
- Britannia Mine – the historic mining museum at Britannia Beach. (Admission today is by donation.)
- The Case of the Hotel Detective – a murder-mystery game that’s played at a hotel in downtown Vancouver near Gastown.
Sunday, December 14th, 2025
- Winter Festival at UBC – free family-friendly activities at the same time as the Wesbrook Village Holiday Market at Norman McKenzie Square
Shows & Entertainment
- An ABBA Christmas with ABRA Cadabra – an ABBA tribute concert at Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver.
- Metro Theatre – Jack and the Beanstalk shows at the venue in South Vancouver.
- Gateway Theatre – the musical Annie shows at the theatre in Richmond.
- The Improv Centre – live comedy theatre at Granville Island.
- Singing Christmas Tree – a free concert at Vancouver’s Broadway Church.
Holiday Markets
- Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market – an indoor market in the Pipe Shop at the Shipyards in North Vancouver.
- New West Holiday Market – an artisan and food market featuring dozens of vendors outside the City Hall in New Westminster. (The event is hosted by the New West Farmers Market.)
- Wesbrook Village Holiday Market – a free Christmas attraction with holiday lights and market vendors at UBC.
- Vancouver Christmas Market – a festive, world-famous, German-themed attraction with market vendors, carousel rides, food stalls and live entertainment at Jack Poole Plaza. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 to save 10% on general admission, although not on $6.99 tickets which are already discounted.)
- Shipyards Christmas Market – a European-themed Christmas market with vendors and live entertainment.
City of Vancouver Christmas Attractions
- Soar with Santa at Flyover – a winter holiday-themed multi-dimensional film experience at Canada Place.
- Festival of Lights – over a million lights and decorations at beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden.
- Vancouver Christmas Market – a festive, German-themed attraction with market vendors, carousel rides, food stalls and live entertainment at Jack Poole Plaza. Santa is also on site this afternoon.
Other Christmas Attractions & Activities
- Merry & Bright at Martini Town – a Christmas attraction with holiday decorations and live entertainment at a movie studio in Langley.
- Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market – a large Christmas celebration at Surrey’s Cloverdale Fairgrounds with light displays, live performances, artisan vendors and more.
- Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge – Christmas light displays at the world-famous bridge. (TIP: BC residents can get an annual pass to the attraction for the same price as a single-day ticket!)
- Dundarave Festival of Lights – Christmas trees to admire in West Vancouver.
- Timberline Country Christmas – a wholesome, Old West-themed Christmas holiday attraction at Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge.
- Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village – Christmas lights and decorations at the outdoor museum in Burnaby.
- North Pole Express – special Christmas activities with a Polar Express theme at the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish.
- Toys Thru the Decades at Britannia Mine – winter holiday decorations and Santa photo opportunities at the national historic site. (Access to the lower level of the museum is free today, although donations are appreciated.)
- Lights at Lafarge – winter light displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake.
- Christmas at Greendale Acres – holiday lights, train rides, market vendors and more at the farm in Chilliwack.
- Christmas by the Railway – Kilby Farm features holiday decorations and ginger cookies in the Fraser Valley.
- Lights by the Lake – Christmas illuminations at Harrison Hot Springs.
- Bright Nights – the family-friendly fundraising Christmas lights event is happening in Surrey as part of the Noel Festival this year (instead of at its usual location at Stanley Park).
- In addition to the above, for more, see our articles about Vancouver’s Best Christmas Activities or Free Events in December.
Other Events and Activities
- Christmas Tree Sales – various charities and farms are selling Christmas trees around the Lower Mainland.
- Chinese Canadian Museum – a relatively new museum full of information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
- Vancouver Maritime Museum – the family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!)
- Vancouver Mysteries Games – outdoor adventure games in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games.)
- Fort Langley – the national historic site in Fort Langley is a great place to explore. (Note: Admission is free today and for the rest of this month thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program.)
- Museum of Surrey – the museum in Cloverdale has free admission as well as a new interactive hockey exhibit.
- Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours – guided tours in downtown Vancouver. Today features the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour.
- Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – a touring attraction that’s set up in Stanley Park.
- Flyover at Canada Place – the multi-dimensional theatre at Canada Place has a film about Canada. Also playing at the theatre for a limited time is Soar With Santa.
- The Case of the Hotel Detective – a murder-mystery game that’s played at a hotel in downtown Vancouver near Gastown.
- WildPlay Element Park – ropes courses and ziplines at the outdoor adventure facility in Maple Ridge. (TIP: They have a special offer currently where you can get a discount equal to your age. E.g., If you are 25 years old, you’ll save 25% on all activities!)
- Winterlust – domed dining at the H Tasting Lounge at the Westin Bayshore Hotel for parties of 1 to 6 guests. (Minimum spend requirements apply.)
- Britannia Mine – the historic mining museum at Britannia Beach. (Admission today is by donation.)
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Highlights of the weekend of December 19th to 21st include the CPKC Holiday Train with the Bare Naked Ladies and stops in Agassiz, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam. There is also Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker, the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival, and Wassail & Bonfire Night.
For folks who like music and theatre, there are concerts with Chor Leoni and the United Voices Choir in Vancouver, Songs, Strings & Steps Concerts in Abbotsford, and a holiday sing-a-long event at Presentation House Theatre on the North Shore. There is also Jack & the Beanstalk at Metro Theatre, the musical Annie at Gateway Theatre, and improvisational theatre at The Improv Centre on Granville Island.
For folks who like craft fairs, there is the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market at Lights at Lafarge, Shipyards Christmas Artisan Market in North Vancouver, and both the Vancouver Christmas Market and Wesbrook Village Holiday Market in Vancouver.
Lots of other winter holiday events and attractions are happening too. In Vancouver there is Soar With Santa at Flyover and Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden. On the North Shore there is Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge and the Dundarave Festival of Lights. Elsewhere in Metro Vancouver there is the Santa Experience at the Met, Timberline Country Christmas in Maple Ridge, Heritage Christmas in Burnaby and Noel Holiday Light Festival in Surrey.
In addition to the above, in the Fraser Valley there is Merry & Bright at Martini Town, Christmas Glow, Lights by the Lake at Harrison Hot Springs, and Christmas at Greendale Acres. In the Sea-to-Sky region, meanwhile, there is the North Pole Express at the Railway Museum of BC.
Other Information
Check out Vancouver’s December calendar of events for lists of things to do on other days this month.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver Shows & Entertainment
- Lower Mainland Festivals & Events
- Vancouver on a Budget
- Best Places for Kids
- Vancouver Rainy Day Activities
- Lower Mainland Parks & Nature
