Vancouver This Weekend

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 January 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 extended long weekend of January 2nd to 4th, include the final showings of Jack & the Beanstalk at Metro Theatre and the musical Annie at Gateway Theatre.

The last day of the season for the film Soar With Santa at Flyover and the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden is January 4th. Also happening this weekend but continuing for a while longer, there is Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge, the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tours in Vancouver, Lights by the Lake at Harrison Hot Springs, and Lights at Lafarge in Coquitlam.

What else is happening this time of year? There are snow sport activities at Lower Mainland Ski Hills. There is also free admission at Fort Langley National Historic Site over the holidays thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program. Improvisational theatre also takes place at The Improv Centre on Granville Island.

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, January 2nd, 2026

Festival of Lights – over a million lights and decorations at beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden.
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!)
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – a touring attraction that’s set up in Stanley Park.
Vancouver Canucks Hockey – the team plays against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena.
Lights by the Lake – Christmas light displays at Harrison Hot Springs.
Lights at Lafarge – light displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake.
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village – Christmas lights and decorations at the outdoor museum in Burnaby.
Bright Walk in White Rock – holiday illuminations at the waterfront in White Rock.
Lower Mainland Ski Hills – skiing, snowboarding and other snow sport opportunities at the following resorts:
- Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
- Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour – a festive-themed walking tour in downtown Vancouver with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours.

Shows & Entertainment

Metro Theatre – the family-friendly Jack and the Beanstalk: A Traditional British Pantomime shows in South Vancouver.
Gateway Theatre – the musical Annie shows at Gateway Theatre in Richmond. (Tonight’s show features a NYE champagne!)
Flyover at Canada Place – the film Awaken Canada shows at the multi-dimensional theatre in downtown Vancouver. Also showing is the film Soar With Santa.
The Improv Centre – live improvisational theatre at Granville Island.
Arts Club Theatre – Disney’s Frozen shows on the Stanley BFL CANADA Stage, and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women shows on the Granville Island Stage.

Featured Games & Special Activities

Zero Latency – a virtual reality games centre where you can battle zombies, aliens and other creatures in Vancouver and Langley. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 and you’ll 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.)
Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver.
Skating at the Shipyards – free ice skating at the giant outdoor covered rink at Shipyard Commons in North Vancouver.
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games.)
The Legend of the Gastown Gold – an indoor detective game that’s played at a hotel in downtown Vancouver near Gastown.

Featured Museums & Attractions

Vancouver Maritime Museum – a family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!
Bill Reid Gallery – free admission at the Bill Reid First Nation’s art gallery between 2 and 5 pm (because it’s the first Friday of the month).
Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum full of interesting information and things to see in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Vancouver Art Gallery – admission is by donation today (because it’s the first Friday of the month).
Capilano Suspension Bridge – the world-famous attraction is a great place to visit. (TIP: BC residents can get an annual pass for the same price as a single-day ticket.)
Fort Langley National Historic Site – where you can learn about early BC history and what life was like during the fur trade. (Note: Admission is free today and until January 15th thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program.)
BC Sports Hall of Fame – a place celebrating the history of BC’s most talented athletes through interactive displays and artifacts at BC Place Stadium.
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).

Saturday, January 3rd, 2026

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – a touring attraction that’s set up in Stanley Park.
Christmas Tree Chipping – a number of non-profit organizations offer Christmas tree chipping services by donation today.
Riley Park Farmers Market – at Vancouver’s Nat Bailey Stadium at 4601 Ontario Street.
Vancouver Canucks Hockey – the team plays against the Boston Bruins at Rogers Arena.
Lower Mainland Ski Hills – skiing, snowboarding and other snow sport opportunities at the following resorts:
- Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
- Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games.)
The Case of the Hotel Detective – a murder-mystery game that’s played at a hotel in downtown Vancouver near Gastown. (One or more teams of two players can join it.)
Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour – a festive-themed walking tour in downtown Vancouver with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – a 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.)
Zero Latency – a virtual reality games centre where you can battle zombies, aliens and other creatures in Vancouver and Langley. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 and you’ll save 10%.)

Shows & Entertainment

Gateway Theatre – the musical Annie shows at Gateway Theatre in Richmond.
Metro Theatre – the family-friendly Jack and the Beanstalk: A Traditional British Pantomime shows in South Vancouver.
Arts Club Theatre – Disney’s Frozen shows on the Stanley BFL CANADA Stage, and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women shows on the Granville Island Stage.
Flyover at Canada Place – the film Awaken Canada shows at the multi-dimensional theatre in downtown Vancouver. Also showing is the film Soar With Santa.
The Improv Centre – live improvisational theatre at Granville Island.

Winter Holiday Attractions

Festival of Lights – over a million lights and decorations at beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden.
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!)
Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver.
Skating at the Shipyards – free ice skating at the giant outdoor covered rink at Shipyard Commons in North Vancouver.
Lights at Lafarge – light displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake.
Lights by the Lake – Christmas light displays at Harrison Hot Springs.
Bright Walk in White Rock – holiday illuminations at the waterfront in White Rock.

Featured Attractions

Looking for interesting places to visit? Then check out the following:
- Fort Langley National Historic Site – where you can learn about early BC history and what life was like during the fur trade. (Note: Admission is free today and until January 15th thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program.)
- BC Sports Hall of Fame – a place celebrating the history of BC’s most talented athletes through interactive displays and artifacts at BC Place Stadium.
- Britannia Mine Museum – formerly the largest copper mine in the British Empire.
- Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum in Vancouver’s Chinatown with historical and cultural information about Chinese Canadians.
For more ideas on places to visit, see our articles about Metro Vancouver’s Top 100 Places, Best Places on a Rainy Day, Lower Mainland Parks and Best Places for Children.

Sunday, January 4th, 2025

Metro Theatre – the family-friendly Jack and the Beanstalk: A Traditional British Pantomime shows in South Vancouver.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – today is pay-what-you-can day at the family-friendly museum at Vanier Park (because it’s the first Sunday of the month).
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience – a touring attraction that’s set up in Stanley Park.
Christmas Tree Chipping – a number of non-profit organizations offer Christmas tree chipping services by donation today.
Port Moody Winter Farmers Market – from 10 am until 2 pm at 300 Ioco Road.
Vancouver Mysteries Games – play an outdoor adventure game in downtown Vancouver. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTPLACES and save 10% on games.)
Vancouver Maritime Museum – a family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!
Flyover at Canada Place – the film Awaken Canada shows at the multi-dimensional theatre in downtown Vancouver. Also showing is the film Soar With Santa.
Lower Mainland Ski Hills – skiing, snowboarding and other snow sport opportunities at the following resorts:
- Grouse, Cypress & Mt. Seymour on the North Shore.
- Whistler Blackcomb in the Sea to Sky region.
Winterlust – domed dining at the H Tasting Lounge at the Westin Bayshore Hotel for parties of 1 to 6 guests. (Minimum spend requirements apply.)
Zero Latency – a virtual reality games centre where you can battle zombies, aliens and other creatures in Vancouver and Langley. (TIP: Use the promo code VBP10 and you’ll save 10%.)
The Case of the Hotel Detective – a murder-mystery game that’s played at a hotel in downtown Vancouver near Gastown. (One or more teams of two players can join it.)

Winter Holiday Attractions

Festival of Lights – over a million lights and decorations at beautiful VanDusen Botanical Garden.
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!)
Lights at Lafarge – light displays around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake.
Lights by the Lake – Christmas light displays at Harrison Hot Springs.
Bright Walk in White Rock – holiday illuminations at the waterfront in White Rock.
Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour – a festive-themed walking tour in downtown Vancouver with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours.
Robson Square Ice Skating – free at the corner of Robson and Howe in downtown Vancouver.
Skating at the Shipyards – free ice skating at the giant outdoor covered rink at Shipyard Commons in North Vancouver.

Featured Attractions

Looking for interesting places to visit? Then check out the following:
- Fort Langley National Historic Site – where you can learn about early BC history and what life was like during the fur trade. (Note: Admission is free today and until January 15th thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program.)
- Britannia Mine Museum – formerly the largest copper mine in the British Empire.
- Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum in Vancouver’s Chinatown with historical and cultural information about Chinese Canadians.
- Capilano Suspension Bridge – the world-famous attraction is a great place to visit.
- BC Sports Hall of Fame – a place celebrating the history of BC’s most talented athletes through interactive displays and artifacts at BC Place Stadium.
For more ideas on places to visit, see our articles about Metro Vancouver’s Top 100 Places, Best Places on a Rainy Day, Lower Mainland Parks and Best Places for Children.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Highlights of the weekend of January 9th to 11th, 2026, include Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience at Stanley Park as well as snow sports on Lower Mainland Ski Hills. There is also the Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour which ends for the season (although other Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours continue throughout the year).

Christmas attractions that run for a while longer include Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge, Lights by the Lake at Harrison Hot Springs, Bright Walk in White Rock, and Lights at Lafarge in Coquitlam.

What else is happening this time of year? There are snow sport activities at Lower Mainland Ski Hills as well as free admission at Fort Langley National Historic Site over the holidays thanks to the Canada Strong Pass program. There is also improvisational theatre at The Improv Centre and multidimensional films at Flyover which run all year.

Other things to do next weekend include walking tours with Forbidden Vancouver, outdoor adventure games with Vancouver Mysteries, and indoor virtual reality games with Zero Latency. There are also lots of great museums to visit including the Chinese Canadian Museum, Vancouver Maritime Museum, Fort Langley, Britannia Mine and many others.