We are so proud to be Vancouverites! We both grew up in suburbs outside the city, and Vancouver is where we met and where we made our first home together. It’s also the city where we got married, and where we usually spend the holiday season. We both love the month of December, and one of our favourite traditions is going on plenty of holiday dates! Vancouver has tons of amazing activities and events happening this time of year, and it’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit during our time at home. Keep reading for a list of our ten favourite holiday activities in and around Vancouver in 2019!
The Vancouver Christmas Market
This German style Christmas Market is a must! It has more than 80 amazing vendors with artisan crafts, locally made products, food stands, festive drinks, and so much more. There is plenty of traditional German fare as well as great vegan food options (our favourite!), and of course plenty of mulled wine. There’s also beautiful light displays, plenty of great photo ops, and awesome live entertainment. It’s a really fun activity to do during the daytime or in the evening, and we always go a couple of times each season!
Vancouver Christmas Market
Where: Jack Poole Plaza in Downtown Vancouver
When: November 20 to December 24
Price: $13 online for adults (includes a seasons pass)
Bright Nights in Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a really fun place to visit during the holidays! Bright Nights decorates the park with incredible light displays, and there are food and drink vendors as well as Santa’s Village. You can also get a ticket for the miniature Christmas Train (highly recommend), which takes you around the park for a closer look at the three million lights they put up! The whole event is truly magical, and we always make sure to visit each year.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park
Where: Pipeline Road in Stanley Park
When: November 28 to January 1
Price: Admission by donation (Christmas Train tickets $13 online)
Ice Skating at Robson Square
This has to be one of our favourite holiday activities! It always feels very romantic to go ice skating in December, and Robson Square is the perfect spot to do it. The Robson Square rink is right in the middle of downtown Vancouver, and is always very festive for the holidays. There are skate rentals if you need them, and a beautiful Christmas tree in the square which makes for a great photo opportunity! If you love ice skating, make sure you add this one to your list.
Robson Square Ice Rink
Where: Robson Square Ice Rink (Robson St between Hornby & Howe)
When: November 30 to February 29
Price: Free admission (skate rental $5 cash only)
VanDusen Festival of Lights
The light display at the VanDusen Botanical Garden is truly amazing! It’s a beautiful place to take photos, or just walk around and enjoy. There are holiday lights all over the grounds and around the ponds, as well as scheduled dancing light shows each half hour. There is also a carousel, fireside lounge, and Santa’s village. It’s a beautiful event and definitely worth the visit this time of year!
VanDusen Festival of Lights
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden
When: November 30 to January 5
Price: $19-$22 online depending on dates
Christmas at Canada Place
Canada Place sits on the beautiful Burrard Inlet Waterfront, and has a ton of things going on around the holidays! We love checking out the classic Christmas window displays that have been preserved from the Woodward’s Department Store, as well as the avenue of Christmas trees. We always visit in the evening to see the beautiful night time views of the water. Canada Place is also home to FlyOver Canada, a flight simulation ride that does a Christmas edition each year! We highly recommend checking out Canada Place around the holidays, and it’s a only a few minutes walk from the Vancouver Christmas Market if that’s on your list.
Christmas at Canada Place and FlyOver Canada
Where: Canada Place in Downtown Vancouver
When: December 6 to January 1 (FlyOver Canada November 21 to January 5)
Price: Free admission (FlyOver Canada $26-$32 online depending on dates)
Aurora Winter Festival
Aurora is Canada’s largest winter festival, and this is it’s second season in Vancouver! It has amusement park rides, a frozen river for skating, incredible light displays, live performers and entertainment, and tons of food and market vendors. The festival is huge and there is so much to do! Our favourites are the vegan food truck, the character performers, and the gorgeous light displays. If you’re looking for a big winter festival jam packed with activities, don’t miss this one!
Aurora Winter Festival
Where: Hastings Park/PNE
When: November 22 – January 5
Price: $18-$20 online for adults (amusement park rides are extra)
Canyon Lights at Capilano
The Canyon Lights Festival is one of the more expensive holiday attractions, but Capilano Park in North Vancouver is truly amazing to visit. The park is incredible at any time of year, but the holiday festival is extra special! The rainforest and canyon look absolutely beautiful filled with festive lights, and the suspension bridges are magical. There is additional festival entertainment including a holiday band, and the canyon views are incomparable. Capilano Park is about 20 minutes outside of Vancouver, but there is a free shuttle that leaves from various spots downtown.
Canyon Lights at Capilano
Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
When: November 22 – January 26
Price: $54 online for adults
Glow
Glow is an amazing indoor holiday festival that we love to visit every year! Our favourite part is that we can stay cozy and warm inside while we enjoy all of the festivities. Glow has really beautiful light gardens and tons of great spots to take photos. There is also a Christmas Market, live entertainment, a licensed bar, interactive displays, and a miniature train. This event is also very family friendly, so don’t be afraid to bring young kids!
Glow
Where: Harbour Convention Centre
When: November 21 to January 5
Price: $20-$23 online for adults
Lights at Lafarge
Lafarge Lake is located outside of Vancouver, but it has the best free holiday light display! Hundreds of thousands of lights decorate the park and walkway around the lake, and we especially love this activity because it’s dog friendly! It’s a beautiful spot to take photos, and it can be much quieter than the holiday events in the city. It’s a really beautiful walk around the lake with lots to see, and they even have certain dates with special activities. The lake is accessible by transit from the city, and in our opinion it’s definitely worth the trek!
Lights at Lafarge
Where: Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam
When: November 30 to January 19
Price: Free admission
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
This is the most unique event on the list, as it takes place in a living museum of a 1920’s village about 25 minutes outside of Vancouver. Heritage Christmas includes holiday light displays throughout the village, a carousel, live entertainers, amazing vintage museum displays, and Father Christmas. This is one we really love to do because it’s so different from the other holiday events in December! The museum is accessible by transit from Vancouver, and is the perfect activity this time of year.
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
Where: Burnaby Village Museum
When: November 23 to January 3
Price: Free admission (carousel $2.65)
Do you have a favourite holiday activity in Vancouver that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments! We can’t wait to hear which festive activities you love to do this time of year.
