Just like that, the final month of 2023 is here. The month is full of fun activities to do across the city, including seeing holiday lights, doing some Christmas shopping, and much more. Here are 31 fun and exciting things to do in Metro Vancouver this December.
Things to do in Metro Vancouver this December
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About: Presented by Port of Vancouver, experience the nostalgic tradition of the Woodward’s Windows, Canada’s North light display, including “Chrismoose,” their 15 ft. tall moose light sculpture.
Date: December 1, 2023 to January 2, 2024
Address: Canada Place – 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Time: 8am to 10pm
Cost: FREE
About: The beloved market features 90+ huts, including new vendors, carousel rides, festive live music, photo opportunities and magical lighting displays. When you’re feeling hungry, make your way through old-world Market alleys to find favourite European and international eats and treats like Glühwein, German Bratwurst and Swiss Raclette.
As you stroll through the Christmas village, you’ll want to sample Glühwein (mulled wine), their selection of German and Austrian beers, and a variety of sweet and savoury epicurean delights.
Date: November 16 to December 24, 2023
Address: Jack Poole Plaza – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Cost: Various prices
About: Guests will discover more than one million lights decorating 15 acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden. Stroll along the lakeside and get in the holiday spirit with the return of Dancing Lights.
Date: November 24, 2023 to January 7, 2024
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
Time: 4pm to 10pm
Tickets: Various prices
Burrard Yacht Club Festival of Lights Parade
About: See a fleet of boats decorated in holiday lights sail from the Burrard Yacht and past Lonsdale Quay and Coal Harbour. Hot food and drinks will be served.
Date: December 2, 2023
Location: Burrard Yacht Club – 10 Gostick Pl, North Vancouver
Time: 6pm
Tickets: FREE
Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting Festival
About: See Vancouver’s massive 76 ft. tall Christmas tree light up for the holiday season on Friday, December 1st at the 17th annual Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. Presented by Amacon, the Christmas tree has remained lit into January in previous years. Over 100,000+ combined viewers are expected both in-person and through a live stream.
Date: December 1, 2023
Location: šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square – 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Time: 6pm
Tickets: FREE
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About: Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver (800 Robson Street), this magical experience is perfect for the entire family.
Date: December 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Address: Robosn Square – 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
Time: 9am to 9pm
Cost: $5 skate rentals
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
About: Beginning November 17th, visit the popular suspension bridge and see it lit end-to-end with a changing multi-colour display, and gaze at the illuminated Capilano River below. Park visitors will come across a glowing rainforest and walk high above the forest floor on Treetops Adventure’s seven suspended bridges, twinkling from treetop to forest floor.
Date: November 17, 2023 to January 21, 2024
Location: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Time: 11am to 9pm
Tickets: Various prices
About: Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA show returns to the Big Top in Vancouver this fall. KOOZA combines acrobatic performance and the art of clowning, while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power.
Date: October 21 to December 31, 2023
Location: Concord Pacific Place – 88 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver
Time: Various show times
Tickets: Various prices
About: Part art exhibition, part winter experience, part festival of lights, Dusk is a mesmerising, magical wonderland brightening our dark winter nights. vent-goers will be experience a fusion of light, art and narrative as installations unveil stories about our region, and transform our beloved park into a nighttime wonderland.
Date: November 23 to December 10, 2023
Location: Rose Park – 38550 Loggers Ln, Squamish
Time: 4pm to 10pm
Tickets: Starting at $10
About: Celebrate the holiday season in Steveston Village this year! Visit this quiet little town for holiday shopping and plenty of beautiful light displays.
Date: November 23 to December 31, 2023
Location: Steveston Village, Richmond
Tickets: FREE
@explorewhiterock / Instagram
About: Head down to the beach to enjoy a stroll along the seaside and see the 20 ft. Christmas tree, an illuminated tunnel, and much more!
Date: December 2, 2023 to January 7, 2024
Location: White Rock waterfront
Tickets: FREE
About: Visitors get to walk through the 1.2 km pathway around Lafarge Lake that gets transformed into a winter wonderland. Awe-inspiring seasonal lights and beautiful displays will definitely get you and the entire family in the holiday spirit.
Date: November 24, 2023
Location: Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Tickets: FREE
About: Taking place at the Robson Square Ice Rink, the Christmas market will include delicious food, crafts, and merchandise from over 75+ vendors.
Date: December 2 and 3, 2023
Location: Robosn Square – 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Tickets: Starting at $4
About: Bundle up the family and join us for a holiday experience like no other, as our iconic 1961 locomotive once again winds its way through the magical Stanley Park forest, alight with thousands of sparkling lights.
Date: November 30, 2023 to January 6, 2024
Location: Pipeline Road in Stanley Park
Time: 4pm to 10pm
Tickets: Various prices
About: Come skate at Metro Vancouver’s largest outdoor skating rink! The skate plaza offers daily skating, as well as free helmets and skate aides
Date: December 1, 2023 to March 3, 2024
Location: The Shipyards – 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Time: Various times
Tickets: FREE
About: Guests will experience a family-friendly outdoor Christmas festival with improved heated and covered spaces, new free carnival-themed games, towering carnival-themed lights, a craft corner in a “tent of makers”, along with the much-loved magical holiday landscapes, all under the thrill of more than a million lights that continue to impress guests.
Date: November 23 to December 30, 2023
Location: Glow Langley – 6690 216 Street, Langley
Time: 10am to 5pm
Tickets: Starting at $15
@herb.wat / Instagram
About: Visitors will get to stroll along Harrison’s promenade, while taking in the warm glow of Christmas lights and charming winter window paintings. These magical lights highlight the local wildlife and the Sasquatch’s favourite Harrison Hot Springs activities. Holiday lights will illuminate the 2 km long waterfront space and promise to be magical.
Date: November 18, 2023 to January 7, 2024
Location: Harrison Lakefront – Harrison Hot Springs
Time: Dusk to 11pm
Tickets: FREE
About: Come see over 150 beautifully decorated Christmas trees lining the West Vancouver Waterfront from the Grosvenor Ambleside Galleria to Dundarave Beach. The annual festival wraps up with a giant bonfire on December 23rd
Date: December 2 to 23, 2023
Location: Dundarave Beach, West Vancouver
Tickets: FREE
About: Presented by BCAA, the PNE Winter Fair features “guest favourites from the PNE Summer Fair” translated into unique winter experiences, including holiday-themed food and beverages, a seasonal marketplace, and local performing groups! The holiday event will run on December 8th, 9th and 14th thru 23rd.
Date: December 8, 9 and 14 to 23
Location: Hastings Park – 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Time: 4pm to 10pm
Tickets: Various prices
About: This beloved outdoor gathering spot has transformed into a winter wonderland with plenty of seasonal food and drink choices. Situated in the inner courtyard of the hotel’s fourth floor, this annual dining experience is a must for the holiday season.
Date: Open throughout the holiday season
Address: The Rosewood Hotel Georgia — 801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
@bwyndavies
About: This holiday-themed run offers a 5km, 10km and 15km Big Elf run/walk beginning at 2pm. Additionally, there will be a 1km Wee Elf run/walk beginning at 1pm. Both runs will see participants make their way through scenic Stanley Park. In addition to the run itself, participants will enjoy a DJ, an “elfie station”, prize giveaways and more!
Date: December 9, 2023
Location: Stanley Park, Vancouver
Time: 11:45am
Tickets: Various prices
About: Something sweet is coming to Yaletown this holiday season! CandyTown is returning once again to transform Yaletown into a FREE winter wonderland! Lights and candy canes will adorn lamp poles and costumed characters will parade down the street.
Date: December 2, 2023
Location: Yaletown, downtown Vancouver
Time: 12pm to 5pm
Tickets: FREE
About: The North Pole Express is ready to welcome you again this holiday season. Departing from the Railway Museum of BC, families are invited to get on this magical train ride for an unforgettable experience.
Date: November 25 to December 17, 2023
Location: Railway Museum of BC – 39645 Government Road, Squamish
Time: Various times
Tickets: Starting at $40
About: Since 1998, Lights of Hope has raised more than $50 million to help save lives across BC. The dazzling lights will stay on until January 2024.
Address: St. Paul’s Hospital – 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Date: November 23 to January 2024
About: Being held on Sunday, December 3rd, the 13th annual parade will feature new and exciting entries – a wonderful mix of antique vehicles, big rigs, boats, floats, marching bands, mascots (like Mr Peanut), remote controlled vehicles, dancers, service clubs and sports teams.
Date: December 3, 2023
Location: Downtown Cloverdale
Time: 5pm
Tickets: FREE
About: Guests will once again be able to dine in spacious snow globes at H Tasting Lounge. Each dome boasts panoramic glass panelling bound by an intricately designed wooden framework.
Date: November 2 until February 2024
Address: H Tasting Lounge — 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver
@mberrymtl / Instagram
About: The CP Holiday Train makes its first Metro Vancouver stop in Maple Ridge on December 17. The train arrives at 7:50pm across from the Billy Miner Pub. Tyler Shaw and Kiesza will perform from 8pm to 8:30pm. The holiday train makes its second stop later that night in Pitt Meadows, arriving at 8:55pm. See Tyler Shaw and Kiesza perform at the railway crossing, located at the corner of Harris Road and Advent Road.
Date: December 17 and 18, 2023
Location: Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Port Moody
Time: Various times
About: All aboard! Before Santa leaves for the North Pole, jump on the Bear Creek Christmas Train and make your way through a winter wonderland full of treats and surprises. There is also a Night Time Train that the Grinch will be accompanying passengers on.
Date: December 2 to 31, 2023
Location: Bear Creek Park Train & Mini Golf – 13750 88 Ave, Surrey
Time: Various times
Tickets: $12.50
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
About: Like previous years, this year’s event will have three separate lantern processions that converge in the Water Park: Leg-in-Boot Square (6pm), H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (6pm) and Triangle Square (6:20pm).
Date: December 21, 2023
Location: False Creek Community Centre – 1318 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
Time: 6pm to 10pm
@burnabyvillage / Instagram
About: Guests are invited to wander the museum’s 10 acre venue, as you take in festive lights and traditional decorations. Activities include live entertainment, scavenger hunts and incredible light displays across the 10-acre complex in Deer Lake Park.
Date: November 25, 2023 to January 5, 2024
Location: Burnaby Village Museum – 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Time: Various times
Tickets: FREE
About: Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker invites guests to go on a magical journey like never before! The cherished holiday tradition returns to Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre with 312 dancers in roles ranging from ballerinas to gymnasts, magicians, and more.
Date: December 14 to 17, 2023
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Tickets: Various prices