Winter is here and there is a lot of fun activities and events to check out across the city. From ice skating to hilarious comedy shows, here are 30+ fun and exciting things to do in Metro Vancouver this winter.
Things to do in Metro Vancouver this winter
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About: One of Vancouver’s most beloved New Year’s traditions is back for another year! The 104th Vancouver Polar Bear Swim is taking place at English Bay on Monday, January 1st, 2024. The 2023 swim saw over 6,000 people brave the cold waters off English Bay as they celebrated the start of a new year.
Date: January 1, 2024
Address: English Bay Beach – Beach Avenue, Vancouver
Time: 12pm to 4pm
Cost: FREE
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: 7pm and 9:30pm
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
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
@jerryseinfeld / Instagram
About: Jerry Seinfeld is bringing his latest stand-up comedy show to Vancouver to kick off 2024. He will be performing at the historic Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Friday, January 5th and Saturday, January 6th.
Date: January 5 and 6, 2024
Address: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Time: 8am to 10pm
Cost: FREE
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: 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: Just For Laughs Vancouver is coming back with an amazing collection of comedy shows taking place across Vancouver from February 15 to 24. Just For Laughs Vancouver 2024 is being headlined by Bill Burr, Ronny Chieng and Wanda Sykes. As the biggest name announced, Bill Burr will be performing at Rogers Arena on February 23, 2024. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked the 55-year-old comedian 17th on their list of the “50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time”.
Date: February 15 to 24, 2024
Location: Various venues
Time: Various times
Tickets: Various prices
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
Love Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
@capilanosuspensionbridge / Instagram
About: Love Lights returns to Capilano Suspension Bridge from February 2 to 25, 2024, letting you take your date night to great heights with Valentine’s-themed lights.
The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk’s Arc de Lumina and Park will all feature Valentine’s-themed lighting experiences and activities that will dazzle and amaze romantics of all ages.
Date: February 2 to 25, 2024
Location: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Time: 10am to 8pm
Tickets: Various prices
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: Open until end of February 2024
Location: Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Tickets: FREE
About: The Contact Winter Music Festival is happening at the Vancouver Convention Centre on December 27 and 28. It’s being headlined by Zedd and Rezz.
Date: December 27 and 28, 2023
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
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: Monster Jam is coming back to Vancouver this March for more heart-racing action! You will witness world-class driver athletes and the most recognizable trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense competitions of speed and skill.
Date: March 8 to 10, 2024
Location: Pacific Coliseum – 100 N Renfrew Street, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Tickets: Various prices
About: Originally scheduled for July of 2023, Madonna is coming to Vancouver as part of her The Celebration Tour. Known as the “Queen of Pop”, Madonna has been widely recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation.
Date: February 21, 2024
Location: Rogers Arena — 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Time: 8:30pm
Tickets: Various prices
About: A New Year’s Eve party like no other, ring in the new year at Cirque NYE 2024. Attendees will get to enjoy 3 rooms on 2 floors, featuring performances, jugglers and more.
Date: December 31, 2023
Location: Science World – 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Time: 9pm to 2:30am
Tickets: Various prices
@fanexpovancouver / Instagram
About: Fan Expo is once again preparing to take over the Vancouver Convention Centre this winter.
From February 17th to 19th, 2024, “experience the ultimate playground for comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming”.
Date: February 17 to 19, 2024
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Time: 10am to 7pm (Saturday), 10am to 5pm (Sunday and Monday)
Tickets: Various prices
About: Ring in the New Year in The Lobby Lounge and RawBar. Fairmont Pacific Rim is throwing their first-ever Masquerade party, inviting guests to ring in the New Year in style. Prepare for a night of reverie starting with a black carpet arrival, Dom Pérignon champagne, remarkable live entertainment including the Jim Kwan trio-band and DJ Kyprios, acrobatic performances, a 360 Instagram action camera, a midnight surprise, and much more.
Date: December 31, 2023
Location: Fairmont Pacific Rim – 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices
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: Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA show has once again taken over the Big Top in Vancouver. 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
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
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
Secret Lantern Society
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
About: WWE Friday Night Smackdown is coming back to Vancouver with a thrilling show in store! WWE Friday Night Smackdown will feature LA Knight, IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair, United States Champion Rey Mysterio, Solo Sikoa and Bobby Lashley plus many more of your favorite WWE Superstars!
Date: January 5, 2024
Location: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Time: 4:45pm
Tickets: Various prices
About: Ice Cube’s Straight Into Canada Tour takes over Abbotsford this February! The 54-year-old Los Angeles native was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A in 2016 and has appeared in over 40 films.
Date: February 20, 2024
Location: Abbotsford Centre — 33800 King Road, Abbotsford
Time: 7pm
Tickets: Various prices
Whistler Blackcomb’s Fire & Ice Show
About: Head up to Whistler this winter to see a spectacular display of skills and cultural sharing. World-class athletes jump and flip through a blazing ring of fire to the beats of a live DJ. Learn about the legend of Spo7ez, a village shared by the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation and see a performance by world champion hoop dancer, Alex Wells.
The show will be held every Sunday until March 12th, 2024.
Date: December 31, 2023 to March 12, 2024
Location: Skier’s Plaza in Whistler Village (base of Whistler and Excalibur Gondolas)
Time: 7pm (8:30pm on NYE)
Tickets: FREE
Vancouver Taboo Everything To Do With Sex Show
About: The Taboo Everything To Do With Sex Show is returning to Vancouver, providing an upscale adult playground dedicated to enhancing lifestyles, encouraging romance, personal betterment and all things Taboo.
Date: February 2 to 4, 2024
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre – 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Time: 5pm to midnight (Friday), 1pm to midnight (Saturday), 12pm to 5pm (Sunday)
Tickets: Various prices
Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
About: The festival will be back from January 13th to February 14th, 2024. This is the ultimate opportunity to explore some of the city’s best hot chocolate spots and discover new cafes.
Date: January 13 to February 14, 2024
Location: Participating locations across Vancouver
@dineoutvanfest / Instagram
About: Now in its 22nd year, Dine Out Vancouver is a festival that brings together hundreds of chefs, more than 300 restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, suppliers and more!
The festival runs from January 17th to February 4th, 2024 and participating restaurants will have multi-course dinner menus ranging from $20 to $65.
Date: January 17 to February 4, 2024
Location: Participating restaurants across Metro Vancouver
About: Get your groove on this New Yea’s Eve at this roller rink party featuring the one and only Uncle Smiley! They’ve got everything you need for an unforgettable night – great music, a lively atmosphere, and a chance to show off your skating skills.
Date: December 31, 2023
Location: Rollerland building at the PNE – 21 N Renfrew Street, Vancouver
Time: 9am to 1pm
Tickets: $29 – $49
Tsawwassen Polar Bear Swim 2023
About: The Tsawwassen Polar Bear Swim returns on monday, January 1st, 2024 and promises to be entertaining! The free event is a refreshing way to start off the New Year and will include fire pits with marshmallow roasting, snowball games, treasure hunt, bean bag toss, drum circle, and face painting
Date: January 1, 2024
Location: Centennial Beach – 570 Boundary Bay Road, Delta
Time: 11:45am to 1:30pm
Tickets: FREE
About: Street Food City is giving you “a delicious opportunity to sample from a collection of Vancouver’s Street Food carts all in one convenient location”. Participating food trucks this year include Shameless Buns, Shawarma Time, Tornado Potato and Reel Mac Cheese
Date: January 2o to 28, 2024
Location: šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square – West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Time: 11am to 5pm (weekends), 11am to 2pm (weekdays)