It’s the weekend before Christmas, and the city is packed with festive events and holiday happenings!
From dazzling holiday light displays to last-minute Christmas shopping, here are 31 fun and exciting things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend.
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Things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend
Vancouver Christmas Market
About: The beloved market is back this November with 110+ alpine huts, German food & drink, live performances, twinkling lights, and unlimited rides on the carousel! As the market celebrates 15 years, 2025 will feature new festivities like Hot Aperol Spritz, daily real snow showers, musical light shows, Santa’s Workshop, a roaming photo booth, and more!
Date: November 13 to December 24, 2025
Location: Jack Poole Plaza – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Cost: Various prices
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
About: Feel the enchantment of twinkling lights and experience the unique charm of mountaintop ice skating during Peak of Christmas up at Grouse Mountain. Now open through December 24, Vancouver’s very own North Pole experience offers something magical for everyone.
mountain air. Don’t forget to enjoy the natural beauty of Blue Grouse Lake and stroll through the light tunnel for that perfect holiday photo.
Lights along the path around Blue Grouse Lake allow you to snowshoe or walk in the winter night, creating a magical experience against a majestic mountain backdrop.
Date: November 21 to December 24, 2025
Location: Grouse Mountain – 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver
Time: Various times
Christmas Tree at CF Richmond Centre
About: Metro Vancouver’s tallest Christmas tree is shining brightly in Richmond this holiday season. CF Richmond Centre’s 78 ft. Christmas tree is two feet taller than the one outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Located at the mall’s new outdoor plaza, visitors can enjoy daily light and music shows until December 31st
Location: CF Richmond Centre – 6551 Number 3 Rd, Richmond
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
About: The Winter Solstice Lantern Festival helps mark the longest night of the year. 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 (6:30pm).
The festivities include live entertainment, food trucks, and more!
Date: December 21, 2025
Location: Various locations
Time: 6pm to 10pn
Admission: FREE
Noel Surrey with the Magic of Bright Nights
Noel Surrey with the Magic of Bright Nights
About: The 2nd annual Noel Surrey Light Festival is back to brighten your holiday season with millions of dazzling lights! This year’s festivities also includes the magic of Bright Nights, which has returned to its original home in Surrey!
Now open until December 28th, guests of all ages can include magical holiday lights, free ferris wheel and bumper car rides, your favourite characters, and sweet treats and festive drinks!
Date: November 28 to December 28, 2025
Location: Cloverdale Fairgrounds – 17905 62 Ave #17607, Surrey
Time: 2pm/3pm to 9pm
Tickets: Various prices (children 6 and under get FREE admission)
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! The official light-up celebration takes place on December 7th with live performances, photos with Santa, and delicious bites from food carts lining the promenade
Date: December 7, 2025 to January 12, 2026
Location: White Rock waterfront
Holiday Lights in Williams Park
About: Holiday Lights in Williams Park, a FREE outdoor event featuring over 195,000 lights and festive displays, opens for the holidays on December 13th Running from 5pm to 9pm each day, families can sit in the comfort of their cars, and take in all the beautiful light displays throughout the park.
Date: December 13 to 28, 2025
Address: Williams Park – 68 Avenue and 238 Street, Langley Township
Time: 5pm to 9pm
Admission: FREE (registration required)
About: Explore Dazzling Displays, Playful Adventures, and Interactive Storybook Settings as Glow Langley Presents, The Magic Toyshop.
Lights sparkle and toys come alive with new magical lands and classic favourites at Canada’s largest Christmas event. British Columbia’s most beloved Christmas season experience will thrill guests as they are sucked in through the keyhole of The Magic Toy Shop where lights dazzle and holiday wonder fills every corner.
Date: November 20 to December 31, 2025
Location: Glow Langley – 6690 216 Street, Langley
Time: Various times
Tickets: Various prices
Greendale Acres
About: Beginning Friday, November 28th and continuing through to Tuesday, December 23rd, Greendale Acres is rolling out a calendar of holiday season events that blend a sense of heartwarming nostalgia with innovation, reimagining classic holiday charm with interactive experiences!
Grab the family and jump aboard the Greendale Express Train as it meanders through enchanting light displays. Guests can also wander at their own pace through the farm’s festive decorations.
The holiday season isn’t complete without our favourite characters, and Frozen’s Elsa will be visiting Greendale Acres on Saturday, December 6th and Saturday, December 13th from 5pm to 7pm. Dance along to your favourite Frozen songs and capture magical photos with Elsa!
Date: November 28 to December 23, 2025
Location: Greendale Acres – 41905 Yale Rd West, Chilliwack
Cost: Various prices
Artemis Space Adventure with LEGO Bricks
About: Artemis Space Adventure with LEGO Bricks, presented by White Spot Restaurants, takes visitors to the moon and beyond in an all-new mission where creativity, problem-solving, and engineering collide!
Inspired by NASA’s groundbreaking Artemis Missions, each visitor will embark on their own space-faring adventure out in space.
The main draw of the exhibit is a series of striking LEGO sculptures, including a replica of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module and NASA’s most powerful rocket, designed for missions to Mars.
Date: June 26, 2025 to April 6, 2026
Location: Science World – 1455 Quebec St, Vancouver
Admission: Various prices
About: The Robson Square Ice Rink is now open for the season! Located at 800 Robson Street, this beloved winter attraction offers a magical experience for the whole family.
Skating is free for all ages as long as you bring your own skates. If you don’t have your own skates, you can rent a pair for a small fee. Helmets are mandatory for everyone 12-years-old and under, and are free of charge with your skate rental.
Date: December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026
Location: Robson Square – 800 Robson St, Vancouver
Time: 9am to 9pm
Admission: FREE
The Christmas Store at Potters
About: Each year, Potters Nursery transforms itself into Western Canada’s largest Christmas store, boasting more than 28,000 square feet devoted to all things yuletide. The store boasts more than 50,000 ornaments to look through!
Location Potters Garden Centre – 19158 48 Ave, Surrey
Hours: Various times
CPKC
About: The popular holiday train will be stopping across Canada to raise money, food and awareness for local food banks in communities along the CP network.
The CP Holiday Train will stop in four Lower Mainland communities this year beginning December 19, including Maple Ridge, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, and Port Coquitlam. For 2025, residents in BC communities will be able to see the Barenaked Ladies perform live at each stop!
Date: December 19 and 20, 2025
Location: Maple Ridge, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, and Port Coquitlam
Winter Wonderland Photo Lab BC Children’s Hospital Fundraiser – CVLL
About: CVLL Launch Event & Holiday Photo Lab Pop-Up is a community gathering celebrating the debut of West Vancouver’s newest lifestyle brand. This event is for families, friends, and neighbours to enjoy a festive photo experience while supporting the BC Children’s Hospital.
Date: December 13 to 21, 2025
Location The Silk Purse Gallery – 1570 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver
Time: 9am to 11am
Downtown Vancouver ferris wheel
About: As part of Destination Downtown, a free, month-long family-friendly activation, a holiday ferris wheel will be open for rides at Vancouver Art Gallery’s North Plaza until January 3rd, 2026.
The festive attraction, which will be located by Vancouver’s dazzling 76-foot-tall Christmas tree, allows you to see the city from up high like never before!
Date: December 2, 2025 to January 3, 2026
Location: Vancouver Art Gallery’s North Plaza – 750 Hornby St, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Admission: $7
About: Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker invites guests to go on a magical journey like never before for their 15th anniversarty! The cherished holiday tradition returns to Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre for five performances.
Date: December 18 to 21, 2025
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre – 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Tickets: Various prices
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
About: Beginning November 21st, 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 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026
Location: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Time: 11am to 9pm
Tickets: Various prices
Arts Club Theatre Company presents Disney’s FROZEN
About: The Arts Club Theatre Company production of Disney’s FROZEN runs from October 30, 2025, to January 4, 2026 at the Stanley BFL CANADA Stage.
Experience the magic of the beloved animated movie and revel in showstopping favourites such as “Let It Go,” “For the First Time in Forever,” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and delight in enchanting new ones.
Date: October 30, 2025 to January 4, 2026
Location: Stanley BFL CANADA Stage – 2750 Granville St, Vancouver
Tickets: Starting at $39
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: Available starting November 5, 2025
Location: H Tasting Lounge — 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver
Gingerbread House Decorating & Festive Brunch at Honey Salt
bout: Guests of all ages are invited to build and decorate their very own gingerbread house, complete with all the festive ingredients they’ll need! Each booking includes a curated adult or kids menu, a complimentary holiday beverage, and access to the signature candy cart. Guests are welcome to decorate as many gingerbread houses as they wish, with each kit priced at $28 and including a house shell, icing, candy, and seasonal treats.
The experience is $42 for adults, and comes with choice of spiked cocoa or a glass of bubbles and one feature brunch item. Kids between 4 and 10 years old can enjoy the festivities for $26, complete with hot cocoa and a selection from the kids menu.
Date: December 21, 2025
Location: Honey Salt – 39 Smithe St, Vancouver
About: Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor lights display is gearing up to once again shine bright this holiday season Lights at Lafarge returns to Lafarge Lake at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park with an exciting opening night celebration on Friday, November 28th.
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.
The kick-off festivities on November 28th run from 5pm to 8pm, and includes live entertainment, food trucks, and even a fire and light performance!
Date: November 28, 2025 to February 28, 2026
Location: Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Time: 4pm to 11pm
@herb.wat / Instagram
About: This holiday season, Harrison Hot Springs is once again transforming into a magical world of lights, and the while family is invited to experience it! Visitors will get to stroll along Harrison’s promenade, while taking in the warm glow of Christmas lights and charming winter window paintings.
During the lighting ceremony on November 22, visitors can snap photos with Santa and Sasquatch, enjoy free hot chocolate and Christmas carols, take in the Jingle Paws Pet Parade, catch a magical fireworks show, and more!
Date: November 22, 2025 to January 11, 2026
Location: Harrison Lakefront – Harrison Hot Springs
Time: Dusk to dawn
Tickets: FREE
About: After debuting last year, the Shipyards Christmas Market is back again for the 2025 holiday season beginning November 28. Enjoy festive music, and skate on the ice rink, while making your way through an 81,000 sq. ft. sparkling winter wonderland with over 140 vendors.
Date: Beginning November 28, 2025
Location: The Shipyards — 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Time: Various times
Admission: FREE
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience Vancouver 2025
About: Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, Fever, and in partnership with Rifflandia Entertainment Company, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience opens for the first time in Canada on Friday, November 7th, 2025.
Set amongst Stanley Park’s beautiful nature, guests will discover enchanting light displays throughout an illuminated path filled with magical creatures such as Hippogriffs and Nifflers! You’ll even be able to practice casting spells!
Once you finish making your way through the trail, a themed village awaits you! Enjoy a selection of food and drink, and explore a souvenir shop offering official and bespoke merchandise.
Date: November 7, 2025 to January 1, 2026
Location: Stanley Park Railway – 690 Pipeline Rd, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Admission: Various prices
About: District 1881, small quaint Fraser Valley neighbourhood, has once again come alive for the holiday season! This neighbourhood is a historic enclave and vibrant commercial hub, making it feel like you’re walking through the street of Europe.
Their 40 ft. Christmas tree and magical holiday lights will remain on until December 24th. On November 29th, check out the Rotary Parade Party as it makes its way through District 1881. The fun will keep going before and after the parade with live entertainment, games, and prizes! Comedian Cliff Prang (3pm to 5pm) and DJ Simon Bridgefoot (7pm to 8pm) will keep the energy high all evening long!
Date: Open throughout the holiday season
Location: 6128 Yale Road, Chilliwack
About: The Shipyards outdoor skate plaza, Metro Vancouver’s largest outdoor skating rink, opens on Friday, November 28th.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains, the 12,000 sq. ft. ice rink can accommodate up to 300 people.
The skating rink offers free daily skates, as well as free helmets and skate aides. The ice rink will remain open daily from 12pm to 8pm until March 31st, 2026.
Date: November 28, 2025 to March 31, 2026
Location: The Shipyard Commons – 145 Chadwick Court, North Vancouver
Time: 12pm to 8pm
Admission: FREE
VanDusen Botanical Garden / Facebook
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 28, 2025 to January 4, 2025
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver
Time: 4pm to 10pm
Tickets: Various prices
Gingerbread Lane at Hyatt Regency Vancouver
About: The 33rd annual Gingerbread Lane fundraising event is back at Vancouver’s Hyatt Regency. Open to the public, this year’s event features roughly 30 gingerbread house entries. In 2024, the event raised $25,000 to help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Date: November 28 to December 28, 2025
Location: Hyatt Regency Vancouver – 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Admission: FREE
Wesbrook Village Holiday Market
About: The second annual Wesbrook Village Holiday Market, sponsored and organized by UBC Properties Trust for Live at UBC, will feature a variety of local artisan vendors and festive fun!
The market runs Fridays and Saturdays from November 28 to December 21 in Norman MacKenzie Square, the heart of Wesbrook Village at UBC. Discover unique, handcrafted goods perfect for gifting (or little treats for yourself), and try delicious bites and beverages from the surrounding eateries and cafés.
Date: November 28 to December 21, 2025
Location: Norman MacKenzie Square – 378 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver
Time: 9am to 7pm
Admission: FREE
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
About:Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum is now open until Friday, January 2nd, 2026. 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.
On November 29th, come out and see the Bright in Burnaby tree lighting ceremony at 6:30pm. All proceeds from carousel rides between 5pm and 9pm will be going to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau. Concord Pacific, the presenting partner for the event, will generously match all donations.
Date: November 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026
Location: Burnaby Village Museum – 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
Time: Various times
Admission: FREE
Holiday Splash at the Vancouver Aquarium
About: The Vancouver Aquarium has again transformed into an enchanting winter water-land until January 4th with twinkling lights, a Penguins 4D experience, and much more! Until December 24, see Santa go scuba diving, and spread holiday joy while in the water!
Date: November 12, 2025 to January 4, 2026
Address: Vancouver Aquarium – 845 Avison Way, Vancouver
Time: Various times
Admission: Various prices
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