Best Christmas Events in Vancouver
Family Fun in the City of Vancouver for the Holiday Season
Nov 2, 2009
Visiting Vancouver for the holidays? Or a local who wants to explore their city this Christmas season? Here are highlights on some of the winter events that happen around town in Vancouver each year.
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
This Christmas event in Stanley Park features a train ride with more than a million Christmas lights, music and animated holiday displays. After enjoying the train, families can walk around the paths and admire the displays, lights and music. The farmyard is also open where kids can see and pet animals. Then warm up with some hot cocoa, popcorn and roasted nuts. On certain nights there will be entertainment featured as well. Part of the ticket sales for Bright Nights Christmas Train go to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fun. Tickets go on sale in early November and the train rides go from 3p.m to 10 p.m. every night.
Rogers Santa Claus Parade in Downtown Vancouver
The Rogers Santa Claus Parade happens every year, usually the first week of December on Sunday at around 1 p.m. It happens in downtown Vancouver and features marching bands, floats, dancers and of course there is the famous jolly old elf Santa himself. Spectators might want to bring a non-perishable food item or money as volunteers will be out collecting donations for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. A few hours before the parade starts, there is Christmas Square open with entertainment and booths for face painting, writing letters to Santa and balloon twister at the corner of Georgia and Howe Streets. For more details, on how to have the best time at a parade, read Christmas Parade Tips for Families.
Visit Santa’s Workshop on Grouse Mountain
Families don’t have to go to the North Pole to see Santa’s workshop, just drive up to Grouse Mountain. There are a variety of fun family events happening starting at the end of November until Christmas Eve. Kids can enjoy visiting Santa’s workshop, getting a photo with Santa and seeing and learning about real reindeer. Rent some skates and skate on an ice skating pond surrounded by trees or go for a sleigh ride. At certain times there will also be Christmas carolers out and the Theatre in the Sky will feature classic Christmas movies. It’s also possible to have Breakfast with Santa which includes a buffet and entertainment geared for kids. Call 604.980.9311 for tickets to Santa's Breakfast.
Gingerbread Lane at Hyatt Regency in Vancouver
Each year a display of gingerbread houses are put out in the lobby area of the hotel. Sometimes specialty gingerbread items are created, one year the world’s tallest gingerbread man was on display here as well as an 11 foot by 16 foot house gingerbread house for 2009. Families can make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation when they vote for their favorite gingerbread house.
Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival in Vancouver
Bundle up and enjoy a parade of lanterns to celebrate the winter solstice. It happens from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the day of winter solstice, the longest night of the year, which is usually December 21st of each year. The festival happens in a number of locations in Vancouver such as Granville Island, Yaletown, Commercial Drive, Coal Harbour, Chinatown and Strathcona. There are musicians, fire dancers, singers and drummers for the event. It’s a free family event and families can feel free to bring a homemade lantern and join in the parade.
There are a lot of fun family activities to do in Vancouver at Christmas time. Try riding a Christmas train in Stanley Park, wave to Santa at the Santa Claus parade downtown and take a stroll down Gingerbread Lane. Enjoy the festivities at a local winter solstice festival and take a trip up to Grouse to see Santa's workshop.
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