We created Vancouver Christmas to help people who live in or visit Metro Vancouver make the most of the holiday season, without spending hours hunting for dates and details.
Christmas in Vancouver is spread across a lot of places: light shows on the North Shore, markets on the waterfront, tree lightings in every city, Santa parades in the Fraser Valley, and a long list of shows, concerts and craft fairs. The details change every year, and some events announce late. Our goal is simple: bring it all together in one place, with clear, practical and up-to-date information, so you can spend less time searching and more time celebrating.
What We Cover
Vancouver Christmas is a guide to the holiday season across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, from early November through New Year’s Day:
- Lights and trees: from the VanDusen Festival of Lights and Canyon Lights to every tree lighting in the region and the free light displays.
- Markets and shopping: the Vancouver Christmas Market, the Shipyards Christmas Market, craft fairs and made-in-BC gifts.
- Shows and concerts: pantos, Nutcrackers and holiday theatre, and Christmas concerts.
- Family fun: where to see Santa, Santa Claus parades, skating and ideas for kids.
- Planning: what’s on this weekend, free things to do, itineraries, where to stay and December weather.
- The whole region: Vancouver’s neighbourhoods, the North Shore, Burnaby and New West, Richmond and Delta, Surrey and White Rock, the Tri-Cities, Langley and the Fraser Valley and Squamish and Whistler.
How We Put Our Guides Together
We research each guide using official sources wherever possible: organizer and venue websites, city event pages and official ticketing pages. Every guide covers the practical details people actually need, such as dates, hours, prices, how to get there, when to go to avoid crowds and what’s nearby.
Holiday schedules change, and some events announce their dates late in the season. We update our guides as new information comes out, and we clearly say when a date hasn’t been confirmed yet. Before you go, we always recommend checking the official website of the event or venue.
Our Promise to Readers
- Useful and honest: we recommend things we think readers will genuinely enjoy, including plenty of free options.
- Independent: our editorial guides are not influenced by advertisers. Any sponsored content or paid placement is clearly labelled.
- Up to date: we revisit our guides through the season and correct anything that changes.
Part of a Family of Christmas Guides
Vancouver Christmas is a project by Vancouver Page. Planning a holiday trip somewhere else? See our sister guides: New York Christmas, Toronto Christmas, Calgary Christmas, Victoria Christmas, Montreal Christmas and Edmonton Christmas.
Get in Touch
Have a question, a correction or an event we should cover? Visit our Contact page or email info@vancouver.page. For advertising, see Advertise with Us.