Christmas Eve 2026 is a Thursday and Christmas Day a Friday, which means a long weekend for a lot of people. Christmas Eve in Vancouver is busy and festive: the markets have their final night and Santa makes his last mountaintop appearances. Christmas Day is the opposite. The city goes quiet, the malls close, and the best plans are a walk, a skate, a good meal and a light display after dark.
Here’s how to make the most of both days.
Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24)
Last Night at the Christmas Markets
Both of the big markets finish on Christmas Eve, so this is your last chance for Glühwein and a bratwurst.
- The Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza runs until December 24. Check its hours table for the final day.
- The free Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver also runs until December 24.
Last Chance to See Santa
- The Peak of Christmas on Grouse Mountain ends on December 24.
- Santa at Seymour, in a yurt on Mount Seymour, runs until 4:00 PM on December 24. See our guide to Christmas on Grouse, Cypress and Seymour.
- For the youngest kids, the Christmas Eve Santa tracker is a tradition in itself.
Lights That Stay Open on Christmas Eve
VanDusen Festival of Lights and Canyon Lights are open on December 24 and closed on the 25th. Noël Surrey and Festive Village are closed on both days. Free displays like Lights at Lafarge stay lit.
Christmas Eve Church Services
Many Vancouver churches hold Christmas Eve services, from early-evening family services with carols to late-night and midnight services. Downtown, Holy Rosary Cathedral (Catholic) and Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican) are the traditional choices for a candlelit service, and neighbourhood churches across the region hold their own. Times for 2026 are usually posted in early December, and the popular services fill up, so arrive early.
Last-Minute Shopping
Malls open on Christmas Eve with shorter hours and close in the late afternoon. Grocery stores close early too, so do the Christmas dinner shop before the 24th if you can.
Christmas Day (Friday, December 25)
Christmas Brunch and Dinner
Eating out on Christmas Day takes planning, because many restaurants close and the ones that open book up early. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver has announced a Christmas Day brunch in its Pacific Ballroom from 11:00 AM and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners at Notch8 for 2026. Many other hotel restaurants run set menus too. Our guide to Christmas dinner and holiday bars in Vancouver lists more options as menus are announced, and festive afternoon tea is a nice alternative earlier in the month.
Things to Do on Christmas Day
- Walk the seawall. Stanley Park on Christmas morning is about as calm as the city ever gets.
- Go skating. Robson Square opened from 12:00 to 5:00 PM on Christmas Day last season.
- Head up a mountain. Grouse, Cypress and Seymour have usually opened on Christmas Day when conditions allow.
- See free lights after dark. Lights at Lafarge, the Dundarave trees or Lights by the Lake if you’re out in the Fraser Valley.
- Stay in. Our guide to Christmas movies to stream in Canada has every 2026 release.
Transit runs on a holiday schedule. The full list of what’s open and closed is in what’s open on Christmas Day in Vancouver.
After Christmas
Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26) brings the sales: see Boxing Day in Vancouver. Most light shows run into early January, and the season ends with New Year’s Eve and the Polar Bear Swim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Vancouver Christmas Market open on Christmas Day?
No. Its last day is December 24. The Shipyards Christmas Market also ends on December 24.
Are Christmas lights open on Christmas Day in Vancouver?
Free displays like Lights at Lafarge and Dundarave stay lit. VanDusen, Canyon Lights, Noël Surrey and Festive Village close on December 25.
Where can I have Christmas dinner in Vancouver?
Hotel restaurants are the safest bet. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver has announced Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners and a Christmas Day brunch for 2026. Book early.
Part of: Vancouver Christmas Guide 2026 › Best Christmas Things to Do in Vancouver
