Lights by the Lake 2026

Harrison Hot Springs is a quiet lake village most of the year. From late November it becomes one of the prettiest Christmas walks in the Fraser Valley: a beach promenade lined with light displays, painted shop windows, a skating rink under strings of lights, and the mountains around Harrison Lake disappearing into the dark. Add a soak in the hot springs and you’ve got a very good winter weekend about two hours from Vancouver.

Lights by the Lake 2026 runs every night from dusk to 11:00 PM, Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 10, 2027, with an opening ceremony, two festive nights with Santa and Sasquatch, and a free rink all season.

For other light displays across the region, see our Christmas lights in Vancouver roundup.

Lights by the Lake 2026: Quick Facts

Opening Ceremony: Saturday, November 21

The season starts from 5:00 to 8:00 PM with:

• photos with Santa and Sasquatch
• free hot chocolate for the first 1,000 people
• Christmas carols
• the Jingle Paws Pet Parade
• fireworks

Festive Nights: December 5 and 19

Two more evenings, December 5 and 19 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, bring back Santa and Sasquatch for photos, along with live music and Christmas storytime. Free hot chocolate goes to the first 100 people. Santa visits elsewhere in the region are listed in where to see Santa in Vancouver.

Starlight Skating Rink

The Starlight Skating Rink is a synthetic rink under a canopy of lights, free for all ages all season. Bring your own skates, or rent a pair at the concession on select days (the fee hasn’t been posted).

How to Walk the Lights

• Where: the displays start at St. Alice Street and run to the Public Boat Launch area.
• Which way: signs ask you to walk west to east along the paved promenade in front of the displays, then loop back on the gravel path behind them.
• From the car: you can see plenty of lights around the village while driving, but the moving displays are best from the beach walkway.

Accessibility, Washrooms and Dogs

• The beach walkways are paved and flat, with five wheelchair ramps.
• Washrooms are at the Boat Launch parking lot (open during display hours) and by the Civic Centre Plaza (until 5:00 PM, or 8:00 PM on event nights).
• Leashed dogs are welcome, and there are waste bags and bins around the village.
• The Plaza, where Hot Springs Road meets Esplanade Avenue at the beach, is the gathering point for events.

Parking and Getting There

Parking in the village is free from September 15 to May 15, so it’s free all season. Larger vehicles and RVs can use the overflow lot at Hot Springs Road and Miami River Drive, 340 metres from the Plaza. There are five public EV charging stations in the village.

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive around dusk, usually between 5:00 and 5:30 PM at this time of year.
• Come early on event nights if you want the free hot chocolate.
• Bring skates, since rentals aren’t available every day.
• Make it an overnight. The drive back to Vancouver is long after dark, and the hot springs are the whole point of Harrison.

More Christmas in the Fraser Valley

On the way out or back:

• Cultus Lake Christmas: lights, Santa and fireworks at Main Beach, also on Saturday, November 21.
• Christmas at District 1881 and the Chilliwack Christmas Parade (Saturday, November 28) in Chilliwack.
• Winter Jubilee in Abbotsford and Glenda’s Christmas Cottage in Mt. Lehman.

For the full season, see the Vancouver Christmas Guide 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Lights by the Lake in 2026?

Every night from dusk to 11:00 PM, Saturday, November 21, 2026 to Sunday, January 10, 2027.

When is the opening ceremony?

Saturday, November 21, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, with fireworks.

Is it free?

The rink is free, there’s no admission fee listed for the lights, and village parking is free all season.

When can kids see Santa?

At the opening ceremony on November 21 and the festive nights on December 5 and 19, all 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, on a leash. There’s even a Jingle Paws Pet Parade on opening night.

Is it accessible?

The beach walkways are paved and flat, with five wheelchair ramps.

Can I just drive around to see the lights?

You’ll see a lot from the car, but the moving displays are best on foot along the beach.

Related: Christmas day trips from Vancouver.

Part of: Vancouver Christmas Guide 2026 › Christmas Lights in Vancouver 2026