Last updated: October 22, 2026. Dates, hours, food, shopping, skating, Santa, accessibility and transit details below come from the official Shipyards Christmas Market website. Santa’s daily schedule, the entertainment stage schedule and the Foodie Tour dates have not been published yet, so check shipyardschristmasmarket.com closer to the date.
The Shipyards Christmas Market is a European-style Christmas market on the North Vancouver waterfront, with 90+ wooden chalets, an outdoor ice rink and Santa’s chalet. Admission is free for everyone, with no tickets and no timeslots, and you can come as often as you like. The market describes itself as established in 2024.
The 2026 market runs from November 27 to December 24, 2026 at The Shipyards, 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver.
Shipyards Christmas Market 2026: Quick Facts
| Dates | November 27 to December 24, 2026 |
| Location | The Shipyards, 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC |
| Admission | Free. No tickets or timeslots |
| Vendors | 120+ vendors across 90+ chalets, including 20+ food vendors |
| Skating | Free outdoor rink, 12:00 to 8:00 PM. Bring skates or rent |
| Photos with Santa | Free, no booking |
| Pets | Pet friendly |
| Official website | shipyardschristmasmarket.com |
Hours
- November 27 to December 17, Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- November 27 to December 17, Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- December 18 to 23 (Christmas Week): 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- December 24 (Christmas Eve): 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
The market is closed from Christmas Day onward. The market’s FAQ says it is open until 10:00 PM from December 17 to 23, while its hours table gives 10:00 PM from December 18. December 17 is a Thursday, so confirm that day’s closing time before you go. Skating runs from 12:00 to 8:00 PM.
When to Go
- Weekday afternoons: quieter, with time to talk with makers.
- Weeknights after 4:00 PM: the lights come on and the lanes are lively. The market calls it the sweet spot.
- Weekends and Christmas Week: liveliest after 4:00 PM, with lineups.
Eat and Drink
More than 20 food vendors serve European-style food and drink. Highlights on the market’s website include:
- Glühwein: red wine with cinnamon, orange and clove, served in a cup or a limited-edition keepsake mug, with an alcohol-free option. You can have it “mit Schuss” with amaretto or spiked rum, or try the spiked apple cider.
- Bratwurst cooked over an open flame on a traditional swinging grill
- Traditional Haxen: Fraser Valley pork slow-roasted with Bavarian spices
- Polish perogies filled with potato and cheese
- French raclette and escargots
- German pretzels
- Dutch poffertjes, mini pancakes with jam or icing sugar
- Italian pasta alla ruota, tossed inside a giant parmesan wheel
- Portuguese egg tarts
- Irish coffee
- Christmas beer, brewed for the market and served on tap
- Hot cocoa
Foodie Tour
The market offers a guided Foodie Tour, a “Taste of European Christmas,” sampling across 10 popular stalls with a Glühwein in hand. It is $90 per person, on six dates only with twelve spots each. The dates have not been announced yet.
Shopping
Over a hundred makers rotate through the season. The market lists:
- Christmas creations: handcrafted ornaments, festive cards and yuletide décor
- Local artisans: hand-poured candles, ceramics, woodcraft, jewellery, accessories and winter fashion
- Pantry and preserves: honeys, hot sauces, kettle corn, gingerbread and jams
- Eight rotating stalls of BC artisans
L’Orangerie Noël in the Pipe Shop
Inside the old Shipyards Pipe Shop is an upscale market hall with 12 high-end artisans, including German loose leaf tea, olive oil and balsamic, handcrafted chocolates, homeware, handcrafted toys and stationery. There is also a champagne bar serving Veuve Clicquot, espresso martinis and prosecco cocktails with charcuterie, with limited seating, and curated artwork in the Gallery, where North Van Arts hosts an art auction.
Vendors accept credit card and cash. American Express is not accepted.
Skating
The outdoor ice rink is free to skate, with no booking and no session times. Skating hours are 12:00 to 8:00 PM. Bring your own skates or rent them at the Supply Shop, in sizes 4 youth to 13 adult. The market says it is not organized by the City of North Vancouver, and that the rink is operated by the City of North Vancouver. Private bookings are available.
Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus are free, with no booking, and elves take the photo for you. The market lists these hours:
- Weekdays: 4:30 to 8:00 PM
- Weekends: 12:00 to 3:00 PM and 5:00 to 8:00 PM
The market’s FAQ says Santa’s schedule will be shared in its newsletter, and that his chalet and the entertainment stage keep their own daily schedule, with information coming soon. Stroller parking is free.
New for 2026: Market Keepsakes
The market sells limited-edition items only at the Shipyards, available at the info booth by the pavilion on a first-come, first-served basis: a Keepsake Glühwein Mug, Summit the Bear (the market’s teddy bear), a Market Canvas Tote and Gluwi the Mulled Wine.
Getting There
- Transit: the SeaBus lands two minutes from the market, and every North Shore bus route ends at the Lonsdale Quay Exchange next door. The market notes the SeaBus ride from downtown takes 12 minutes.
- Driving: the nearest paid lots and street spots fill early on weekends, so leave extra time.
- Biking or walking: the Spirit Trail runs to the door, and the waterfront route is flat, lit and separated from traffic.
Accessibility and Facilities
- Wheelchair access: the market says all areas and washrooms are fully wheelchair accessible.
- Sensory support: free ear plugs, child-sized headsets and a sensory welcome pack are at the info booth all season. There are no special sensory-friendly days.
- Washrooms: at the ice rink, Lonsdale Quay and the Pipe Shop.
- Pets: welcome.
- Lost and found: at the info booth in front of Tap & Barrel.
- Weather: the market stays open unless conditions become unsafe for the public or vendors.
About the Market
The market is organized and financed by Parfait Productions Inc. and its sponsors, and it is not affiliated with, sponsored or organized by the City of North Vancouver. It supports the Salvation Army and the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund. It also lists nightly food recovery and space for local charities among its community efforts, and says it received a 2026 Civic Youth Award as Youth Employer of the Year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Shipyards Christmas Market in 2026?
November 27 to December 24, 2026. It is closed from Christmas Day onward.
Is it free?
Yes. Admission is free, with no tickets or timeslots. Food, drinks and shopping are paid.
What are the hours?
11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday to Thursday and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Friday and Saturday up to December 17. It’s open 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM from December 18 to 23, and 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on December 24.
Is the skating rink free?
Yes, with no booking. Rentals are available at the Supply Shop.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, the market is pet friendly.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The market says all areas and washrooms are fully wheelchair accessible.
How do I get there?
The easiest way is the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay, two minutes from the market.
Sources: Shipyards Christmas Market.
