10 Things to Do in Vancouver at Christmas

Vancouver is a multicultural city where Christmas is very special. Temperatures drop considerably in December, generally ranging between 3° and 7°, so I recommend wearing warm clothing to enjoy all the activities. The city opens its doors to seasonal attractions, such as FlyOver Canada, which is a themed flight over the North Pole.

You can also take advantage of the light displays, enjoy Christmas events throughout the city, and experience the Christmas markets. In addition, the Santa parade is a must-see, especially if you are travelling with children. If you want to take advantage of the best things to do in Vancouver during the Christmas season, don't miss the gingerbread house exhibition and events at Grouse Mountain.

FlyOver Canada is a fun activity available year-round in Vancouver. However, at Christmas it takes on a magical touch, as it transforms into a simulated flight over Canada's North Pole. You can explore the country's most iconic landscapes, such as Niagara Falls, while enjoying special effects that include smells, fog, spins, winds and more.

During the trip, you'll meet Santa's elves and helpers as you pass through Christmas-inspired locations. In addition, breakfasts with Santa Claus are organised, allowing you to spend a magical morning sampling Christmas dishes. You can even post a letter in the North Pole postbox located in the café. Please note that flights are available from November to January.

If you want to purchase tickets for the Vancouver FlyOver Canada experience, keep in mind that it is located at Canada Place, the harbour district that offers the best views of Vancouver Harbour. The experience lasts approximately eight minutes, and tickets start at £23. Please note that children under 15 are admitted free of charge.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver is a unique location at Christmas, as winter activities take place there from November to January. Every year it is covered with thousands of coloured lights, which are installed during the Canyon Lights festival. It is a different kind of outing on the outskirts of the city, allowing you to breathe fresh air under the treetops. In the surrounding area, you will find carol singing groups and gingerbread cookie-making workshops.

In general, the Canyon festival offers a variety of activities and craft workshops for children, such as Christmas tree making. Please note that to access the festival, you only need to purchase tickets to visit the :::link|text=Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver|element=sc-100-1103:::.

Starting in November, you can enjoy the Christmas markets in Vancouver. Some are temporary, but you can also find options available throughout the winter season. The main one is the Vancouver Annual Christmas Market, a fun outdoor option. It takes place at Jack Poole Plaza, where you can warm up with mulled wine, do your Christmas shopping and buy handicrafts.

Its events are inspired by German and Austrian traditions, so you'll find craft beers from those countries. In addition, you can visit Santa's residence, ride the Christmas carousel, go on a treasure hunt and more. Other markets not to be missed include:

• Pacific Arts Market: This is a picturesque market where a Christmas bazaar is held in November, where you can find home goods, clothing, crafts, and food. Santa's workshop is also set up, offering last-minute Christmas shopping deals, as well as live music and things to do in Vancouver with children.
• Japan Market: In early December, this market usually hosts a Christmas fair, where the main attraction is the Japanese food stalls.
• Granville Island Market: This is an ideal spot for Christmas shopping, and it also has a children's market with attractions for the little ones. I recommend signing up for a :::link|text=guided tour of the market|element=sc-100-1105::: to learn more about its food and entertainment offerings.

Grouse Mountain is an icon of the region, where you can find a variety of activities and attractions, such as snowboarding, skiing and hiking. In winter, it transforms into the Canadian North Pole, so you can see Santa's reindeer and go ice skating. Here, the festive atmosphere, decorations and magical adventures will allow you to enjoy the Christmas season to the fullest.

Additionally, when you book tickets for Grouse Mountain, you can visit Santa in his workshop and enjoy the enchanting Light Walk light show. You can also learn about local birds and explore the brown bear habitat. If you are travelling with children, don't miss The Theatre in the Sky, where Christmas films are shown. There is also a craft area and an elf headquarters where you can write letters to Father Christmas. It is an ideal destination if you are looking for things to do in Vancouver in winter, as you will find snowshoe trails, ski areas and a skating rink.

Christmas cruises are a must in Vancouver, and in fact, the Carol Ships Parade kicks off the season. This event lights up the city's harbours and ships, usually in early December. You can see the catamarans sailing from the Burrard Yacht Club to Lonsdale Quay.

The night-time procession can be seen from the harbour, where free activities and entertainment shows are held. However, the best way to enjoy this event is on board a cruise ship. Christmas parties on Vancouver's boats are a classic, allowing you to watch the light show, dine on Christmas dishes and enjoy Christmas carols. In addition, bars and discos are set up on board, ideal for celebrating Christmas and New Year's Eve.

In December, the streets of Vancouver are embellished with hundreds of light shows, thanks to the arrival of Christmas. I recommend taking a tour to explore the city. A great option is to participate in a bicycle tour of Vancouver or take advantage of the best tours on the city's tourist bus. Especially around sunset and during the night, when the decorations can be best appreciated, some lights you can't miss are:

The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden

The Vancouver Botanical Garden offers an annual event with Christmas light displays. It is known as the VanDusen Festival of Lights and offers a fairytale atmosphere with millions of twinkling lights, food stalls and live entertainment. You can walk through gingerbread houses in the treetops and visit Santa's workshop.

It's an ideal environment for the whole family, where you can spend your winter holidays. The lights are installed in November and taken down in January, so you can take advantage of visiting if you're looking for things to do in Vancouver in winter. You can find tickets starting at £12 to explore this fun maze considered the green lung of the city.

Sneak away to the Coquitlam Christmas light-up

Lights at Lafarge is a Christmas light display near Lafarge Lake. Specifically, it is located forty minutes from Vancouver, in the mini-city of Coquitlam. It is not usually as crowded as other events in the region, so you can enjoy an exclusive experience. The forest is usually decorated with hundreds of lights and looks like something out of a Christmas film.

This is a free winter attraction, which usually features a night-time Christmas market, ideal for enjoying a glass of mulled wine. You can experience this event between November and January, so you have plenty of time to admire the decorations and enjoy the magic and comedy shows, food stalls and live entertainment.

Marvel at the Christmas lights on Granville Island and Harrison Lake

Granville Island is an excellent destination at Christmas, as the waterfront is lit up. You can enjoy this attraction between November and January. Keep in mind that this island is actually a residential neighbourhood surrounded by museums, galleries, and breweries. During this time of year, you can find activities for the whole family while enjoying the exhibitions.

Another light display not to be missed is the Lights By the Lake Festival in Harrison Hot Springs. It is a themed celebration where you can enjoy the winter nights. The opening event is usually held in November with dance performances, appearances by Santa and ice rinks. You can even find decorations in local restaurants and admire the iconic snowmen.

The annual Santa Claus Parade in Vancouver is a massive free event, which includes live entertainment by marching bands, floats, and dance companies. It usually starts on West Georgia Street, and there are other pre-parade events such as Christmas breakfasts, letter-writing stations for Santa Claus, face painting for children, and more. An interesting fact is that some people dress up in costumes that are not directly related to Christmas.

Some pre-parade events are held near the Vancouver Art Gallery, most of which are free family activities. Other Christmas parades in the surrounding area include:

• Aldergrove Christmas Light Parade: This is a night-time parade held in a community an hour away from Vancouver. The main attractions are the lights and floats.
• Timms Community Centre Parade: this parade is accompanied by Christmas events such as craft workshops, ice carving demonstrations and beer tastings.
• Bowen Island Parade: This activity is part of the Lantern Festival, and the parade goes from Village Square to Union Steamship Marina. It is notable for Santa's arrival by boat, carol singing groups and theatre performances for children.

Stanley Park is a magical location during the Christmas season, as it hosts the legendary Bright Nights, where the interactive train is the main attraction. Keep in mind that tickets for the train are sold online months in advance and usually sell out in a matter of minutes. This attraction allows you to join the Great Elf Tour, which will take you through the forest in a 1961 locomotive.

Tickets for the train start at £10 per person, although there are special offers for children and seniors. In the square, you will find free activities, as well as extravagant exhibitions and light shows. You can enjoy the tree parade and participate in Christmas workshops. In addition, the Christmas theme is different every year.

Throughout the month of December, you can enjoy the activities of the Steveston Festival of Lights, also known as Stevenston Winter in the Village. It takes place in Steveston, located in the Richmond neighbourhood of Metro Vancouver. Here, you can't miss a tour of the Christmas decorations, as well as the seasonal food stalls.

Most people are drawn to the Christmas display, where the pine trees and lights are a sight to behold. Nearby is a harbour area where you can see illuminated boats. I also suggest you visit the Tree Festival in mid-December, which costs approximately €10 to enter. You can buy pine trees, admire the decorated trees on display and vote for the best one. Other activities not to be missed include:

• The Craft Fair: offering a festive atmosphere, it is an ideal place to enjoy a hot drink and shelter from the cold. Admission consists of a donation at each person's discretion.
• The Stevenston Christmas Market: an ideal market for buying souvenirs, crafts and clothing.
• Santa in Town: an annual event where most activities are free. Santa usually arrives by boat and kicks off the celebration. There is also a parade and free carriage rides.
• The Dog Parade: This is a fun Christmas race where you can bring your pet dressed up as one of Santa's reindeer. It takes place on the Phoenix Pond Bridge, and the best-dressed dogs receive a prize.

Gingerbread houses are a Christmas classic, and in Vancouver there is a free event where you can build your own house. This is the Hyatt Gingerbread Lane gingerbread house exhibition, which has become a real tradition since it began in 1992. Each year there is a different theme, the most popular being the North Pole, the Grinch and Charlie Brown.

It takes place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and is open throughout December with cooking workshops and tastings. Another Christmas event not to be missed is the tree lighting at Robson Square. It is the city's main pine tree, so it is very important and is accompanied by concerts, free cookie stations and live entertainment.