Mark your calendars – the holiday season is upon us and the city is abuzz with events and activities galore. Bundle up, grab your loved ones and get ready for some holiday fun.
Here are some you can’t miss:
Disney On Ice: Frozen
Frozen fans rejoice! The beloved Disney movie hits the ice this holiday season and is sure to bring some holiday cheer to young and old alike. See familiar characters like the ice queen Elsa, quirky Anna and the hilarious snowman Olaf up-close and in person as they whiz through winter wonderland. It’ll also feature hit songs like ‘Let It Go’ and ‘Do You Want To Build A Snowman’. Frozen runs through Nov 25 to 29, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.
Canyon Lights
Besides the joy of seeing the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park transform into a winter wonderland with hundreds of thousands of fairy lights, this is the place to go if you want to see the world’s tallest living Christmas tree. Other holiday fun includes holiday card making, sing-alongs with the band and decorating gingerbread cookies. Canyon Lights in North Vancouver runs from November 27 to January 3, with holiday activities beginning at 4 pm.
Vancouver Christmas Market
Get pumped for the holidays at Vancouver’s Christmas Market at the Queen Elizabeth Plaza downtown. This annual affair has tons of great food and drinks, holiday entertainment for the entire family and a Kid’s Market – where the little ones can make their own Christmas gifts and take a ride on the Christmas Carousel. It’s also a great place to get started on that Christmas list. It runs from November 21 to December 24 daily, from 11 am to 9pm.
Heritage Christmas
For an old-timey Christmas, head out to the Burnaby Village Museum and see this heritage village decked out with fairy lights and vintage-themed displays. Take a ride on the carousel, visit Father Christmas and go on the Twelve Days of Christmas scavenger hunt. That’s not all – there is also storytelling, crafts and baking sessions for the children. Heritage Christmas runs from November 21 to December 11 in Burnaby.
Holidays at the Vancouver Aquarium
A visit to the Vancouver Aquarium is always good fun – but it gets even better during the holidays. An outdoor maze of Christmas trees, a visit by Scuba Claus as he swims through an aquatic exhibit and story time with Scuba elves is just the beginning. You can also hop on board the Polar Express – a 4D experience of a magical journey to the North Pole. Holidays at the Aquarium runs from November 27 – January 4, Scuba Claus visits are scheduled at 11.30 am daily during these dates.
Carol Ships Parade of Lights
For a unique (and free) holiday tradition in Vancouver, be sure to catch the Carol Ships Parade of Lights. These ships are decked out with lights and holiday-themed decorations and make a sight to remember. It runs from December 4 to December 23 and a list of optimal viewing sites can be found at their website, carolships.org.
Santa Claus Parade
The Annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade is a classic holiday staple. With marching bands galore, choirs and floats with festive displays and classic holiday characters, this is one Christmas spectacle you wouldn’t want to miss. Start off the festivities by heading out to the Coast Capital Savings Christmas Square in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery for gingerbread decorating, face painting and live entertainment at 10.30 am. The parade falls on December 6 and starts at 1 pm.
