It looks like Stanley Park’s Bright Nights will have to find a new home this year.
While the annual event will be replaced with another one, many Metro Vancouverites are disgruntled and disappointed that Stanley Park won’t look the same without Bright Nights this year.
STANLEY PARK’S BRIGHT NIGHTS
Stanley Park’s Bright Nights has been hosted for 27 years now, spreading holiday cheer to everyone in the city. It’s a staple memory for a lot of families. This goes especially for the younger ones who get to ride the miniature train through a forest of lights.
It’s also the largest fundraiser for the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund. They help to provide “life-saving, life-supporting, and life-enriching services to burn survivors and their families.” “The Park Board has donated more than $2.5 million to the Burn Fund since Bright Nights began in 1998,” says the Bright Nights train webpage.
The Bright Nights display was free to walk through and welcomed donations. While the train ride cost $12 to $16 (with children 2 and under being free), Bright Nights provided an affordable entertainment venue for all families.
THE REPLACEMENT
Unfortunately, Bright Nights’ centerpiece– the Stanley Park miniature train– has been off the tracks since December 2024 due to a safety incident with a driver. A slew of other issues has plagued the train, as well. From coyotes to mechanical problems, the problems have piled on for years now. All of this has resulted in a loss of $2.9 million from 2019 to 2024.
The Vancouver Park Board is now bringing a new event to replace Bright Nights this year. For those longing for their Hogwarts letter, they’ll be thrilled to learn that Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience will be here instead.
The only problem? It costs $49. A far cry from the donation-led Bright Nights.
“Way to go Vancouver, getting rid of the Firefighters wonderful display and charity fundraiser, and installing a very expensive ($49!) show instead!” writes one Reddit user.
“Cool, I hate this,” writes another.
Regardless, Stanley Park will be occupied with a different holiday celebration this year. It is unclear where Bright Nights will go now. The same can be said for the future of Stanley Park’s iconic train.
