It’s almost time.
Time to open up presents, spend time with family, and enjoy delicious cuisine.
RELATED: 11 Things To Do In Richmond This Winter
Christmas weekend also brings with it plenty to do across metro Vancouver.
From holiday light to Christmas markets, here are 32 awesome events taking place in metro Vancouver this weekend.
Events In Metro Vancouver This Weekend
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Friday, December 22
LED lights | Laberge Christmas Lights
Paul Laberge’s North Vancouver home is once again putting on a dazzling computer-animation Christmas light show this weekend, featuring 18,000 LED lights. Located on 753 Beachview Drive, the show lasts 60 minutes, taking place in three 20-minute segments.
Their display features over 50 hand-built elements, 18,000 lights, and over 45,000 channels. Moreover, over 14,000 of those light are individually controlled pixels, with red, green and blue LEDs that can each be controlled to produce over 16 million different colours.
House lights | Rudolph & Friends Christmas Lights Display
Ken and Bonnie Fletcher are continuing their 16-year tradition this holiday season. They are decorating their lovely home with hundreds of lights, holiday characters, and an illuminated Canadian flag. The Rudolph & Friends Christmas Lights Display is on this weekend until Tuesday, January 1st, 2018. Located at 15499 22 Avenue in Surrey, guests can expect to see a magnificent display of Christmas lights that sees a lot of work being put into it every year.
History | A Fort Langley Christmas
Top off Parks Canada’s complimentary admission year at Fort Langley with one final event this holiday season. A Fort Langley Christmas takes place from Friday, December 22nd – Saturday, December 30th, 2017. You’ll get to hear Kwantlen stories, taste chestnuts roasted over the fire, and make beautiful crafts. Guides tours are offered at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., while you can enjoy the daily feature at noon.
Lanterns | Vancouver Chinese Lantern Festival
The Vancouver Chinese Lantern Festival will light up the skies of Vancouver with dozens of spectacular gossamer lanterns. It takes place at the PNE Grounds just in time for the Christmas season this weekend from Friday, December 15th – Sunday, January 21st, 2018.
Being the largest festival of its kind in Canada, guests can expect to see 35 illuminated displays transforming over 14 acres of Hastings Park into an explosion of light and colours.
Outdoor lights | Heritage Christmas
Stroll through the streets of the Village to see wreaths, cedar swags and vintage-themed displays. This winter wonderland is open this weekend until Friday, January 5th, 2018.
Christmas lights | Glow Christmas Light Garden and Market
4 holiday themed light gardens and a stunning 210 ft. light tunnel. Christmas market with food, beverages, and local pop-up shops. Endless food trucks that includes a bar. Over 500,000 lights and activities for children to enjoy. Glow Christmas is Metro Vancouver’s newest seasonal market. It’s open this weekend and stays open until Saturday, December 30th, 2017.
The venue of choice is Milner Village Garden Centre. They specialize in growing poinsettias at Christmas, and garden-inspired decor and gifts all year around. As you make your way through the market, you’ll “feel the warmth and wonder of the Christmas season, under the glow of over 500,000 lights”.
Singing | Jingle Bells Night
Jingle Bells Night takes place at Lafarge Lake in Town Centre Park on Friday, December 22nd, 2017. Sing along with community caroling groups as you stroll around the lake in an evening of music and lights. At 7:30 p.m., stop where you are and join in on a community sing-a-long of Jingle Bells. Help break their record of 500 singing voices!
Skating | Winter Ice Palace
The 20th annual Winter Ice Palace returns to Cloverdale Arena this weekend from Friday, December 22nd – Sunday, January 7th, 2018. It’s a family-friendly open skate, with the arena decked out in twinkling holiday lights. Admission is $4.50 per person and you can rent skates rentals for an additional $3.25. Moreover, helmet rentals are $1.75.
Train | Winterfest
Winterfest kicked off on Friday, December 8th and stays open until Sunday, January 7th, 2018. Organizers are excited to bring to you Santa Express and Christmas Night Train. Santa Express runs from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., allowing you to enjoy an enchanting train ride through interactive themed displays. Not to mention, make sure you catch a selfie with Santa himself.
The Christmas Night Train, running from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. will take you through Bear Creek’s enchanted Forest Of Lights, brightening up your holiday season. This train is running Wednesday to Sunday.
House lights | North Vancouver Christmas Lights
The Ribalkin/Viau family are at it again – covering their roof, gardens, gutters, railings and driveway in thousands of of lights, blow-up displays, Christmas decorations, and holiday cheer. the light display will be on from 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. daily until the last night of Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018. 100% of both the cash and food donations will go to support the Harvest Project, Shriners Care for Kids, and the BC Epilepsy Society.
Celebration | Holiday Heights at Bloedel: Arctic Oasis
Holiday Heights at Bloedel is now open, featuring lights, music, and a holiday scavenger hunt. Tickets start at $3.
Skating | Robson Square Ice Rink
The Robson Square Ice Rink is open this weekend and will host free skates daily until Wednesday, February 28th, 2018. Skating is free for all ages. Those who own their own skates are welcome to use them. Skate rentals are $4, and rentals end 30 minutes before closing time. Furthermore, helmets are mandatory for children 12 and under. Robson Square Ice Rink will offer rentals and accept cash only.
Christmas lights | VanDusen Festival of Lights
The Festival of Lights will take over the VanDusen Botanical Garden this weekend until Sunday, January 7th, 2018. You can stroll through the garden and enjoy dancing light shows, photos with Santa and so much more. Dancing Lights occur every 20 minutes at Livingstone Lake. Back by popular demand, the Air France Carousel will take you on a Parisian musical experience around the world. All tickets include a free ride on the carousel.
Outdoor lights | Canyon Lights
Canyon Lights is taking place from Thursday, November 23rd – Sunday, January 28th, 2018. The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon are being transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment. Guests will also get to see the tallest Christmas tree in the world!
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Holiday display | Christmas at Canada Place
The 30th annual Christmas at Canada Place event is back until Sunday, December 31st, 2017. Presented by the Port of Vancouver, the public is invited to experience the nostalgic tradition of the Woodward’s Windows, a magical holiday lighting display, the Sails of Light, and the festive Avenue of Christmas Trees. Admission is free.
Circus | Cirque du Soleil
Written and directed by Michel Laprise, KURIOS is a tale in which time comes to a complete stop. Moreover, the realm is in the 19th century, leading audiences to completely change their perception of reality. In an alternate yet familiar past, in a place where wonders abound for those who trust their imagination, a Seeker discovers that in order to glimpse the marvels that lie just below the surface, we must first learn to close our eyes. The show stays in Vancouver until Sunday, December 31st, 2017.
Exhibition | The Fabric of Our Land
The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC with the Musqueam Indian Band present the remarkable new exhibition The Fabric of Our Land: Salish Weaving. It’s on display from Sunday, November 19th – Sunday, April 15th, 2018. Curated by Susan Rowley in collaboration with Salish weavers, this exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the past 200 years of Salish wool weaving.
Art | Fight for Beauty
In ‘Fight For Beauty’, Westbank attempts to encapsulate the architecture, artistry, design, fashion and city-building initiatives that have come to define their practice. It will be on display from Saturday, October 7th – Sunday, December 17th, 2017. Fight For Beauty presents public art projects undertaken with world-class creatives.
Exhibition | City on Edge
The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) explores the history of our city’s street protests with City on Edge: A Century of Vancouver Activism. It’s a major, new photo-based exhibition on display until Sunday, February 18th, 2018.
Art | Intangible
Featuring previously crafted, and never-before-seen creations, Intangible spotlights six trailblazing Coast Salish artists influenced by tradition as well as contemporary inspiration.
Market | Vancouver Christmas Market
The Vancouver Christmas Market returns to Jack Poole Plaza – home of the Olympic Cauldron from Wednesday, November 22nd – Sunday, December 24th, 2017. If you circle this event every year, you’ll notice it’s even better now in the festival’s 8th year. The city’s signature yuletide celebration offers its largest festivities to date. It will feature more than 75 huts stuffed with sweets, treats, and treasures.
Lights | Wish Upon a Star Christmas Light Display
One of metro Vancouver’s most magical residential Christmas light displays is ready for another big year. Reveal night for the 2017 Wish Upon a Star Christmas light display took place on Saturday, November 25th. The display will continue to be open from 5:00 – midnight nightly until Sunday, December 31st, 2017.
Outdoor lights | Lights at Lafarge
Lights at Lafarge, a display of over 100,000 Christmas lights returned to Coquitlam on Saturday, November 25th, 2017. The route will take visitors through a dazzling 1.2 kilometres of festive lights with ten themed zones. This family-friendly event is free to attend throughout the weekend and is located near the Lafarge Lake SkyTrain station.
Play | East Van Panto
The East Van Panto is back with another amazing show planned for Snow White & the Seven Dwarves. It plays from Wednesday, November 29th – Saturday, January 6th, 2018 at York Theatre. In this story, you’ll see your hero flee the Queen of North Vancouver across the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and straight into the madness of the PNE. When she arrives here, she dances with Superdogs, takes a ride on the Coaster, and befriends washed up 80s rock stars “The Seven Dwarves”. Tickets range from $22-$135.
Outdoor lights | Bright Nights at Stanley Park
The Bright Nights Christmas Train and Stanley Park Train Plaza will sparkle with over three million twinkling lights this holiday season from Thursday, November 30th – Saturday, January 6th, 2018. This family-friendly holiday attraction features lights, breathtaking displays, and live performers along the 14-minute train ride.
Want to come during the day? There is a matinee tree operating during the daytime that’s the perfect option for families, school groups, and groups with children. However, there is no live performers during this ride. Tickets start at $6.
Saturday, December 23
Market | Festive Farmers Market
On Saturday, December 23rd, Nat Bailey Winter Market will have a festive twist to it. It will be featuring live carolling, visits with Santa, and a kids craft station! Not to mention, there will be 70+ vendors. Admission is free.
Hockey | Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks take on the St. Louis Blues at Rogers Arena. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.
Party | The Original Ugly Sweater Party
It’s time to get ugly! The Original Ugly Sweater Party takes place this weekend at the Commodore Ballroom. There will be an eggnog chugging contest, cookies, prizes for the ugliest sweaters and more! Tickets are $40.
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Sunday, December 24
Service | Light Of The Night
Visit Capstan Alliance Church in Richmond on Christmas Eve for an evening of beautiful carol music, a drama show, craft stations, a photobooth, and dessert. Admission is free.
Music | Hard Rock Miners Christmas Eve Singalong
Sing along to all your Christmas favourites at Railway Stage and Beer Café. The Hard Rock Miners will be going through their legendary songbook throughout the night. Tickets are $10.
Monday, December 25
Yoga | Christmas Morning Free Yoga Class and Breakfast
Kick off Christmas morning with a free yoga class at Semperviva Yoga. It runs from 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The class will also be followed by a breakfast.
Skating | Sesame Street Chanukah on Ice
The 7th annual Chanukah on Ice returns to Hillcrest Community Centre this Christmas. Enjoy donuts, dreidels, gelt and Chanukah music. Not to mention, skate with Elmo and the Cookie Monster! Tickets are $5.