604 Now
Things to do

22 Things To Do, Eat, See, & Buy In Vancouver This Weekend (Dec. 13-15)

Peak of Christmas Grouse Mountain North Pole

Photo: @snow_mads / Instagram

The holidays are upon us, and that means there’s a lot of things to do this weekend to enjoy the wintry season. With so much happening from festivals, markets, deals and shopping, you may have a tough time choosing how to spend your days.

Here are 22 things you to do in Vancouver this weekend.

Things To Do This Weekend: Holiday Events

Aurora Winter Festival Vancouver 2019

About: Canada’s largest winter festival is taking over the PNE starting this weekend, it’s sure to be a place where “holiday magic comes to life.” Attractions include a 200-feet tube slide, a skating pond, and, last but certainly not least: The North Pole!
Date: Friday, November 22nd, 2019 – Sunday, January 5th, 2020
Time: Various
Cost: $12.99 – $17.99

VanDusen Christmas Festival of Lights 2019

About: You may be familiar with the VanDusen Botanical Garden, but seeing it decorated in Christmas lights in a completely different experience. Expect a “dancing lights” show, as well an appearance by the Man in Red.
Date: Saturday, November 30th, 2019 to Sunday, January 5th, 2020
Time: 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Cost: $11.50 – $24

Lights At Lafarge 2019

Jingle Bells Night - Things To Do This Weekend
Photo: City of Coquitlam – Municipality / Facebook

About: Coquitlam’s largest free outdoor light display features a 1.2 km trail of lights that circles the Lafarge Lake. This weekend only, you’ll find a garden, friendly creatures, and food vendors, as part of the pre-lighting celebration.
Date: Saturday, November 30th, 2019 to Monday, January 20th, 2020
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: Free

Vancouver Christmas Market 2019

About: The Vancouver Christmas Market is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year, and it’s celebrating it in style, with over 80 booths and a huge walk-in Christmas tree!
Date: Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 – Tuesday, December 24th, 2019
Time: 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Cost: $8 – $15

GLOW Christmas Festival 2019

About: GLOW is one of Vancouver’s most popular Christmas events every year, and this year they’re raising the bar, with over 9,000,000 lights and over 250 food vendors on-site.
Date: Thursday, November 21st, 2019 – Sunday, January 5th, 2020
Time: Various
Cost: $19.99

Capilano Suspension Bridge Canyon Lights 2019

Canyon Lights
Photo: Capilano Suspension Bridge

About: Everyone knows about the Capilano Suspension Bridge, but the park is something else during its Christmas celebration. The park features some of the tallest natural Christmas trees, in the world.
Date: Friday, November 22nd, 2019 – Sunday, January 26th, 2020
Time: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Cost: Various

Steveston’s Winter In the Village

About: Steveston’s waterfront is turning into a winter wonderland this season, where you can walk through and enjoy a myriad of festive events. There will be dazzling lights, Santa visits and Christmas shopping.
Date: Thursday November 21st – Tuesday December 31st
Time: Varies
Cost: Varies

Stanley Park Bright Nights Christmas Train 2019

Stanley Park Bright Lights
Photo: @brightnightsvan / Instagram

About: Everyone knows about the Capilano Suspension Bridge, but the park is something else during its Christmas celebration. The park features some of the tallest natural Christmas trees, in the world.
Date: Friday, November 22nd, 2019 – Sunday, January 26th, 2020
Time: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Cost: Various

Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas 2019

About: One of the more unique Christmas experiences in Metro Vancouver, Burnaby Village Museum’s Heritage Christmas is what spending Christmas in a charming 1920s town would be like.
Date: Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 – Friday, January 3rd, 2019
Time: Various
Cost: Free

The Peak of Christmas At Grouse Mountain 2019

About: If you ever thought about what it’d be like to spend Christmas in the North Pole, Grouse Mountain’s Peak of Christmas celebration might be the closet you can get. With sleigh-rides, reindeer, and a gingerbread village, it’s truly a winter wonderland
Date: Friday, November 22nd, 2019 – Sunday, January 5th, 2019
Time: Various
Cost: Various

Dundarave Christmas Festival

About: This annual festive event features live music and a tree display every Saturday until New Year’s. Head to West Vancouver to see the dozens of Christmas trees lined up along the beach.
Date: Saturday, November 30 – Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Time: Varies
Cost: Free

Sea to Sky Gondola: Spirit of Christmas

British Columia

About: Enjoy Christmas within nature at the Squamish gondolas. Here, you can take explore the decorated trails, take part in an outdoor scavenger hunt or have a drink at the happy hour bars.
Date: Now to Sunday, December 15, 2019
Time: Varies
Cost: Varies

RELATED: The 20 Best Christmas Events In Metro Vancouver To Check Out, Sorted By Price

[sjnow-ad-large-leaderboard]

Things To Do This Weekend: Culture

Gastown Not-So-Silent-Nights

About: Gastown is bringing the holidays to life with a series of Not-So-Silent-Nights. Over four evenings, Gastown’s shops will be open later and there will be entertainment happening around the streets. That includes a scavenger hunt and live music, among other things.
Date: Friday, December 13, 2019
Time: 5-8 pm
Cost: Free

Chaos Space Pop-Up

About: This pop-up event features 24 different backdrops, each worthy of your Instagram. The general theme, however, focuses on “light and darkness, space and obscurity.”
Date: Now until Tuesday, December 31st, 2019.
Time: Various
Cost: $28 (Adult) / $15 (Children)

Cirque Du Soleil: LUZIA

About: From an old movie set and the ocean to a smoky dance hall or an arid desert, LUZIA cleverly brings to the stage multiple places, faces, and sounds of Mexico taken from both tradition and modernity. (This week, Cirque Du Soleil extended their stay until late late December!)
Date: Thursday October 3rd, 2019 – Sunday December 29th, 2019
Time: Various
Cost: Starting at $54

Cats & Dogs at Science World 2019

vancouver 10 year challenge - Things To Do This Weekend
Photo: Tim Sipkens/Instagram

About: If you’re cat and dog lover, or just an avid learner, you’ll love this Science World exhibit, which seeks to help you learn about our feline and canine companions scientifically, sociologically, and culturally.
Date: Now until Sunday, January 5th, 2020
Time: Various
Cost: Regular Admission

[sjnow-ad-large-leaderboard]

Things To Do This Weekend: Food & Sales

Oomomo Metrotown Grand Opening

About: Sometimes referred to as the “Japanese Dollarama” Oomomo is opening up in Burnaby’s Metropolis at Metrotown this weekend. With some products selling for just $3, you can find things from kitchenware and school supplies to beauty products and snacks. The first 200 customers in line at the grand opening will automatically receive a $10 cash voucher.
Date: Sunday, December 15, 2019
Time: 10 am
Cost: Free

Potters Christmas Store

About: We’re getting close to Christmas, and if you’re already thinking about decorations, this might be the perfect place to start. The store is 28,000 square-feet, making it the biggest in British Columbia. Santa himself may or may not be there.
Date: Now Open
Time: Various
Cost: Free

H Tasting Lounge Winterlust Dome Pop-Up

H Tasting Lounge Winterlust Dome Dining Experience
Photo: H Tasting Lounge

About: Coal Harbour’s H Tasting Lounge is hosting an exclusive one-of-a-kind experience where you and your squad can dine on their outdoor patio, in a “chic snow globe” next to the fire.
Time: Friday, December 13th to Sunday, January 19th
Cost: $200 minimum order (up to 6 people)

McArthurGlen Christmas 2019

About: The McArthurGlen Designer Outlets kicked off their Christmas season last week, and more are on the way. In the meantime, take advantage of the various holiday sales that are now in effect!
Date: Starting Thursday, November 21st, 2019
Time: Various

New Westminster Winter Farmers Market

About: The New West Farmers Market’s first winter market is back this Saturday. Expect to see a wide variety of produce, plants, crafts, and live entertainment.
Date: Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 to Saturday, April, 18th, 2020
Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Cost: Free

Craft Cycle Vancouver Beer Tour

About: Vancouver Beer Bike Tour, hosted by Canadian Craft Tours, is an exciting way to travel between some of North Vancouver’s most popular breweries.
Date: Saturday March 9th, 2019 – Monday December 30th, 2019
Time: Various
Cost: $45

To find more great events to check out in Vancouver, explore our Events section!

[sjnow-ad-large-leaderboard]

Log in or create an account to save content

Become a local insider