The end of an era is here. With Stanley Park’s miniature train out of commission for the foreseeable future, Bright Nights will not be happening this year. Replacing it will be another event similarly lighting up the park, but not everyone has happy tidings for it.
Here’s what Metro Vancouverites are thinking about the end of Bright Nights.
UPDATE: On October 7, a unanimous vote passed a motion for the Vancouver Park Board to officially apologize for hosting the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. The motion was put forward by commissioner Tom Digby, who wrote in a social media post after the motion’s approval, “@ParkBoard did the right thing. Apologized to TGD2S community after emotional discussion.”
BRIGHT NIGHTS
Bright Nights is an annual holiday event that decorates Stanley Park in lights. Everyone is invited to take a stroll through the trails and enjoy the sights. Entrance is by donation and goes toward the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund, but visitors can also pay extra to ride the train through the park.
But due to a slew of issues with the miniature train, it has been decommissioned since December 2024. This means that event’s centerpiece is unavailable, and will thus cancel the event.
Replacing Bright Nights is a brand-new event that is catered toward magic-lovers. The Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience will be taking over the area this fall, allowing everyone to enjoy a trail walk to meet a myriad of magical creatures.
The Vancouver Park Board announced the event last week, but not all Metro Vancouverites are happy about The Boy Who Lived coming to visit the West Coast.
PUBLIC RECEPTION
Although a number of people are excited for the event, many are also disgruntled by Bright Nights being replaced with the event.
One Reddit user notes that Bright Lights is for a great cause, and that it’s always an amazing experience. Another writes that the event is a favourite yearly tradition of theirs, going all the way back to when they were a child with their family.
While the hype is real, others are not so keen on the wizarding world.
What do you think about the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience replacing Bright Nights?
