Can you believe it?
It’s officially the last weekend of 2018.
From lantern festivals to winter festivals, here are 29 Metro Vancouver events to check out this weekend.
RELATED: 101 Metro Vancouver Events To Check Out This Winter
Metro Vancouver Events This Weekend
Friday, December 28
Surrey International Lantern Festival
About: Hosted by the Canadian Sichuan Chamber of Commerce, the festival is described as a “large-scale cultural event”.
Cost: $12 – $79.95
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
About: This spectacular display will be up until Monday, January 7th, 2019, shining every day from dusk till dawn.
Cost: By donation
Time: dawn to dusk
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
About: The event explores the Titanic’s human stories, which are told through more 120 authentic artifacts and and extensive room re-creations. Additionally, the exhibition commemorates the centennial of the maiden voyage and of life’s fragility.
Cost: $13.95 – $17.95
Time: 10:00 a.m
About: The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon are being transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment.
Cost: Free – $46.95
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
About: Bacio Rosso is an intimate, fully immersive evening of cirque, comedy and cuisine. It’ll be in Vancouver for a string of shows at Queen Elizabeth Park starting Thursday, November 1st, 2018.
Cost: Starting at $109
Time: 6:00 p.m. / 7:00 p.m.
About: Guest curator Dion Kaszas of the Nlaka’pamux First Nation traces the deep-rooted traditions of Indigenous tattooing, piercing and personal adornment.
Cost: Free – $26
Time: 10:00 a.m.
About: Guest curated by Haida Curator Kwiaahwah Jones in collaboration with Viviane Gosselin, Co-curator and Director of Collections & Exhibitions at MOV, this exhibition features an unparalleled collection of Haida art boasting more than 450 works created as early as 1890.
Cost: $9 – $19
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About: The family-friendly festival offers elements inspired by the North Pole, including mystical characters, captivating light displays, ice-skating on a frozen river, Santa’s workshop and carnival rides among other attractions.
Cost: Free – $19.99
Time: Various
Glow Christmas Light Garden & Market
About: Bring together the people you love to stroll, laugh and play with under their twinkling lights. Glow’s playgrounds and interactive features will entertain the kids for hours, while the illuminated sculptures are the perfect backdrop for selfies and holiday family photos.
Cost: Free – $71.99
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
About: This festive season, immerse yourself in a mesmerizing display of lights, bubbles, movements and sounds inside the Vancouver Aquarium’s interactive experience.
Cost: Free – $38
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About: Feel the enchantment and radiance of twinkling lights, the calm echo of the snow, the warmth of Santa’s smile as he greets you in his workshop and the joy of witnessing real reindeer.
Cost: Free – $149
About: Stroll through Village streets to see wreaths, cedar swags and vintage-themed displays. At the bandstand, visitors can create their own magical holiday show with lights that change colours to sound.
Cost: Free
Time: Various
Harrison Hot Springs Winter Light Festival
About: Harrison Hot Springs is going to overflow with holiday cheer this year with a new winter light festival called Lights on the Lake, the Christmas Tree Trail, a Cabin Style New Year’s celebration and much more!
Cost: Free
Time: Various
About: 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 and is located near the Lafarge Lake SkyTrain station.
Cost: Free
Time: Dusk – 11:00 p.m.
About: This family-friendly holiday attraction features lights, breathtaking displays, and live performers along the 14-minute train ride.
Cost: $8 – $12
Time: Various
About: Park & Tilford is set to light up the season with the 30th annual holiday Hi-Light Festival at Park & Tilford Gardens.
Cost: By donation
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Karaoke Christmas Lights Trolley Tour
About: Guests will find each trolley fully-loaded with TV’s, karaoke machines and only the best Christmas carols!
Cost: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
About: From 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, the Chalet Lights Charity will be illuminated and 100% of both the cash and food donations go in support of the Harvest Project, Shriners Care for Kids and BC Epilepsy Society.
Cost: By donation
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
About: Running from Friday, November 30th – Friday, December 28th, 2018, over 20,000 visitors come out each year to admire the culinary creations and vote for their favourites.
Cost: Free (donations are encouraged)
Ice Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
About: Skating is free for all ages. Those who own their own skates are welcome to use them. Skate rentals are $5 and rentals end 30 minutes before closing time.
Cost: Free
Time: Various
About: The primary attractions of the event is two trains: the Santa Express and the Christmas Night Train.
Cost: $10 – $35
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
About: Visitors will experience unique holiday themed plant displays, lights, music, photo opps, a scavenger hunt with prizes, 17’ LED fir trees by MK Illumination, the same agency behind Luna the Lumiere Whale at Morton Park in the West End, and gold feather ornaments suspended from the dome.
Cost: Free – $6.50
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
About: Catfe, Vancouver’s very own cat cafe, has been taken over by cute bunnies for a special “Meet & Treat”.
Cost: $10
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
About: The two day festival will features 20 internationally acclaimed artists, including Grammy Award winning headliners Skrillex – as well as Grammy and American Music Award-winning duo, The Chainsmokers.
Cost: Various
Time: 5:00 p.m.
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Saturday, December 29
About: The Karen Flamenco Dance Society brings the glamour and extravagance of a large theatre production onto a small theatrical stage on Granville Island, every Saturday.
Cost: $10 – $15
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Meditation Workshop with Carolyn Anne Budgell
About: Stretch was conceived in 2012, from a desire to connect the currents of yoga in Vancouver, bringing together the vast range of traditions and practices in a way that supports dialogue, creativity and growth.
Cost: $40
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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Sunday, December 30
About: Join Steve Maddock and Friends, as they play an engaging mix of jazz standards: hard-driving swing, smooth Latin jazz, beautiful ballads, plus an original composition or two.
Cost: By donation
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About: Toque Flamenco, the best Flamenco band in Vancouver, performs at Chai Lounge every Sunday evening!
Cost: $3 added to your bill
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
SiriusXM World Juniors After Party
About: For the first time ever, Hockey Canada and the annual holiday tradition are bridging the gap between sports and entertainment with an exclusive World Juniors concert – the SiriusXM World Juniors After Party.
Cost: $40
Time: 8:00 p.m.
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