Hello December!
From free ice skating to Christmas light festivals, here are 38 Metro Vancouver events to check out this weekend.
RELATED: The Most Festive Things to Do in Metro Vancouver This Holiday Season
Metro Vancouver Events This Weekend
Friday, November 30
About: The family-friendly festival will offer 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
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
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: Mat Collective has decided to continue their free outdoor yoga classes during the fall season this year.
Cost: Free
Time: Various
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: 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: This art exhibit will “challenge us to explore the social impacts of emerging bio-technology and our ethical limits”.
Cost: $11 – $35
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
About: Set in a small town in British Columbia, The Enemy is a contemporary interpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People. Dr. Stockman, played by Jenn Griffin, becomes a pariah when her discovery of pollution in the local Healthy Springs Spa and Water Park threatens the town’s tourism industry and economic well-being.
Cost: Various
Time: Various
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: The city’s signature yuletide celebration offers its largest festivities to date. It will feature more than 80 huts of authentic German sweets, treats and treasures.
Cost: $5 – $50
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve)
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: Ho-Ho-Ho! Capture your holiday memories and get a festive photo taken with Santa at Central City.
Cost: Starting at $16.99
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.
About: Discover twinkling lights along Cultus Lake and watch as the surrounding areas come alive with Christmas cheer.
Cost: Free
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting
About: Similar to past years, there were four Christmas trees erected, with the tallest standing 76 feet tall – 16 feet taller than the massive Christmas tree in Surrey.
Cost: Free
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
About: 2018 Apple Music Fans’ Choice Award nominee and multi-platinum, award winning entertainer Tim Hicks has announced that he will turn up the heat this fall on his national headlining Get Loud Tour.
Cost: $30.50 – $46.00
Time: 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday, December 1
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: This eclectic show features handcrafted items for everyone in the family at every price point.
Cost: $2
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About: Bobs and LoLo are five-time JUNO nominated singer songwriters and stars of two upbeat, musical preschool series – Sing, Dance and Play with Bobs & LoLo and Action Packed.
Cost: $10 – $15
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
About: Organizers are transforming The Shipyards into a winter wonderland filled with music and twinkling lights. This family-friendly event has lots of free activities to take advantage of.
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
About: At 6:30 p.m., they’ll flip a switch to light up the pier and gazebo for all to enjoy. This festive illumination will light the way for our special guest, Santa Claus, who will hand out candy canes and pose for pictures!
Cost: Free
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
About: On Saturday December 1, the Employ to Empower Foundation will host The Cardboard Project. The exhibit will feature a collection of 100+ responses written by the people of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, each sharing something from their past that’s changed who they are today.
Cost: Free – donations encouraged
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wish Upon A Star Christmas Light Display
About: Taking place from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., visitors will get to see over 44,000 lights, numerous animated characters, an interactive musical snowman, and Santa with his sleigh flying overhead.
Cost: By donation
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
About: The Magic of Christmas Parade features over 50 entries consisting of festive floats, bands, decorated vehicles, carollers, dance troupes, and community groups.
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
About: Over 100 Christmas trees are decorated, lit and sponsored by community groups, businesses, schools, churches and families.
Cost: Free
Time: Noon – Dusk
Free Ice Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
About: This winter will mark the ice rink’s 10th consecutive year of family fun. As winter approaches Vancouver, the skating rink comes alive with families and loved ones. The annual event has become a tradition that helps welcome the holiday season in the 604.
Cost: Free
Time: Various
New West Craft Winter Night Market
About: Visitors will enjoy a festive evening of shopping, music, food, drinks and non-stop fun at the River Market in beautiful downtown New Westminster. You’ll get to shop at over 50+ handmade vendors, while enjoying a nice glass of beer or wine.
Cost: Free
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
About: Held at Kits House, this is a one-day indoor event focusing on local and sustainable crafts and food.
Cost: Free – $2
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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Sunday, December 2
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: The parade will have a wonderful mix of antique vehicles, big rigs, boats, floats, marching bands, mascots (like Mr Peanut), remote controlled vehicles, dancers, service clubs and sports teams.
Cost: Free
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
About: The parade has been one of British Columbia’s most cherished holiday traditions for more than 13 years. It draws more than 300,000 spectators to downtown Vancouver each year, plus numerous viewers at home.
Cost: Free
Time: 12:00 p.m.
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