Happy Holidays! Tis the season of holiday shopping, craft fairs and winter festivals! I’ve put together a list of the best holiday and winter events for you, your family and friends. If you’ve got out-of-towners coming into town, these events are the perfect place to take them!
Coquitlam
Lights at Lafarge is a popular holiday event on from November 24th to January 20th! Bring a hot chocolate and wander the water’s edge and enjoy all the light displays put on by the City of Coquitlam. More info.
Burnaby
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum is on from November 24th to January 4th. It’s the perfect place to start a tradition. Explore the entire village with a scavenger hunt. More info.
Vancouver
The Vancouver Christmas Market returns to Jack Poole Plaza! It’s open now till December 24th. This is more than just a craft fair, it’s an authentic German Christmas market. Stroll through the rows of little wooden huts, meet Santa, pick up a mulled wine and some authentic German delicacies. Don’t forget to ride the vintage carousel! More Info.
CandyTown – A Yaletown Holiday Festival is back on November 24th from Noon to 7 pm for its 7th year in one of Vancouver’s trendiest neighbourhoods, Yaletown. From photos with Santa and the Ice Queen, a candy kebob-making workshop, a great photo op of Santa’s sleigh carved in ice and of course lots of sweet treats! More Info.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park is on November 29th to January 5th (closed for Christmas). The Stanley Park Train and Plaza will be all lit up with dazzling light displays! Admission to the plaza is by donation and train ride prices are $6 for everyone on the matinee train; the evening train costs $12 for adults and $9 for seniors and youth aged 13 – 17 years, and $8 for kids 3 – 12 years. Small children aged 2 years & under are free. More info.
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is on from December 1st to January 6th (closed for Christmas). The VanDusen Botanical garden is already a beautiful place, so to see it decorated with thousands of lights is amazing. Catch the light show, walk down candy cane lane, listen for the carolers, and get into the spirit of the season. This event sells out between December 15th and 24th every year, so buy your tickets in advance and buy them online to save money and skip the line. More info.
The Vancouver Santa Claus Parade is on Sunday, December 2nd. The parade starts at noon till 2 pm. Starting at West Georgia all the way to Broughton. This parade is entertaining, well organized, packed with music, bands, horses, mascots and Santa arrives on one of the largest sleigh’s you’ll ever see. He’s always the last float. More info.
Aurora Winter Festival is the new festival opening Friday, November 23rd till December 30th at Concord Pacific Place. Escape into a hidden village by the North Pole filled with beautiful light displays and magical characters, and enjoy the market huts, food gardens, amusement rides, live entertainment, and plenty of other joyful activities. From visiting Santa’s Workshop to lacing up your skates on the Frozen River, there is something for every age at the Aurora Winter Festival. More info.
Langley
The Magic of Christmas Parade is on December 1st at 4 pm to 8 pm. This parade will have festive floats, bands, decorated vehicles, dance troupes, equestrian groups, and community groups. The parade runs on Fraser Hwy from 56th to 207th. More info.
Maple Ridge
Timberline Country Christmas runs December 1st to 19th. You can book a date and time to avoid any crowds. While you’re there you can start at one station and work your way through each. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the whole event. There will be crafts, pony rides, wagon rides, baked goods and more! More info.
Surrey
Surrey’s Tree Lighting Festival is on November 24th. This is a free event that runs from Noon to 7 pm with the tree lighting happening at 6:30 pm. There will be a Holiday Market, photos with Santa, activities for all ages and much more! Don’t forget to snap a photo with Paw Patrol! More info.
Surrey’s Santa Parade of Lights is a big one! It’s on December 2nd at 5 pm. The parade starts at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds and will showcase decorated vintage cars, vintage trucks, floats, boats and more! More info.
Squamish
Polar Express Train Ride in Squamish opens this weekend! Take the kids on a train ride to the North Pole, visit Santa, build toys, ride the mini rail and more! Tickets start at $35 for a round trip. And that includes treats, hot cocoa, carols, and photos with Mr & Mrs Claus. More info.
This post originally appeared on jrcountry.ca for The Urban Mom on-air feature, every Thursday at 10:45am on 93.7 JR Country.
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Amanda is a writer, photographer, videographer and a content creator with a passion for sharing stories. With her family of 5, they share experiences, tips and ideas that empower Moms to make memories with their families right here in British Columbia.
