Seasonal Events
Down below are is a link to a list of all the seasonal free/affordable events that are happening in the Lower Mainland.
Also check out the movies/music page, the physical/mental health page, and our festivals page, which are also updated weekly.
Have you heard of any other free or low-cost events? Please email us via the button below!
Also check out the movies/music page, the physical/mental health page, and our festivals page, which are also updated weekly.
Have you heard of any other free or low-cost events? Please email us via the button below!
HERITAGE CHRISTMAS
|
Heritage Christmas
Date: November 23, 2019 - January 3, 2020 (1:00 AM - 9:00 PM) 2019/2020 Hours November 23 - December 13 December 14- January 3 Monday-Friday, 1-5:30pm (December 2, 1-4:30) Saturday-Sunday, 1-9pm Daily, 1-9pm (Closed December 24 & 25) Come experience Heritage Christmas presented by Concord Pacific; enjoy the special atmosphere of festive lights and the traditional decorations. Wander the Village and take in all the seasonal entertainment, demonstrations and activities. Heritage Christmas features a huge variety of events throughout the holiday season, including:
Drop by Heritage Christmas between December 13 to 23 and help our community. With every picture taken at Heritage Christmas posted with the Hashtag #ConcordSleigh, our friends at Concord Pacific will donate $5 to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau and participants will have a chance to enter the draw to win a $500 Metrotown gift card. For more information visit www.concordpacific.com/news-media. Bright in Burnaby Saturday, November 30, 5-9 PM Join us for the official launch of Heritage Christmas. Ceremonies include a Tree Lighting Ceremony and light refreshments at 6:00 PM. Proceeds from all carousel rides tickets ($2.65) purchased between 5:00-9:00 PM will be donated to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau. Concord Pacific has generously committed to doubling the donations by matching the total sales of carousel tickets. |
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
|
Back for its 13th year, the Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting takes place on Friday, November 29th at Robson Square. Watch four magnificent holiday trees, one of which is 76 feet tall, come alive with hope and light. This free family-friendly event features live entertainment and music plus free cookies and hot chocolate! Come experience holiday magic at its best! Complete your night with a visit and photo with Santa and his elves! Come experience this festive Vancouver tradition!
In addition to the festivities, the tree lighting ceremony in Vancouver is for a great cause. Before and at the event, we encourage you to make a donation to the Vancouver International Children’s Festival Society. Your charitable donations help the Children’s Festival enrich the lives of children and ensure the Festival remains affordable for everyone. Your contribution directly impacts the amazing outreach programs the Vancouver International Children’s Festival provides such as the Good Neighbour Program, Adopt a Class and the Hospital Outreach Program. Help us keep the Vancouver International Children’s Festival vibrant in our community. |
LIGHTS AT LAFARGE
|
Get into the holiday spirit with family and friends! The FREE kick-off event will include live entertainment and dazzling light displays that encircle the 1.2 km loop around Lafarge Lake.
Follow our Facebook event or visit this page again in mid-November for more detailed information on the entertainment and food vendors for this year's kick-off event. While there is some on-site parking at Town Centre Park, the Lights at Lafarge are popular and can get busy. Event-goers are encouraged to walk, carpool or take transit. Use Translink's TripPlanner or ride the SkyTrain to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station for easy access to Town Centre Park. |
CANDYTOWN in YALETOWN
Candytown - A Yaletown Holiday Festival
The Yaletown Business Improvement Association is proud to announce the 7th annual free outdoor Christmas festival – CandyTown. Last year, an estimated 15,000 people came out to Candytown to kick off the holidays.
Downtown Vancouver's only free winter festival will transform Mainland Street into a winter wonderland. Lights and candy canes will adorn lamp poles and costumed characters will parade down the street. Holiday shoppers are invited to start their seasonal gift buying in Yaletown with local merchants as well as a specialty market carrying unique gifts and holiday treats. You'll also find Mainland Street filled with local artisans, street performers and live music.
This outdoor Christmas festival is free, open to the public and sure to get people into the Christmas spirit.
Saturday November 30, 2019 from 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Mainland Street, Yaletown, Vancouver
- November 30, 2019
- Times: Saturday November 30, 2019 from 12:00pm - 7:00pm
- Location: Yaletown
- Phone: 604 683 7473
The Yaletown Business Improvement Association is proud to announce the 7th annual free outdoor Christmas festival – CandyTown. Last year, an estimated 15,000 people came out to Candytown to kick off the holidays.
Downtown Vancouver's only free winter festival will transform Mainland Street into a winter wonderland. Lights and candy canes will adorn lamp poles and costumed characters will parade down the street. Holiday shoppers are invited to start their seasonal gift buying in Yaletown with local merchants as well as a specialty market carrying unique gifts and holiday treats. You'll also find Mainland Street filled with local artisans, street performers and live music.
This outdoor Christmas festival is free, open to the public and sure to get people into the Christmas spirit.
Saturday November 30, 2019 from 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Mainland Street, Yaletown, Vancouver
Van Dusen Festival of Lights
|
Every December, during the Festival of Lights, Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden transforms into a fairy-tale land. Colourful illuminations are amazing and very popular among visitors. Over 110,000 people come to see it each year. The event features over 1 million lights spread out over some 6 ha (15 acres) of the Botanical Gardens.
The VanDusen Botanical Garden is located about 15 minutes south of downtown Vancouver. Colourful lights cover its flower beds, trees, and shrubs to create an unforgettable spectacle. Visitors especially love the Gingerbread Walk and Candy Cane Lane. The Dancing Lights illuminated around Livingstone Lake is another highlight. In the garden, you can enjoy hot chocolate and visit Santa's residence. Ticket prices vary from $19 online and $21 at the gate for adults (ages 19–64) to $11.50 and $13.75 respectively for kids (ages 4–12). Kids ages 3 and under enjoy free entry. For parties of 25 adults and more the Gardens offer a group discount. On premium nights the price rises a few dollars. Hours of operationDates Hours : November 30 to December 24 4pm - 9:30pm December 25 Closed December 26 to January 5 4pm - 9:30pm |
SANTA CLAUSE PARADE
ROBSON SQUARE ICE SKATING
|
FREE
ICE SKATING at ROBSON SQUARE Open December 1, 2019 until February 29, 2020 This winter, renew a classic Vancouver tradition and enjoy some old-fashioned fun. Robson Square’s outdoor skating rink is open, so celebrate winter in style with skating in the heart of downtown Vancouver. It’s a magical place to enjoy the winter season with your friends, family and loved ones. Hours of Operation:
Fees: Skating is free. You can rent skates for $5.00/pair. Cash only. Ice Rink Closures, Schedule Changes & Events: Watch here for updates or call the Robson Square Hotline 604-646-3554. Please be advised that warm weather leads to warm ice! Robson Square Ice Rink may need to close unexpectedly. School Program: If you are a grade 4-7 school, you can enroll sign up for free skating at the Robson Square Ice Rinks school program. Robson Square will provide your class with free skate and helmet rentals. The school program runs Monday through Friday with three 1 hour time slots daily. Please contact us at 604-646-3557 or RSQIceRink@pacegroup.com. |
YUEL DUEL
|
Twenty choirs from around Vancouver will join together on Water Street in historic Gastown from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2019, to sing for charity at the annual Yule Duel event.
Each choir will be judged by a panel of celebrity guest judges and the reaction from the crowd to compete for awards and prizes. The event is free to attend, but donations will be collected during the performances, and all funds raised will benefit May's Place, a hospice in the Downtown Eastside. |
WOODWARDS HOLIDAY MARKET
|
Dec 14 at 12 PM – Dec 15 at 6 PM
Holiday shopping at it's best! Gifts, housewares, skin care, kitchen accoutrements and everything you'll need for your seasonal celebrations. Free for everyone! Kids/elves and helping furry pets are always welcome. The Woodwards Holiday Market 3rd annual event brings you the best in curated local vendors, music and hot bevies for the chilly winter shopping season. To register as a vendor to our quickly filling roster of vendors, send us a message here on FB or by email to contact@vhsmarkets.com |
Vancouver's Farmer's Markets
|
Vancouver's farmer's markets have food trucks that sell locally grown vegetables and fruit, meat and seafood from local ranchers and fishermen, artisan cheese and bread, herbs and seasonal nursery items, baked goods, prepared foods and artisanal craft.
Though the produce can sometimes be a bit on the pricier side, farmer's markets have great community vibe, and often there's live music. Riley Park / Nat Bailey Stadium When: Open Year-Round on Saturdays Time: 10am - 2pm Where: 4601 Ontario Street at 30th Cold day? There are plenty of covered seating areas and warming stations. Hastings Park Winter Farmer's Market When: Sundays - Re-opens November 3 2019 Time: 10am - 2pm Where: PNE Fairgrounds between the Forum and Agrodome Remaining markets listed below are open until early/late October: Trout Lake Saturdays 9am - 2pm Lakewood Dr. & E 13th Ave. Kitsilano Sundays 10am - 2pm Kitsilano Community Centre West End Saturdays 9am - 2pm 1100 Comox St btw. Bute & Thurlow Mount Pleasant Sundays 10am - 2pm Dude Chilling Park Main Street Station Wednesdays 2pm - 6pm 1100 Station Street Downtown Thursdays 3pm - 7pm Queen Elizabeth Theatre šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn Square |