You've already spent a ton on gifts, baking supplies and wrapping paper, so why not enjoy the rest of season without pulling out your wallet. Here are 10 free and family-friendly Holiday events happening this Winter in Vancouver:
1. Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting
People are always asking when it’s appropriate to start decorating the house, well, how about when the city’s tree is officially lit! The Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting is back for its 10th year. The night will feature live entertainment and music, free cookies and hot chocolate, local food trucks and fun activities for the kids!
Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting
December 2, 2016 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC
The Annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade is one of downtown’s most cheerful Holiday festivities. This year’s parade will feature over 65 floats and 3,500 participants. They’ll also be collecting food bank donations at the Coast Capital Savings Christmas Square.
Santa Claus Parade
December 4, 2016 at 12:00pm
800 block of Robson Street, between Howe and Hornby
3. CandyTown: Downtown’s Free Holiday Festival
Experience Yaletown as CandyTown! Mainland Street will transform into a complete winter wonderland, complete with lights, giant candy canes, live music, free horse carriage rides, ice carving, candy making and plenty of opportunities to do your Holiday shopping.
CandyTown
November 26, 2016 (12:00pm – 7:00pm)
Mainland Street (Yaletown)
Celebrate the joy of Chanukah with Vancouver’s Jewish community as the country’s largest Menorah lights up at Vancouver’s Central Library. There will also be live music, and plenty of great food and drinks!
Vancouver Menorah Lighting
December 25, 2016 at 6:00pm
350 West Georgia St, Vancouver BC
5. Balloon Winter Wonderland in Wesbrook Village
Ring in the Holiday with free entertainment courtesy of Wesbrook Village! Holiday in Wesbrook will feature four familiar holiday scenes, made entirely from over 2,500 biodegradable, nitrogen-filled balloons. There will also be a Holiday craft fair, carolers, and photos with Santa on December 3rd.
Wesbrook Village
December 3 – 18 (10:00am – 8:00pm)
Whether you’re with the kids, in need of a romantic night out, or looking to laugh your head off amongst friends, there’s no place more ideal than the Robson Square Ice Rink. Skate rentals are $4.00 but it’s otherwise free for you to enjoy!
Robson Square Ice Rink
December 1 – February 14, 2017
800 Robson St, Vancouver BC
7. CP Holiday Train and Free Concert
18th edition of the CP Holiday Train ready to support local food banks across BC! A typical CP Holiday Train event goes something like this: the train arrives and pulls to a safe stop in front of the crowd. The stage door lowers and a band opens up the event with a song. Expect holiday music and a ton of fun packed into the train's 30 minute stopover. After the last song, the boxcar door will close, and the train will head off to its next stop. All aboard!
December 13 - 17, 2016
Various locations in BC.
8. Go See some Epic Christmas Lights!
Each year, the Ribalkin/Viau family covers their roof, gardens, gutters, railings and driveway in thousands upon of lights, blow-up displays, Christmas decorations and holiday cheer. The family will be collecting donations for the Harvest Project, Shriners Care for Kids and BC Epilepsy Society. You can donate cash or non-perishable food items. From 2010 to 2015, this family display has raised $46,777.16 and 587 bags of groceries.
Christmas Lights for Charity
November 28 – January 6, 2017
4967 Chalet Place, North Vancouver BC (top of Skyline Drive)
Free horse carriage rides and plenty of seasonal cheer for the whole family, every Saturday in December!
Christmas in Kerrisdale
Saturdays from December 3 – December 23, 2016
2225 West 41st Ave, Vancouver BC
10. Polar Bear Swim
Bill Keay / Vancouver Sun.
What a way to ring in the new year! The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of hardy swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year’s Day.
Vancouver Polar Bear Swim
January 1, 2017 (2:30pm)
English Bay
