couple laughing in winter / shutterstock
While the cold weather may entice you to stay indoors, there's something decidedly magical about a winter date.
Indeed, Metro Vancouver offers a plethora of fun things to do when it gets chilly outside, so there's no excuse to hide from the cold.
So, put on a toque, wrap yourself in a cozy scarf, and bring your date on a lovely winter rendezvous.
Winter Date Ideas in Vancouver
VanDusen Festival of Lights
VanDusen
Enter a magical world for the 34th year of sparkling lights and holiday cheer at VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights. The expansive attraction features over 1 million lights spread out over 15 acres of the garden, and it makes one of the most romantic date nights. Not only are there a number of places to take stunning photos with your sweetie, but there's also places to grab a tasty treat to share.
Aurora Winter Festival
aurorafestvan / Instagram
While there are a number of holiday festivals in the city, none offer the sheer number of activities that the Aurora Winter Festival does. From a frozen river to dazzling light displays, a soaring 60 foot ferris wheel to a 200 foot long slide, Canada’s largest winter festival has some impressive offerings. There's nothing better than sharing a whirl on the ferris wheel with your date, and then stopping for a festive alcoholic holiday beverage afterwards.
The Robson Square Ice Rink and Plaza
Robson Square / Shutterstock
There are a number of places to enjoy ice skating in Vancouver, but there is something decidedly magical about the Robson Square Ice Rink. The festive oasis is the perfect place to enjoy a magical winter date, as it allows you to hold hands and steal kisses while you glide across the ice. What’s more, the attraction is completely free if you bring your own skates, and only $5 to rent a pair.
Volunteer
Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
It may not be the first thing you think of for a date idea, but the cold months are incredibly difficult for people living in poverty in Vancouver. What's more, it is a great way to bond with someone new or do something great with your significant other. Sadly, homeless shelters fill up during the coldest months, and many people do not feel safe staying in them. You can donate blankets, or volunteer at the food bank. Last year, food bank volunteers donated about 75,000 hours of time – the equivalent of about 38 full-time staff.
Lights at Lafarge
designbylila / Instagram
The holiday season will sparkle this year at the largest free outdoor lights display in Metro Vancouver during Lights at Lafarge from November to January. The popular attraction offers tens of thousands of lights installed in various configurations, including a beautifully lit 1.2 km walkway around Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam. Take your date for a long, romantic waterfront stroll and watch the sparks fly.
Langley’s Glow Christmas
Glow Gardens / Instagram
Glow Christmas returns to Langley for another season of festive enchantment. Over a million lights will twinkle in the event’s four displays, and one of them is an impressive, 63-metre-long illuminated tunnel. What’s more, the market showcases work from over 40 vendors, and there are a plethora of mouthwatering food-trucks on hand for when you get hungry. Grab a date and get ready for a fun-filled evening.
Grab some hot cocoa
Hot chocolate flight using the at-home squares (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)
Kitsilano’s Koko Monk offers an array of mouth-watering chocolate flavours that sounds nothing short of poetic. They currently offer 14 unique — and uniquely named — flavours of hot chocolate, including “A Non-Conformist’s Plea for an Imaginary Summer” (tomato hot chocolate with rose and raspberry), “Strange Gravity” (oregano hot chocolate with melon and a touch of anise), and “Brunette Bangle” (curry hot chocolate with coconut liquor). It's the perfect way to indulge in some yummy beverages with your sweetie on a frosty afternoon.
Vancouver Christmas Market
Vancouver Christmas Market/Facebook
For 2018, in addition to the expected decor, food, drink, and live entertainment–and that lovely carousel–the Vancouver Christmas Market is adding some fun new features. Santa and his sleigh will be there, Canada’s first walk-in Christmas tree (covered in 36,000 twinkling lights), and expanded food offerings that will have your cravings satisfied from rustic German fare to modern plant-based options.
The Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain
The Peak of Christmas returns to Grouse Mountain with its annual display of festive enchantment and fun activities. Described as “Vancouver’s north pole,” the area sparkles with breathtaking light installations, including a majestic light tunnel and illuminated reindeer. Guests may watch a family holiday film on a big screen TV in the sky, or even take a magical sleigh ride. It's a magical way to spend a day with your date.
The Nutcracker
UKRAINE, LUGANSK – February 5, 2014: Donetsk Opera dancers perform The Nutcracker Ballet in Lugansk / Shutterstock
It’s one of the most celebrated ballets of all time, and The Nutcracker is hugely popular in Vancouver around the holidays. If you’ve never seen the artistic dance unfold on the stage, or you simply want to catch it this year, check out our comprehensive list of places to do so around the Lower Mainland. Your date will be impressed with this elegant affair.
