The most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner and, after a year hiatus, one of Vancouver’s favourite winter traditions is back!
That’s right — throw on your Christmas sweaters and get ready to sip on some Glühwein, because the outdoor Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza is returning for the 2021 holiday season!
This year, to help spread the cheer, the German-style market will open a couple of weeks earlier, beginning the season on November 13th and running daily until December 24th.
New online time slot bookings and mandatory double vaccination (for visitors 12 and over) will help ensure the market runs safely and smoothly, as per Coastal Health and Vancouver Convention Centre guidelines.
Vancouver Christmas Market. Photo: yunmilovesyo
The 2021 Vancouver Christmas Market will be bigger and better than ever, with new artisan vendors, festive experiences, special promos, and great giveaways to make the season merry and bright.
Here’s what you can look forward to as you stroll through the winter wonderland along the waterfront and take in the tastes, sounds, sights, and lights of the 2021 Vancouver Christmas Market:
Feast on holiday eats and treats
Spice up the season with an array of festive foods and international delicacies from one of the participating vendors at the market’s food plaza, Tannenbaum Terrace.
Evoking the vibe of the traditional German Christmas street markets, the huts will serve a variety of European comfort foods, including savoury eats such as Hungarian lángos (deep-fried flatbread), Austrian gulasch (a bread bowl of stew), Ukrainian borscht (sweet and sour beet soup), and the traditional Bavarian schnitzel (breaded meat cutlet). For a sweet treat, head over to Two Sweet Elves for poffertjes (mini puffed pancakes) from the Netherlands and Transylvanian Chimney Cakes for the whimsical holiday snack from Hungary.
New this year, 30+ vendors along Gourmet Street (Gourmetstrassse) will sell packaged gourmet foods from around the world, such as German bread from Breadymix, and sustainable Austrian chocolates from Zotter Chocolates, to take home.
Sip on traditional holiday drinks
Raise a toast to the winter season by sipping on delicious European-style holiday drinks, including Glühwein (mulled wine), Bavarian beer, apple cider, hot chocolate, and Kinderpunsch punch for the kids. Sip on your warm drink of choice from the comfort of the newly-expanded Alpine Lounge’s large heated tent, or take a seat outside on the Winter Deck for stunning waterfront views overlooking the North Shore.
Want to bottle that festive spirit and take it home? Visit the market’s new Schnapslplatz area and pick up your choice of wines, ciders, and other holiday drinks.
Vancouver Christmas Market. Photo: Lindsay Elliot.
Find your Christmas gifts at the artisan stalls
Check off your entire Christmas list and get all of your holiday shopping done in one place at this one-stop shopping destination, where you can find all the gifts you’re looking for (plus a little something special for yourself) at one of the 80+ local and worldly artisan stalls in Merchant Alley (Kaufmangasse).
From handcrafted jewelry and homemade candles to bottles of B.C.-made wine and spirits, there are many local products to choose from to #supportlocal. For gifts from around the world, check out the Turkish fruit soaps from Art of Soap and the french home decor from Provence En Couleur.
You can also find everything you need to decorate and get festive for the holiday season, with glass ornaments and nutcrackers from Germany and a kitschy pullover from the Ugly Christmas Sweater Shack.
Delight in quality time with family and friends
The Vancouver Christmas Market is the perfect place to celebrate the holiday season with your loved ones. Embrace your inner child with a free ride around the HolidayLife Carousel, presented by Interac.
Set the kids out on an adventure with the annual Scavenger Hunt around the market for a fun prize. Then, to really set the holiday tone, enjoy the festive tune of Christmas carols sung by local performers on the flying stage above the Christmas Pyramid. There’s festive fun for everyone to share in the Christmas Market experience together!
Capture memories with countless photo ops
Because you need pics or it didn’t happen… Take a picture and snap a selfie to commemorate your time at one of the many illuminated photo op stops around the market, from the twinkling Walk-In Christmas Tree to the mistletoe at the light tunnel in Lovers' Lane.
General admission tickets and season passes for the Vancouver Christmas Market are available now! For the best value, snag the Holly & Jolly Combo (which includes season passes, collector's mugs, traditional drinks, and surprise gift bags for 2 guests) while supplies last.
For tickets, visit vancouverchristmasmarket.com.
THIS CONTEST HAS CLOSED.
We’ve partnered with the Vancouver Christmas Market to give two lucky winners an AWESOME Holiday Staycation Prize Package!
GRAND PRIZE #1 for Two
- A Holly & Jolly Combo for 2 for the Vancouver Christmas Market (Valued at $140)*
- A 1-night stay in a Deluxe Room for 2 and Breakfast at the Fairmont Pacific Rim (Valued at $650)
- A $100 Gift Card for Tap & Barrel for use at any of their three locations (Convention Centre, Shipyards, and Olympic Village)
Total Grand Prize Value: $890 CAD
GRAND PRIZE #2 for Families
- A Holly & Jolly Combo for 2 for the Vancouver Christmas Market (Valued at $140)*
- A 1-night stay for up to 4 at Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in a Premium Double Harbourview Room, including breakfast for 4 and a $75 dining credit for Lunch or Dinner at P2B Bistro & Bar (Valued at $550)
Total Grand Prize Value: $690 CAD
You can enter via the contest entry form below. For additional chances to win, visit the Vancouver Christmas Market website for 10 bonus entries, and visit their Facebook and Instagram for another 25 bonus entries each.
This contest is open to British Columbia residents and closes on November 12, 2021. The contest winner will be contacted via email on this date.
*Christmas Market visitors over 12 years of age are required to present proof of double vaccination and a government-issued photo ID (for those over 19). View the market’s official COVID-19 protocols and accepted exemptions before entering the content or purchasing a ticket.
