METRO VANCOUVER HOLIDAY EVENTS 2024

If you’re looking for family-friendly local events this holiday season, our 2024 Metro Vancouver Holiday Events Guide has all the holiday fun!

Get these Metro Vancouver holiday events on your calendar and book tickets as early as you can! We've got you covered from Whistler to Chilliwack with our favourite holiday events and attractions for families! We publish this guide early to give you lots of time for planning & booking ahead. And for some extra holiday cheer, we’re counting down the days until our annual online Holiday Instagram LIVE Party on Nov 14th with over $5000 in prizes!

50+ prizes to be won at the party!

At this year’s Holiday Instagram Live Party for BC families, we’re giving away over $5,000 in prizes from the ideas featured in our Foodie Stocking Stuffer Guide, BC Experience Gift Guide, and Metro Vancouver Holiday Events Guide! To RSVP, just follow @hflvancouver on Instagram & set a reminder for the party by clicking the Live Video Reminder button under our profile on your phone. Then join us in @hflvancouver Instagram stories on November 16th at 8 pm PST for your chance to win over $5,000 in prizes!

METRO VANCOUVER
HOLIDAY EVENTS FOR FAMILIES

VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET

Dates: Nov 13th - Dec 24th

Now in its 14th year, the German-inspired outdoor Vancouver Christmas Market returns to Jack Poole Plaza to spread holiday cheer! It's Vancouver's largest traditional Christmas Market offering activities for all from signature gourmet food, to unique gifts from 90+ artisan vendors, and activities for kids like the beloved Scavenger Hunt and riding on the Aeroplan Holiday Carousel. You'll especially love being transported down the winding alleys of European markets, enjoying festive eats & treats and traditional German beverages. Don't miss Christmas Trivia, Photos with St. Nikolaus, Christmas Karaoke, and several new spectacular light displays & photo opportunities! Everyone will find festive fun at the Vancouver Christmas Market.

Goh ballet'S
THE nutcracker

Dates: Dec 19th - 22nd

A holiday classic and a favourite Vancouver tradition, Goh Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker brings together more than 200 local dancers, actors, gymnasts, glittering costumes, and Principal Dancers from world-renowned professional companies on the stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. All ages can experience Clara’s dream come to life as she embarks on a magical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets where she is greeted by the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy. An unforgettable adventure awaits as her gallant Nutcracker battles the evil Mouse King and his army of mischievous mice. This heart-warming production is danced to Tchaikovsky’s memorable score performed live by members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. 

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
ECHO

Dates: Oct 9 - Jan 5

Cirque du Soleil is a mesmerizing adventure into the world of imagination and possibilities that is loved by all! Make this holiday season unforgettable with a family outing to Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO presented by Sun Life! This spectacular show is an enchanting adventure that sparks the imagination and highlights the connections between humans, animals, and our planet. With jaw-dropping acrobatics, stunning visuals, and captivating artistry, ECHO offers a magical experience that inspires hope, optimism, and empathy in audiences of all ages. It’s the perfect holiday show for friends, couples, or families looking to create lasting holiday memories together! Save 40% off all child admissions for shows running until November 24th, 2024. Grab your tickets now - convenient matinees & evening shows are available under the big top right in downtown Vancouver!

NOEL HOLIDAY LIGHT FESTIVAL

Dates: Nov 28 - Dec 23

Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market is Surrey's newest holiday festival at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. This wonderful new indoor and outdoor event brings people together to embrace the joy and wonder of the holiday season, and kids 6 and under are FREE. From enchanting light displays and beautiful holiday decor, to live music, visits with the Green & Grumpy One, and riding the 50ft Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars, and Berry-Go-Round, there’s no shortage of holiday magic there! Prepare to be dazzled by over 1 million lights including larger-than-life displays, LED forests, illuminated see-saws, 300 feet of light tunnels, and much more. Step inside the magic of the Cloverdale Agriplex transformed into the Noel Village, and take a stroll on the mesmerizing and fully accessible 1km light walk around the pond at Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre. Tickets are on sale now for Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market!

Spirit of the Season Festivities at
sea to sky gondola

Dates: Dec 1st - 31st

Start a new tradition or continue a beloved one at Sea to Sky Gondola’s Spirit of the Season. With festive decorations, winter activities, and holiday events, their winter wonderland at the Summit is a place where memories are made and traditions are celebrated. You can even book your spot now to have your photos taken with Santa on select days in December! The Sea to Sky Gondola is located 2km south of Squamish, and the gondola ride up is part of the magic! A short 10-minute scenic ride from the base to the summit 885m above sea level provides sweeping views of Howe Sound, the majestic coastal forest, and surrounding mountains. Once at the summit you can explore a variety of hiking trails, cross the thrilling Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, take in the views from a breathtaking viewing platform, and then head back to the cozy lodge for a warming cup of hot chocolate!

Canyon Lights at Capilano suspension bridge park

Dates: Nov 22nd – Jan 19th

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in beautiful North Vancouver is a holiday tradition that never disappoints! Our kids love crossing the world-famous bridge, lit end-to-end with a changing multi-colour display, and swaying high above the illuminated Capilano River. Journeying into a glittering rainforest & walking high above the forest floor on the transformed Treetops Adventure is also a family favourite. And we never miss walking along the twinkling cliffside pathway of Cliffwalk. Capture Instagram-worthy photos & sip hot chocolate surrounded by live festive tunes. Stop by the Treehouse at Treetops Adventure so the kids can pick up a festive card, then collect character stickers on their adventure to create they own greeting card. We love that Canyon Lights continues its support of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund!

santa photos at britannia mine museum

Dates: Dec 7th, 8th, 14th, 15st

Adventurers of all ages are invited to Photos with Santa at Britannia Mine Museum this holiday season, where magic and mining collide! On select dates in December, capture your special holiday photo with Santa, nestled in a mining cart, surrounded by the bustling energy of his elf miners. Bring your family, your smiles, and your festive cheer for a magical holiday experience unlike any other! After your Santa photos, enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate and cookie, and make the most of your visit by indulging in some exciting gold-panning adventures and exploring the captivating exhibits at the mine's lower site. If you wish to enjoy the full Underground Train and BOOM! viewing experiences, be sure to select the “full experience” when booking. A day filled with enchantment & exploration at Britannia Mine Museum awaits you!

north pole express
in squamish

Dates: Nov 23/24/30, Dec 1, 7/8, 14/15 & 21

Climb aboard the North Pole Express at the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish for a 50-minute train ride to the North Pole to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and many of their friends! Enjoy unlimited hot chocolate and marshmallows at the station, then board the train to enjoy cookies, candy canes, and everyone singing your Christmas favourites from the provided songbooks while rolling down the track.  When you arrive at the North Pole for a family photo shoot with Santa and Mrs. Clause to preserve your memories of your adventure, there are many other activities to enjoy, including Holiday Model Train Displays, crafts in Santa's Workshop, live musical entertainment, and more!  The North Pole Express is a long-time family favourite event – fantastic fun for train and holiday-loving kiddos alike, and the young at heart!

LIONEL BART'S OLIVER!
AT GATEWAY THEATRE

Dates: Dec. 12 – Jan. 4, 2025

Gateway Theatre presents Lionel Bart’s Oliver! this holiday season! This award-winning musical adaptation of the classic Dickens novel, Oliver! springs to life with some of the most memorable characters and songs ever to grace the stage. Join young Oliver Twist as he navigates the Victorian London underworld, searching for a home, a family, and – most importantly – for love. Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker, then escapes to find acceptance amongst a band of pickpockets. When Oliver is captured for a theft he did not commit, his adventures have only just begun! With spirited songs like “Food, Glorious Food,” and “Consider Yourself,” Oliver! is widely hailed as a theatrical masterpiece perfect for Metro Vancouver families!

FLYOVER CANADA'S
SOAR WITH SANTA

Dates: Nov 21st - Jan 1st

Celebrate FlyOver Canada’s popular holiday flight ride, Soar with Santa! It takes off from the eastern shoreline on its epic flight west, soaring over Canada's iconic destinations.  The flight then veers sharply off course for an enchanting visit to the snow-dusted North Pole. The Soar with Santa experience lasts approximately 25 minutes and includes the preshow, the pre-flight briefing in the boarding zone, and eight minutes on the Ultimate Flying Ride. FlyOver Canada uses state-of-the-art technology – including special effects such as wind, mist, and scents – to replicate the feeling of flying across the country. The attraction is ideal for families, couples, or groups, and can be gifted as a unique holiday experience. It's an annual family tradition for us, and hope it will become the same for your family!