Sponsored by Cirque du Soleil ECHO!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Metro Vancouver certainly knows how to celebrate the holiday season! From elaborate light displays to Santa greetings, there are a plethora of indoor and outdoor events happening to dazzle and delight the whole family. Make some core memories this year by making a list (and checking it twice!) to plan your holiday event calendar.
Looking for more great events? Check out our Christmas Event category and be sure to check back often as we update it daily.
Featured: Cirque du Soleil ECHO!
The masters of mystery are back Under the Big Top once again with the awe-inspiring show ECHO! Cirque du Soleil brings its hallmark storytelling to this one-of-a-kind show that highlights the power of youth optimism and encourages a future where humans and the natural world work together.
For more information, click here.
Arts Umbrella’s “Mixed Nuts”
Arts Umbrella Dance Company brings a modern and engaging retelling of Tchaikovskyâs classic ballet The Nutcracker. From hip-hop to ballroom, Mixed Nuts, presented by Deloitte and Workday, will feature a flavoursome combination of dance styles to thrill audiences of all ages. Enjoy the vibrant and magical costumes and music as old favourites and new features delight onstage.
For more information, click here.
BC Ballet Presents Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker
Ballet BC and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet capture the imagination of audiences of all ages with this uniquely Canadian rendition of the classic tale. Audiences of all ages will delight in this exceptional re-telling of Nutcracker at two convenient locations: the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey, and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. Donât miss your chance to see BCâs only professional production of Nutcracker this holiday season!
For more information, click here.
Britannia Mine Museum Santa Photos
Mark your calendar for December 7th & 8th and December 14th & 15th when Santa at Britannia Mine Museum arrives for a truly special event. Your family is in for an exciting photo opportunity with Santa himself as mining and magic collide for an unforgettable photo. An enchanting Christmas experience comes to life as visitors visit Santa and his mining elves in the machine shop. Afterward, enjoy some hot cocoa as you explore the rest of the Britannia Mine Museum.
For more information, click here.
Canyon Lights
Embark on an unforgettable family adventure that promises to light up your holiday season. Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is back this holiday season with a family-friendly experience filled with beautiful sights, delicious treats, and plenty of places to explore. This enchanting winter wonderland features the world-famous suspension bridge decked out in millions of twinkling lights from end to end with a spectacular view of the Capilano River.
For more information, click here.
Central City Christmas
The holiday season is here and Central City is the perfect destination for families to make memories together. Whether youâre looking for festive activities, shopping for gifts, giving back to your community, or simply spending time together, thereâs something for everyone to enjoy.
For more information, click here.
Children’s Museum of Skagit County presents: Winter Wonderland
If you are in need of a mini-getaway, this is the perfect solution for you. Just a mere 1.5 hours south of Vancouver awaits the Winter Wonderland festival. Every year, the Childrenâs Museum of Skagit County creates a winter wonderland at Burlington Plaza for families to enjoy. Metro Vancouver families are invited to experience this FREE 3-day festival that has activities for every member of your family.
For more information, click here.
Delta Youth Theatre Presents “Oliver Jr.!”
Consider yourself one of the gang when you see the iconic âOliver Jr.â presented by the incredible cast of local actors that make up the Delta Youth Theatre. Lionel Bartelâs adaptation of the classic tale âOliver Twistâ roars to life on the Equinox Theatre stage from November 29 â December 8th.
For more information, click here.
Gateway Theatre Presents Oliver!
Join a band of rag-tag pickpockets as they navigate the mean streets of Victorian London in search of the true love of a family with Lionel Bartelâs award-winning musical, Oliver! at Gateway Theatre. From an unprivileged life to one of hope and love, Oliver will warm the hearts of audiences of all ages. Shows run from December 12, 2024 – January 4, 2025.
For more information, click here.
Gulf of Georgia Cannery Festival of Trees
Every holiday season, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site proudly hosts the Steveston Festival of Trees where local merchants and community groups showcase their festively festooned trees. These brilliantly decorated trees feature holiday stories, traditions, and celebrations shared by community partners using creative ornaments, and delightful baublesâvying to be crowned the top-voted Favourite Tree! This friendly competition brings holiday cheer to the participating community groups and merchants as they create new and exciting themes each year.
For more information, click here.
Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market
Don’t miss this new and exciting event, which will certainly become your familyâs must-visit attraction for 2024. This festive atmosphere has something for everyone to enjoy, from mesmerizing light displays, and rides for the whole family, to photos with Santa. With over 1 million twinkling lights, a 50 ft Ferris Wheel, Kidsville, Noel Village, photos with Santa, and plenty of delicious food vendors, there is something for everyone at this fabulous holiday event!
For more information, click here.
North Pole Express
The popular North Pole Express is back for another Christmas season at the Railway Museum of British Columbia in Squamish. This must-do holiday experience is perfect for the whole family and can easily be a full day of making memories. The 50-minute train ride will be filled with cookies, hot chocolate, and Christmas caroling. Disembark at the roundhouse, which will be transformed into a winter wonderland where children can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus for a family photograph, ride the mini train, and take part in more Christmas-themed activities and crafts.
For more information, click here.
Oakridge Park
Set your calendar for Santaâs Modernized Sleigh to roll through Vancouver from December 6 â 20. This traveling winter wonderland is coming to a location near you with stops all over Vancouver, including beloved local charities, to spread holiday cheer. And don’t miss Oakridge Park’s 12 Days of Giveaways beginning December 1 and running until December 24. Every two days, a new luxury gift will be revealed.
For more information, click here.
Richmond Academy of Dance
Dance Into Christmas is a charming performance that includes excerpts from seasonal favourites such as The Nutcracker and specially choreographed works featuring guest dancers and vocalists. See Clara and her Nutcracker Prince come to life on stage with exquisite costumes as the professional dance division performs excerpts of traditional seasonal pieces. Additionally, celebrated soprano Sheila Christie and Mikey Jose and his band will perform Christmas classics to bring the festive spirit of song to this vibrant show that sells out year after year.
For more information, click here.
Photo by Emily Cooper
Theatre Replacement presents: East Van Panto: Robin Hood
Come one, come all to the wackiest, most hilarious family-friendly show this holiday season! The East Van Panto is a holiday show that is not to be missed. Each year, the merry crew of talented creatives selects a new story to put a lively spin on. In its twelfth year, Theatre Replacementâs East Van Panto has selected Robin Hood for this season.
For more information, click here.
Timberline Country Christmas
Avoid the crowded malls, skip the lengthy line-ups to see Santa, and enjoy a family-friendly, interactive holiday experience at Timberline Country Christmas. his unique experience has country Christmas elements sure to brighten your spirits with community-decorated Christmas trees, cookie decorating, pony rides, a petting zoo, an adventure maze, and even a “snowball” throwing area! A covered wagon ride in the crisp air will delight every age as you take in a slower pace out in the country.
For more information, click here.
Vancouver Aquarium Holiday Splash
Dive into festive fun this holiday sea-son at the Vancouver Aquarium with their popular Holiday Splash from November 12, 2024 â January 5, 2025. Immerse yourself in the glow of over 1 million twinkling lights and festive decor that will transform the Vancouver Aquarium into a winter water-land. Catch Scuba Claus as he makes a splash spreading holiday cheer beneath the waves, snap a photo in front of the Jelly Snow Globe, and enjoy festive foods.
For more information, click here.
VIFF Christmas Family Movie
Thereâs nothing quite like getting cozy with your kids and enjoying a family movie together. And when you combine dark winter nights and special holiday occasions, itâs even better when itâs a family fun event from the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)! This Christmas, VIFF brings you a brand-new adventure from an iconic claymation duo. From December 18, 2024, to January 2, 2025, itâs time for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
For more information, click here.
Christmas Craft Fairs and Markets
Christmas Craft Fairs and Artisan Markets are back in full swing this year and each one promises to showcase unique wares from extremely talented artists and makers. Craft fairs are great to find special gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people on your holiday list, or for kids to pick out a special gift for family and friends.
For more information, click here.
Christmas Light-Ups & Parades
Being one of the FIRST to see something is always exciting, and around Christmas, light-up events and parades are filled with warm community spirit, delicious hot chocolate and good times. Don’t miss these fabulous events that begin in November and run right through December.
For more information, click here.
Christmas Light Displays
Whether you’re inclined to visit an indoor display, drive around snuggling in the car with blankets, or take a stroll in the brisk night air, there are plenty of displays to check out this holiday season. These dazzling displays are truly impressive and put my single strand of lights to shame.
For more information, click here.
Breakfast with Santa
It wouldn’t be Christmas without having breakfast with Santa and this year there are plenty of places to choose from. This year, Santa is going to be very busy popping from location to location to meet and share a meal with the families in Metro Vancouver. These are always incredibly popular events, so register early to secure your spot.
For more information, click here.
Complete Guide to Christmas Tree Farms 
There’s nothing quite like the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in your living room. Equally exciting is the process of acquiring it; putting on your warm clothes, and sipping some hot cocoa or apple cider as you stroll through rows and rows of trees, saw in hand, to find the perfect tree for your home. It’s the experience of hauling the tree out of the woods and tying it to your car, getting it home, and decorating your tree that makes the holidays so special.
For more information, click here.
2024 Free Adventure Advent Calendar
If you’re looking for a different type of Advent Calendar this year, we’ve got you covered! We’ve collected 24 unique FREE adventures around Metro Vancouver for you to enjoy each day with your family. There are so many events happening this year that we couldn’t even include them all! Head to the Christmas Event category for even more fun events.
For more information, click here.
Teddy Bear Toss
Hockey games make great family events because kids can get out all their energy shouting for their favourite teams! My favourite games are the Teddy Bear Toss theme nights that occur in December. Fans bring a stuffed animal of their choice as a donation to charity and when the team scores their first goal, every throws the stuffed animal onto the ice (or attempts to). It’s great fun!
For more information, click here.
A holiday season cannot be complete without an incredible family show and Cirque du Soleil Echo! is the perfect option to dazzle every age.  Cirque du Soleil brings its hallmark storytelling to this one-of-a-kind show that highlights the power of youth optimism and encourages a future where humans and the natural world work together. Bright colours, complex choreography, phenomenal musical scores, and dazzling costumes elevate the storyline and captivate audiences with the high-quality performance and production quality that exemplifies Cirque du Soleil shows. ECHO! is now until January 5th and you can save BIG on tickets with two *exclusive* discounts! From now until November 24th, save 40% on Kids Tickets by clicking on this link. Another great way to save is by using the Family Offer, which is applicable on ticket bundles that include a minimum of 4 tickets purchased with at least one child ticket as part of the bundle. It’s the perfect opportunity to treat your family to a show they won’t soon forget, and save money while doing it!  Secure your tickets now!
