Last updated: November 11, 2024
Don't miss the must-see holiday events in Port Coquitlam! Discover all the top festive highlights with our guide. Whether Port Coquitlam is your backyard or a new adventure, our guide brings you the best of the holidays.
Popular Events: To kick off your holiday season, experience the magic of the Vancouver Christmas Market, where artisans showcase their handmade gifts and delicious seasonal treats. You’ll also find the enchanting Bright Nights in Stanley Park, with its stunning light displays and charming holiday ambiance. And the VanDusen Festival of Lights is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring a dazzling array of lights set within the park's natural beauty. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Port Coquitlam Holiday Light Displays
Bright Nights Stanley Park
Bright Nights Stanley Park features millions of sparkling festive lights, a miniature train ride, and festive cheer with live entertainment and Santa's Workshop.
VanDusen Festival Of Lights
VanDusen Festival of Lights features over 1 million twinkling lights across 15 acres, including a new interactive mycelium installation and themed light areas inspired by BC's ecosystems.
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Explore the illuminated Capilano Suspension Bridge, journey through a glittering rainforest, and walk along a twinkling cliffside pathway. Enjoy Instagram-worthy moments, sip hot chocolate, and participate in various kids' activities.
Christmas Glow
Christmas Glow in Langley, BC, features an outdoor family-friendly walk-around festival with over a million lights, interactive play zones, live performances, and a Merry Makers Market with local vendors. Guests can explore the Enchanted Forest, interact with talking trees and giant creatures, and enjoy activities like a scavenger hunt and carnival-themed mini games.
Christmas at Canada Place
Celebrate the holiday season at Canada Place with nostalgic traditions like Woodward's Windows, the North Point light display featuring Chrismoose, and the iconic Sails of Light and Avenue of Trees.
Lights at Lafarge
Lights at Lafarge is Metro Vancouver's largest free outdoor winter lights display, featuring over 100,000 lights and festive displays around Coquitlam's Lafarge Lake. The event includes themed areas, live entertainment, and various activities like carolling and craft workshops.
Heritage Christmas At Burnaby Village Museum
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum features festive lights, traditional decorations, and seasonal entertainment across its 10-acre venue. Enjoy meals and treats at Mai's Cafe or food trucks, with free admission and carousel rides available.
Noel Holiday Light Festival
The Noel Holiday Light Festival in Surrey features over 1 million lights, a 1km accessible outdoor light walk, and a 50-foot Ferris Wheel. Enjoy live music, dance performances, and interactive light displays, along with a Christmas Market and Kidsville activities.
PNE Winter Fair
The PNE Winter Fair is a vibrant holiday event featuring holiday lights, food, ice skating, ice bumper cars, live shows, shopping, and the PNE Holiday Express. Guests can meet Santa, explore Winter Lights, and enjoy live programming like Nutcracker on Ice and the Magic of Santa.
Dundarave Festival of Lights
The Dundarave Festival of Lights is a community-driven event featuring a forest of lovingly decorated Christmas trees along West Vancouver's waterfront. It includes free live concerts and activities, showcasing the spirit of the season with contributions from families, community groups, and businesses.
Mission Christmas Parade
The Mission Candlelight Parade is an annual event celebrating Christmas and the community of Mission. It features floats, holiday tunes, and a festive atmosphere along First Avenue between Horne Street and Park Street. The event supports local charities and draws over 10,000 spectators.
Squamish at Dusk
Squamish at Dusk is a light art festival transforming Rose Park with creativity, lights, and interactive installations, creating a vibrant nighttime winter hub for all ages.
Liven Up Coal Harbour
Liven Up Coal Harbour is a free, month-long family-friendly activation featuring dazzling lighting installations, live music, and storytelling along Vancouver's iconic waterfront from Canada Place to Cardero Park.
Bright Walk in White Rock
Bright Walk in White Rock is a winter light display featuring over 50,000 lights, a 20-foot Christmas tree, an LED light tunnel, and photo opportunities including an eight-foot-tall selfie frame and snowflakes. The event is located in Memorial Park and is accessible from dusk to dawn weekdays and all day weekends and holidays.
Martini Town Merry & Bright
Martini Town Merry & Bright is a unique holiday event where visitors can explore a film backlot transformed into a Christmas attraction. The event features a New York City Street, courthouse, diner, town square, and small town all decorated with heartwarming classic decor and modern light displays. It offers live music, entertainment, and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities.
Port Coquitlam Holiday Markets and Shopping
Vancouver Christmas Market
The Vancouver Christmas Market is an outdoor event at Jack Poole Plaza, featuring traditional German Christmas market stalls with artisan shops, festive eats, and treats. Enjoy live entertainment, special events, and unique installations like the Walk-Through Christmas Tree and Lovers Lane Love Lock Installation.
Shipyards Christmas Market
The Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver offers a delightful holiday experience with 75+ wooden stalls selling unique artisanal gifts, festive music, an ice rink, and seasonal treats like bratwursts, mulled wine, and hot cocoa.
Candytown
CandyTown is a free outdoor winter festival in Yaletown, Vancouver, featuring live ice sculpting, roaming holiday characters, a gift market, and horse carriage rides. The event transforms public plazas into a vibrant holiday scene with live music and family-friendly activities.
Coquitlam Christmas Night Market
The Coquitlam Christmas Night Market is a unique holiday event featuring over 40 vendors offering gifts, jewelry, clothing, and food. It takes place at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, adjacent to the Lights at Lafarge, offering a diverse array of international cuisines and handcrafted gifts.
Made in the 604 Market at the Shipyards
The Made in the 604 Market at the Shipyards features 60 Vancouver-based small businesses selling handmade goods, including handcrafted food products, craft distillery beverages, greeting cards, knitted goods, candles, and soaps.
Port Coquitlam Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a renowned ensemble featuring internationally acclaimed musicians under the direction of Dutch Music Director Otto Tausk. The orchestra offers a diverse range of concerts, from classical masterpieces to contemporary works, showcasing the versatility and excellence of its musicians.
Spirit of the Season Festival at the Shipyards
The Spirit of the Season Festival at the Shipyards in North Vancouver features live music, ice skating, and entertainment under dazzling holiday lights. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire truck, followed by Indigenous welcome ceremonies and a performance by the Eagle Song Dancers. The event includes a holiday tree lighting ceremony, an artisan market, and various family-friendly activities.
Port Coquitlam Other Holiday Activities
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain features twinkling lights, real reindeer, and festive activities like the Light Walk and mountaintop ice skating. Children can watch Christmas movies and engage in crafts at the Elf Headquarters. Santa's Workshop offers photo opportunities with Santa, with proceeds benefiting Family Services North Shore.
Maple Ridge Christmas Festival
The Maple Ridge Christmas Festival features a Santa Claus Parade, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities at Memorial Peace Park, celebrating the start of the holiday season with festive lights and community events.
Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Parade
The Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Parade is a community event featuring floats, marching bands, and Santa. It takes place on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 5:30 pm at Chilliwack Secondary School. The parade route includes Yale Road, Wellington, and College Streets, with a livestream available on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. The event includes a variety of decorated vehicles, live bands, and festive activities.
Squamish Holiday Parade
The Squamish Holiday Parade is a family-friendly event where all community members are invited to celebrate their winter traditions, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Yule, and Kwanzaa. The parade features colorful floats and a festive atmosphere.
Holiday History & Hot Chocolate Tour
The Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is a city-wide celebration featuring over 160 unique hot chocolate flavors from 105 locations across Metro Vancouver. This annual event showcases the region's best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, and ice cream makers, all coming together to create an extraordinary hot chocolate experience.
