32 festive places to see Christmas lights in Metro Vancouver

If you’re looking to make your festive season truly merry and bright, look no further than these locations where Christmas lights are the main attraction.

After all, nothing says Christmas quite like thousands of tiny twinkling lights does it?

Here are 31 places to see some of the Lower Mainland’s best and brightest displays.

St. Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope

• What: A longstanding annual tradition at St. Paul’s Hospital is back: More than 100,000 light bulbs, spanning a length of more than 10 km, have been turned on for the Christmas-time Lights of Hope charity campaign supporting the hospital.
• When: Every night – from dusk until dawn – until January 8, 2018
• Where: St. Paul’s Hospital – 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver

Bright Nights at Stanley Park

• What: Over three million dazzling lights decorate acres of the dark forest, reaching as high as the forest canopy for Bright Nights in Stanley Park. The attraction is also accompanied by a train ride, music, snacks, entertainment, and even visits with Santa and his elves.
• When: Thursday, November 30, 2018, to Saturday, January 6, 2019. Closed on December 25 for Christmas.
• Time: Times vary, check website for details
• Where: Miniature railway area at Stanley Park, Vancouver
• Admission: Bright Nights entry by donation ($4 is suggested), Christmas train tickets available on Ticketleader, from $6-$12

Aurora Winter Festival

 

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• What: Escape into a hidden village by the North Pole filled with captivating Christmas light displays and magical characters.
• When: Friday, November 23 to Sunday,  December 30, 2018
• Where: Concord Pacific Place, Vancouver
• Tickets: Available online

Holiday Hi-Light Festival

Now lights on! #christmas #perfect #vancouverisawesome #park #red

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• What: This annual event features a majestic festival of illumination with more than 150,000 lights on display over three acres. Entry is by donation, with 100% of proceeds to the North Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society.
• Where: Park & Tilford Gardens – 333 Brooksbank Ave, North Vancouver
• Admission: By donation

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge

• What: The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon are transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment. See the world’s tallest living Christmas trees (more than 200 feet tall), experience the voice-activated light show, go on a scavenger hunt throughout the park, sing along with the holiday band, take a family photo at the Winter Pavilion, and more.
• When: Now until January 27, 2018 (closed December 25)
• Time: 11 am to 9 pm daily
• Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
• Admission: $14.95-$46.95 ($34.95 for students) and free for children under six

Dundarave Festival of Lights

• What: Four days of festive, free concerts, a Christmas fair, and the Forest of Miracles, the largest outdoor display of Christmas trees in British Columbia. You can also enjoy the Dundarave Nativity, a group of carvings made from old growth cedar, and attend a Christmas Wassail and Bonfire.
• When: Saturday, December 2 to Saturday, December 23, 2018
• Time: Every Saturday afternoon
• Where: Dundarave Beach – 25th Street at Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver

Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden

• What: The botanical garden is covered in more than a million lights. Reindeer and Scandinavian gnomes also roam the trails, and visitors can walk through the gingerbread wood, lantern alley, and Make-a-Wish candle grotto.
• When: December 1, 2018, to January 7, 2019
• Time: 4:30 pm to 9 pm. Hours extended to 10 pm between December 15 and 24.
• Where: VanDusen Gardens – 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver

Chalet Place Lights for Charity

• What: A home up in the hills of North Vancouver has been lighting up with over 100,000 lights each Christmas for a few years, to raise donations for three good causes – the BC Epilepsy Society, Harvest Project, and Shriners Care For Kids. This is the final year of the display, so make sure to add it to your list.
  When:  December 2 to January 6.
• Time: 5:30 pm to 11 pm
• Where: 4967 Chalet Place, North Vancouver

Vancouver Christmas Tree at Robson Square

• What: Taller than Rockafeller: A huge Christmas tree will light up Robson Square, and people will celebrate the holiday season with free snacks, photos with Santa, and a holiday concert. You can also Buy-a-Bulb to raise funds for the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. For $5 you can purchase five bulbs to help light the tree, or you can get 15 for $10.
• When: Tree is lit on Friday, November 30, and remains lit throughout December
• Where: Robson Square – 800 Robson Street, Vancouver

Lumiere

• What: Lumiere is back to light up Vancouver’s West End with an evening of artistic expression, community engagement, and of course, lights.
• When: Saturday, December 2 to Saturday, December 9, 2017; times vary
• Where: Morton Park, 1800 Morton Ave and Jim Deva Plaza, 1200 Bute Street, Vancouver

McArthurGlen Christmas

• What: Along with one of Lower Mainland’s biggest trees, the centre is decked out in a variety of holiday decorations including 25,000 lights and more than 3,000 festive ornaments.
• When: Thursday, November 23 through December
• Where: McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport – 1000-7899 Templeton Station Road, Richmond

Lights at Lafarge

• What: Hundreds of thousands of 100,000 twinkling lights will once again illuminate Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam as part of a magical display this holiday season. The outdoor display wraps its way entirely around Lafarge Lake, leading visitors on a 1.2-kilometre loop through 10 themed zones.
• When: November 25, 2018, to January 18, 2019
• Time: Daily
• Where: Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam

Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village

• What: Burnaby Village comes alive with the Christmas spirit this holiday season, transformed into a winter wonderland featuring gorgeous twinkling lights, festive-themed displays, and even a Christmas carousel.
• When:
  • November 25 until December 15, 2018, from 1 pm to 5:30 pm on weekdays and from 1 pm to 9 pm on weekends
  • December 16 to January 5, 2018, from 1 to 9 pm every day (except December 24 and 25)
• Where: Burnaby Village Museum – 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby

Surrey City Hall Plaza Christmas Tree

• What: Marvel at an illuminated 55-foot Christmas tree, one of the biggest in Canada!
• When: Tree lighting on Saturday, November 25, 2017; tree remains lit throughout December
• Where: Surrey City Hall Plaza – 13450 104 Avenue, Surrey

Glow Christmas

• What: Glow Christmas brightens up Langley’s Milner Village Garden Centre with over 500,000 lights spanning 103,000-sq-ft of holiday magic. The display will feature four different light gardens, food trucks (and bar!), over 40 vendors, and – the cherry on top – a 210-foot musical light tunnel.
• When: Select dates from November 22 to January 19
• Time: 4 to 10 pm
• Where: Milner Village Garden Centre – 6690 216 St, Langley

17 different Christmas displays throughout Burnaby

• What: There are so many Christmas light displays in Burnaby this winter, the city has created a handy map showing you around all 17 locations, plus the Heritage Christmas. Enjoy illuminated Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, as the cityscape’s lights burn bright.
• When: Throughout December
• Where: All over Burnaby

See also

• Vancouver is getting a new outdoor ice skating rink this winter
• Here are all the FREE holiday activities you can enjoy at the Burnaby Village Museum
• Santa Claus is coming to Capilano Mall, and here's when you can see him