CandyTown lights up Christmas season with free festival (PHOTOS)

Yaletown’s biggest holiday event, CandyTown, kicked off another fabulous Christmas season on Saturday with gourmet food, ice sculptures, horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa Claus and a range of festive characters.

Mainland Street came alive on Saturday afternoon for the 4th annual free outdoor Christmas festival, which featured spectacular music and performances and a gift market for early holiday shopping. Intricately-dressed characters, like Santa Claus and the Ice Queen, also roamed the streets meeting with families for photo-ops.

[am2_see_also]

Dozens of food vendors showed up to the event, including a cotton candy food truck, Man Cakes Bakery and frozen maple taffy pops – a kind of ingenuous popsicle made from rolling maple syrup in snow. There even was a drink fountain that ran liquid through an ice sculpture of Olaf from the Disney movie Frozen.

If you missed out on the festivities, or want to relive the spectacular festival, scroll through the photos below:

Waiting for a free carriage ride at #CandyTown2015 in #yaletown #Vancouver! I don’t know who’s more excited ???? pic.twitter.com/E8w0P0Zrau

— Jennifer Pallian (@foodessdotcom) November 21, 2015

It’s Christmas in #yaletown today on Mainland Street until 7pm #CandyTown2015 @iyaletown #free #christmas #festival pic.twitter.com/CLg2lH3QTV — Tiffany Soper (@tiffanysoper) November 21, 2015

Super cool watching this guy carve a beautiful intricate design onto this ice sleigh. ❄ #CandyTown2015 #Yaletown pic.twitter.com/JcOPwDwI1d

— Angela (@angelaytc) November 21, 2015

Festive Sunday at #CandyTown2015 in #Yaletown @iyaletown pic.twitter.com/lzbKUhvrWw — Angela (@angelaytc) November 21, 2015

Had fun at #CandyTown in #iyaletown today. Kids loved the candy floss, free chocolates and all the samples. pic.twitter.com/I5o4BFC9Xy

— VancouversBestPlaces (@VansBestPlaces) November 22, 2015

How to cool your drink #Frozen #Olaf #icesculpture #Vancouver #Yaletown #Candytown @VancityBuzz pic.twitter.com/BUKF9Bo3Zw — Kate Constantino (@kjgc0415) November 22, 2015

Found a 2 legged Rudolph at #Candytown2015 but no Santa or other reindeer… @iyaletown pic.twitter.com/8lA4N73dvr

— Vikki Leung (@vikkiwkl) November 22, 2015

Candytown tableau. – #Yaletown #Vancouver #Vancitybuzz #Vancouverisawesome #igersvancouver A photo posted by Nick Routley (@phanyxx) on Nov 21, 2015 at 5:12pm PST

Ice sculpture at the Candy town in Yaletown!#Candy #candytown #Vancouver #vancity

A photo posted by Maylin Rivas (@maystar22) on Nov 21, 2015 at 5:57pm PST

Ой, начинаются всякие Рождественские ярмарки) сегодня побывали в #Candytown A photo posted by Anastasia Foos (@mrs_foos) on Nov 21, 2015 at 4:38pm PST

Candy Town – Yaletown #Vancity #yaletown #vancouver #canada #vancouvercanada #events #Christmas #candytown #candy #town #city #citylife

A photo posted by Gopro Vancouver (@gopro_vancouver) on Nov 21, 2015 at 1:18pm PST

#candytown#van#thequeen#Yaletown#winterfun#kidsstyle#wonderland#xmasiscoming#friends A photo posted by Daisy Dai (@daishishi11) on Nov 22, 2015 at 2:55am PST

#candytown #yaletown #beautifulday #christmas2015countdown #vancity #bc Santa made a good choice for his holiday home 😉

A photo posted by ⭐️My Journey⭐️ (@maria_myworld) on Nov 22, 2015 at 12:34am PST

Santa came to town bit early #santa#yaletown#candytown A photo posted by Jihyang Lee (@jihyangggggg) on Nov 22, 2015 at 12:00am PST

Candy Town Festival Vancouver, Canada #candytown #yaletown #festival #bc #vancouver #canada #candy

A photo posted by Lonely Backpacking (@lonelybackpacking) on Nov 21, 2015 at 11:58pm PST

#vancouver #candytown #yaletown #christmas #2015 A photo posted by 유키/ ゆき/Amy (@ukivill) on Nov 21, 2015 at 11:14pm PST

11.21 캔디타운 쪼매난이벤트에서 사진 많이도 찍었다 기분은 벌써 크리스마쓰 #vancouver #yaletown #candytown #rudolph #snowman #gingerbread #내눈에는걍쿠키런

A photo posted by RKH (@lauren_raa) on Nov 21, 2015 at 9:57pm PST

“Welcome to Candytown”. #candytown #vancouver A photo posted by jimmy harjadi (@n1n3l1v3s) on Nov 21, 2015 at 9:37pm PST

#cottoncandy #free#candytown #withfriend#yummy#sweetsweet#Van

A photo posted by yoooko???????? (@ooooo405) on Nov 21, 2015 at 9:07pm PST

Maple Taffy pops ???? #foodie #Vancityfoodie #Vancouverfoodie #igtreats #instasweets #Vancouver #Yaletown #Candytown #Canadian #vcbfood A video posted by Katherine Constantino (@kjgc0415) on Nov 21, 2015 at 8:30pm PST

WOW CandyTown was Wonka Crazy! We had a blast sharing some new brands like @justbsmiling_ who handcrafts these beautiful pressed plant phone cases. Thank you to everyone who braved the fresh cold and said Hi! And to everyone else, see you next year!

A photo posted by Woo To See You Boutique (@wootoseeyou) on Nov 21, 2015 at 7:16pm PST

Candytown in yaletown #christmas#vancouver#yaletown#candytown#icesculpture A photo posted by keithcox3 (@keithcox3) on Nov 21, 2015 at 7:59pm PST

#candytown2015 here we come! Your preview of what’s happening 8:50 @bt_vancouver

A photo posted by Dawn Chubai (@dawnchubai) on Nov 20, 2015 at 8:43am PST

#CandyTown2015 A photo posted by Linda Kang (@mincykang) on Nov 22, 2015 at 9:35am PST

CandyTown 2015 in Yaletown! #candytown2015 #cloudninecottoncandy #cottoncandy #organiccottoncandy #vancity #vancitybuzz #vancouver #vancouverisawesome #gingerbreadman #yvrtreats #foodtruck #boler #bolerlife

A photo posted by Cloud Nine Cotton Candy Co. (@cloudnine_cottoncandy) on Nov 21, 2015 at 9:52pm PST

#CandyTown2015 #Christmas #festival #Yaletown #Vancouver #tistheseason A photo posted by @ag_fung on Nov 21, 2015 at 10:12pm PST

Come join us at the @iyaletown #CandyTown holiday festival today! A beautiful sunny day to start your holiday shopping and get into festive spirits! Bring the kids down too for visits with Santa and the Ice Queen #yvr #festival #Christmas #candy #holidays #Yaletown

A photo posted by Avenue PR (@avenuepr_ca) on Nov 21, 2015 at 1:07pm PST

The sights and sounds of Christmas have started!!! #candytown #yaletown #vancity #seasonsgreetings A video posted by @ailoreta on Nov 21, 2015 at 3:54pm PST

#easteuropeandessert #candytown #yaletown #sweets #food #fun

A photo posted by @once_upon_a_foodie on Nov 21, 2015 at 4:51pm PST

#candytown #mancakes Hits the spot A photo posted by : ) (@ah.re.lee) on Nov 21, 2015 at 6:10pm PST

Vancity Buzz is a proud media sponsor of CandyTown 2015