Welcome to The Cit List by The Cit Vancouver, where we’ll be compiling some of the top events to check out in Vancouver each week. For a complete list of events, check out the Vancity Buzz calendar here.
Free Christmas Movies at The Vogue
- What: Watch Christmas classics at The Vogue for free when you donate a non-perishable food item to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (or make a cash donation).
- Where: Vogue Theatre
- When: December 16 (Love Actually), December 17 (Polar Express) & December 18 (Elf). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Movie starts at 7 p.m.
Goh Ballet – The Nutcracker
- What: A traditional rendition of a classical masterpiece.
- Where: The Centre in Vancouver
- When: December 18 to December 22
13th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
- What: Party with your ugliest, loudest, jingle-bell-est sweater on! Proceeds will support The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.
- Where: Commodore Ballroom
- When: Friday, December 19 at 8 p.m.
Blim Holiday Market
- What: Indie holiday market. Admission by donation.
- Where: The Fox Cinema
- When: Saturday, December 20 from noon to 5 p.m.
Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
- What: Festival illuminating the longest night of the year w/ lanterns + singing + dancing + more!
- Where: Yaletown, Strathcona, Chinatown, Eastside & Granville Island
- When: Sunday, December 21 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Holidays at the Vancouver Aquarium
- What: Scuba Claus + electric eel-powered Christmas tree + crafts + story time + 4-D film adventure of the Polar Express + more!
- Where: Vancouver Aquarium
- When: On now until January 4
12 Bars of Christmas Pub Crawl Series
- What: 4 nights of holiday pub crawl fun with 3 stops per night
- Where: Various bars in downtown Vancouver
- When: On until December 28
VanDusen Festival of Lights
- What: 1.4 million twinkling lights + Santa + Scandinavian Christmas Elves + community choir concerts
- Where: VanDusen Botanical Gardens
- When: December 10 to January 4
Karaoke Christmas Lights Vancouver Trolley Tour
- What: A three hour trolley ride through Vancouver with Christmas karaoke + stops at Stanley Park’s Bright Nights and VanDusen Garden’s Festival of Lights
- Where: Pick-up is at Canada Place at 6:30 p.m. daily
- When: On until December 30
Christmas at Canada Place
- What: Historic Woodward’s Windows + Rudolph’s Theatre + Christmas Crafts + Avenue of Christmas Trees
- Where: Canada Place
- When: On until December 31
Winter Farmers Market at Nat Bailey Stadium
- What: Shop locally grown produce and enjoy hot food trucks, live music, and more
- Where: Nat Bailey Stadium
- When: Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Vancouver Festival of Trees
- What: View spectacularly decorated trees and vote for your favourite in support of BC Children’s Hospital
- Where: Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver & Pacific Centre Mall
- When: Open daily to the public until 11 p.m. from now until January 4
Vancouver Christmas Market
- What: Authentic outdoor German Christmas village and market.
- Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza
- When: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. until December 24
Bright Nights in Stanley Park
- What: Ride the Stanley Park train to view 3 million twinkling lights, see breathtaking displays, and enjoy live performers in support of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund
- Where: Stanley Park
- When: Now until January 4
Peak of Christmas
- What: Sleigh rides, outdoor ice skating, real reindeer, a gingerbread village, and more all atop the Peak of Vancouver!
- Where: Grouse Mountain
- When: Now until December 24
Canyon Lights
- What: 250,000 sparkling lights + the world’s largest living Christmas tree + music + Winter Pavilion
- Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge
- When: Now until January 3
Dundarave Festival of Lights
- What: Walk through the magical Christmas tree forest at Dundarave Park lit every day at 4:30 p.m. Enjoy concerts and other activities on Saturdays from noon to dusk.
- Where: Dundarave Park in West Vancouver
- When: Now until January 3
Robson Square Skating
- What: Saunter the open-air rink on skates. FREE if you bring your own skates!
- Where: Robson Square
- When: On until to February 28
Gingerbread Lane
- What: 30+ unique gingerbread house displays including an 11 foot gingerbread house, supporting Make a Wish Foundation
- Where: Hyatt Vancouver
- When: On until January 1
Carol Ships Parade of Lights
- What: 50+ decorated boats with more than 100,000 Christmas lights sail around Vancouver
- Where: Around Vancouver
- When: Visit their website for the full list of sailing locations this week
Shipyards Christmas Market North Vancouver
- What: Shop over 50 local artisans and enjoy an outdoor light display, hot food trucks, and live music
- Where: The Shipyards, Wallace Mews Road (at the foot of Lonsdale Ave)
- When: Fridays 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays noon to 8 p.m., Sundays noon to 6 p.m. until Christmas
Holiday Hi-Light Festival
- What: See the Park & Tilford Gardens illuminate with over 50,000 Christmas lights and enjoy a visit with Santa, hot chocolate and cookies, face painting, and roaming characters. Entry is by donation to the North Vancouver District Fire Fighters Charitable Society.
- Where: Park & Tilford in North Vancouver
- When: The gardens light up every day at 4:30 p.m.. Family night is December 19 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Looking for more events? Visit the Vancity Buzz Events Calendar!