20 fantastic things to do in Vancouver this week: Dec. 22 to 28
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Vancouver!
But just because the big day is here doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Here are 20 great things to do around the city from Dec. 22 to 28. Contact Winter Music Festival, a history and hot chocolate tour, and more.
Be sure to view our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town.
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Skate Plaza at The Shipyards
City of North Vancouver
What: The City of North Vancouver’s free Shipyards Skate Plaza is welcoming skaters of all ages to glide on the approximately 12,000 sq ft surface daily from 12 to 8 p.m. Fun can be had no matter the weather – the Shipyards Skate Plaza is covered by a retractable roof.
When: Now until end of season
Time: Noon to 8 p.m.
Where: The Shipyards Commons, North Vancouver
Admission: Free. Skate rentals are available for $7 for adults and $5 for children (quantities are limited)
VanDusen Festival of Lights
What: Get ready for a walk in a winter wonderland, because one of Vancouver’s largest holiday light displays is officially returning for the season.
VanDusen Festival of Lights will delight visitors at the botanical garden until Jan. 4, 2026
Discover over one million lights across 15 acres, with new displays and returning favourites for all ages.
When: Now until Jan. 4, 2026 (closed on Christmas Day)
Time: 4 to 10 p.m. (last entry time 8:30 to 9 p.m.)
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak St., Vancouver
Admission: $12-$29, free for children four years and under (must reserve a ticket). Purchase online
Vancouver Canucks vs San Jose Sharks
What: The Canucks are back this week at Rogers Arena to take on the San Jose Sharks on Friday, Dec. 27.
When: Friday, Dec. 27, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Cost: Various; purchase online
Contact Winter Music Festival
Contact Winter Music Festival
What: Contact Winter Music Festival is returning to Vancouver, and some massive stars are coming for the party.
Canada’s largest indoor winter music festival is taking over the Pacific Coliseum on Friday, Dec. 26 and Saturday, Dec. 27.
This year’s headliners include Grammy Award-nominated duo Slander and DJ of the Year winner Eric Prydz.
When: Friday, Dec. 26 and Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025
Where: Pacific Coliseum — 100 N. Renfrew St., Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
Riley Park Winter Farmers’ Market
What: Visitors will find over 85 farms and producers and a selection of food and coffee trucks. Shop for fruits and veggies, eggs and dairy, meat, prepared food, craft beverages, craft items, and more.
When: Every Saturday until March 28, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 50 E 30th Ave. and Ontario Street, Vancouver
The Christmas Store at Potters
What: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially at a massive holiday-themed paradise that has opened its doors in Metro Vancouver.
The Christmas Store at Potters is back for its 21st year of delighting shoppers with a huge array of décor items, stocking stuffers, and one-of-a-kind gifts.
Every year, the garden centre transforms its 28,000-square-foot space into a yuletide wonderland. And it’s less than an hour’s drive from Vancouver.
When: Now until Dec. 24, 2025
Where: 19158 48th Ave., Surrey
Admission: Free
Petunia and the Vipers
What: Vancouver’s own Petunia and The Vipers are throwing a huge party at The Rio Theatre, and you’re invited. Get ready to party at the “hillbilly-flavoured-swing inflected-ragtime-goodtime-thunderously rolling-one-of-a-kind-you-don’t-want-to-miss-this-sort-of-a-show” featuring special guest Spank Williams.
When: Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025
Time: 9 p.m.
Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver
Tickets: $20 early bird plus fees, $25 plus fees online, $30 plus fees at the door. Purchase online
Gingerbread Lane at Hyatt Regency Vancouver
What: A huge gingerbread display is back for its 33rd year in Vancouver as the Hyatt Regency once again plays host to the popular festive tradition.
When: Now until Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025
Time: Regular hotel hours
Where: Hyatt Regency Vancouver — 655 Burrard St., Vancouver
Admission: Free
Forbidden Vancouver’s Holiday History and Hot Chocolate Tour
elena moiseeva/Shutterstock
What: Get festive and forbidden this season with the Holiday History and Hot Chocolate Tour. Acclaimed guided walking tours company Forbidden Vancouver invites you to step inside downtown’s iconic buildings and discover stories of intrigue, jealousy and murder.
Guests will also enjoy beautiful holiday displays in some of Vancouver’s finest hotel lobbies, get a private viewing inside the Marine Building, and stay warm with a delicious hot chocolate at the award-winning Mink Chocolates.
When: Daily until Saturday, Jan. 10, 2025 (no tour on Christmas and New Year’s Day)
Time: Various start times
Where: Starts at the corner of Robson Street and Granville Street
Cost: $44.90-$49. Purchase online
Vancouver Christmas Market 2025
What: The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner, and the city’s largest and longest-running Christmas Market has announced its return this holiday season.
Vancouver Christmas Market is transforming Jack Poole Plaza into a huge German-style holiday event until Wednesday, Dec. 24.
A popular holiday tradition for locals and visitors alike, the market features over 35 food and drink vendors, as well as more than 75 artisans and makers. There are also plenty of festive activities, live entertainment and new experiences to enjoy.
When: Now until Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025
Time: Various time slots
Where: Jack Poole Plaza – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
Robson Square Ice Rink
What: Located under the covered outdoor plaza at Robson Square, the rink operates seasonally when temperatures begin to dip. Over 100,000 skaters are expected to visit each year.
Skating is free for all ages. Those without skates can rent them on-site for a fee, and helmets are mandatory for anyone under the age of 12.
When: Open daily until Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (holiday hours apply on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day)
Where: Robson Square — 800 Robson St., Vancouver; beneath Robson Street and Howe Street
Cost: Free for all ages if you bring your skates. Skate rentals are also available for a fee.
Lights at Lafarge
Tourism Coquitlam
What: Lights at Lafarge, Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display, is back again for another holiday season.
The annual tradition will illuminate Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam throughout the season, with over 100,000 twinkling lights to enjoy until the end of February. Guests of all ages can explore the outdoor display that wraps its way entirely around the lake, leading them on a 1.2 km loop through themed zones.
When: Now until February 2026
Time: Nightly from 4 to 11 p.m.
Where: Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Cost: Free
TheatreSports at The Improv Centre
What: Two teams of hilarious improvisers create sketches and scenes inspired by audiences’ suggestions at the Improv Centre. Cheer on your favourite comedians to victory and you may even be selected to be one of the judges for the night.
When: Every Friday and Saturday
Time: 9:30 p.m. until Dec. 27, then at 7:30 p.m. starting on Jan 2.
Where: The Improv Centre – 1502 Duranleau St., Vancouver
Cost: Various, purchase Online
Vancouver Giants vs Kamloops Blazers
What: The Vancouver Giants continue their latest WHL season with a game against the Kamloops Blazers at Langley Events Centre on Sunday, Dec. 28.
When: Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025
Time: 4 p.m.
Where: Langley Events Centre – 7888 200th St., Langley
Cost: Various; purchase online
Surrey Civic Plaza Ice Rink
City of Surrey
What: This is the first-ever activation of the public plaza in Surrey City Centre with an outdoor ice rink, and the City of Surrey is aiming to potentially turn this into a new annual civic tradition.
The ice rink spans an area of 4,000 sq. ft., with 5,000 gallons of water used to create the slick surface. Moreover, it is fully covered under a large tent, protecting it from inclement weather.
When: Open daily until Monday, Feb. 16, 2026
Time: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (holiday hours of 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. apply on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day)
Where: Surrey Civic Plaza — 13450 104th Ave., Surrey
Cost: Free for all ages. Skate rentals are also available for a fee.
Noel Surrey and Bright Nights
What: Noel Surrey will feature massive displays, stunning LED forests, and photo opportunities, along with 300 ft. of light tunnels.
Take a stroll around the pond at Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre to enjoy the accessible Bright Nights light display, produced through thousands of volunteer hours by over 800 firefighters.
Bright Nights has roots in Surrey and is the single largest fundraiser each year for the Burn Fund, which provides life-saving, life-supporting, and life-enriching services to people in B.C.
When: Now until Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025
Time: Various time slots
Where: Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Surrey
Admission: $17 to $22 from Monday to Thursday, $19 to $25 from Friday to Sunday, and free for children six and under. Purchase online
St. Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope
What: The holidays in Vancouver just wouldn’t be as bright without the Lights of Hope.
St. Paul’s Foundation’s massive light display outside of St. Paul’s Hospital has been an annual Christmastime tradition and fundraising campaign since 1998.
More than 100,000 lights and hundreds of shining stars recognize the support of generous donors this year.
When: Lights will be on display until early January
Time: Nightly throughout the holiday season
Where: St. Paul’s Hospital – 1081 Burrard St., Vancouver
Admission: Free; donations can be made online
Miracle at Old Yale Brewing
Old Yale Brewing
What: Old Yale Brewing is celebrating the festive season with over a dozen themed cocktails, including the Koala La La La, Rudolph’s Replacement, and Candy Cane Lane.
When: Now until Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025
Where: Old Yale Abbotsford — 33738 Laurel St.; 404-44550 South Sumas Rd., Chilliwack
Christmas classics at Hollywood Theatre
What: With winter in full swing, it’s a great time to head inside and watch a great movie.
Hollywood Theatre is here to help with a double feature of The Nightmare Before Christmas and Gremlins on Monday, Dec. 22, and Miracle on 34th Street and The Muppet Christmas Carol on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Get seats to one or all films and feel the spirit of the season!
When: Dec. 22 and 23, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Hollywood Theatre – 3123 West Broadway, Vancouver
Cost: Various prices. Purchase online
B.C. northern lights tours
What: Whisk away on a premium all-inclusive northern lights tour from Vancouver. Experience an extraordinary winter escape in British Columbia’s remote Rockies, witness dazzling Aurora displays, soak in natural hot springs, and savour gourmet meals at a cozy lakeside lodge.
Choose from New Year’s Eve, Lunar New Year, or March Aurora departures for an unforgettable blend of wilderness luxury and northern magic.
When: Dec. 28, 2025 to Jan. 1, 2026 (NYE), Feb. 18 to 22, 2026 (Lunar NY), March 18 to 22, 2026 (Equinox)
Where: Pitt Meadows and Northern B.C.
Tickets: $4,700, purchase online