The 12 Days of Holidays on Vancouver’s North Shore
One way to Love it Like a Local on Vancouver’s North Shore is to embrace the Winter wonder that is everywhere during the Holiday season. The most magical month on the North Shore brings an array of holiday delights to warm your spirit. From cozy mug-worthy experiences and sparkling lights, to a myriad of ways to knock off that gift-list—and actually make it fun!
1. The Shipyards Christmas Market
The newest addition to the ever-growing family-favourite North Shore holiday traditions, the admission-free Shipyards Christmas Market brings a taste (plus the smells, sounds, and delightful sights!) of a European outdoor market to Lower Lonsdale from November 29 to December 24. Browse wooden stalls full of artisanal gifts, spin your way around the skating rink, and indulge in delectable seasonal treats!
2. Spirit of the Season Festival
The fabulous Shipyards are transformed into a winter wonderland once again on Saturday, November 30th, from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm. It’s a full, family-friendly evening of ice skating, a visit from the Clauses, live entertainment on stage and a whole lotta festive cheer to get you feeling good and merry for the holiday season.
3. Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Get dazzled by one of the world’s most spectacular holiday light displays at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, where the famous suspension bridge, the Capilano River below, and the surrounding rainforest, including the Treetops Adventure, sparkle with colour and twinkling lights from November 22 to January 29—and for a limited time from December 5 to 9, the shimmering Canyon Lights transform into a Taylor Swift-inspired wonderland that you aren’t going to want to miss.
4. Peak of Christmas on Grouse Mountain
Santa in his workshop, and real live reindeer make this annual family-friendly event around Blue Grouse Lake the closest you can get to the North Pole without a refrigerator car ride with Frosty. From November 22nd to December 24th, stroll through a breathtaking tunnel of lights and skate on a magnificent mountain-top skating pond to really bring the holidays home.
5. Lights to the Lodge on Cypress Mountain
A safe and easy one-kilometre snowshoe trek through Old Growth Forest, all magically lit, leads you to the historic Hollyburn Lodge, where a classic “apres-ski” menu is available to warm your tummies and toes. Keep an eye out on the Cypress Mountain website for opening dates.
6. Dundarave Festival of Lights
Experience the “Ultimate Canadian Christmas,” starting November 30th! This beloved West Vancouver holiday tradition is a seaside Christmas Fair highlighted by the “Forest of Miracles,” a collection of live, planted Christmas trees all trimmed up next to Dundarave Beach.
Photo courtesy of: @fionabyw
7. Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival
Throughout December, over 50,000 lights will bring North Vancouver’s 3-acre garden paradise to spectacular life with captivating new displays, hot chocolate, cookies and treats—plus perfect photo ops in a Christmas sleigh!
8. Shipyards Brewery District Boxing Day Crawl
Keep the party going the day after Christmas on a crawl through some of the North Shore’s finest breweries, all within walking distance in the Shipyards Brewing District. Tickets are on sale now and get $3 off your first drink at each participating brewery!
9. The Holiday Shop
The Polygon Gallery is excited to showcase its annual Holiday Shop until January 5th. Explore the charm of the gallery’s main floor, adorned and thoughtfully filled with distinctive gifts from independent makers and artists. Take part in weekly interactive activities, and embrace the festive spirit while supporting local businesses at The Polygon during this holiday season.
Photo courtesy of: The Polygon Gallery
10. Explore Edgemont Village
Whisk away to a little mountain resort town that sits at the bottom of Grouse Mountain, where in nearly 100 family-owned shops, you’ll find plenty of BC artisans at work, unique toys for the kids and other fascinating local specialties. And a good selection of coffee shops and restaurants serve up all the sustenance to keep you going for another round.
11. Go A-Wassailing at Holiday Singalong
Gather round with friends and family at the Presentation House Theatre for a rousing singalong of all your favourite holiday tunes. Local musicians Andy Toth and Patrick Ray provide the accompaniment; you provide the angelic voices! Song sheets are provided, so no rehearsal is needed. Come raise your voices, December 17th to 21st!
12. Hunt for Treasures at Holiday Markets
Finding that most unique gift for that most unique friend on your list just got a little easier, thanks to numerous Holiday Markets happening around The Shipyards this month. The Made in the 604 Pop-Up Market at The Pipe Shop features locals-only artists and artisans from December 6th – 8th. Also at the Pipe Shop, December 14th & 15th, the Shipyards Christmas Artisan Markets features unique gifts and treasures for your own home. Make it a Holiday-shopping getaway with an exclusive Sip, Shop & Stay hotel package and receive a $50.00 Quay Market & Food Hall gift card, plus a $25 food and beverage credit to a brewery of your choice. For food enthusiasts, the Sips & Bites hotel package offers a $75 credit toward a Sips & Bites tour for two, along with a souvenir bag to take home.
Photo courtesy of Made In The 604 Pop-Up Market
Discover more about these and other North Shore holiday activities at vancouversnorthshore.com.