Winter is a magical time to be in Vancouver, as attractions across the city host a slew of festive-themed events.
The German-themed Vancouver Christmas Market, at Jack Poole Plaza in Canada Place, brings a festive Old-World tradition to the city between November 13 and December 24.
You can stroll the pathways of a European-inspired Christmas village that has 80 artisan huts offering handcrafted gifts and local delicacies. There is also live entertainment, a Christmas carousel and a scavenger hunt for the kids.
Vancouver’s simulated flight attraction, Flyover, has a special showing (November 20 (December 31) that takes “riders” to the North Pole, as elves accompany them throughout the journey.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience comes to Stanley Park from November 7, 2025, to February 1, 2026. The immersive outdoor event features an illuminated forest trail with magical creatures, interactive spellcasting, and a Hogsmeade-inspired village with themed food and merchandise. A bushland hiking trail, there are steep sections towards the beginning and end of the trail which can make it difficult for wheelchair access.
Open year-round but especially magical in the winter is VanDusen Botanical Garden. Their Festival of Lights (November 28, 2025, to January 4, 2026) is a winter wonderland experience featuring more than one million lights decorating 15 acres of the gardens including a winter garden featuring themed areas, food outlets, light features and holiday music.
During the holiday season, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park hosts a Canyon lights event, which is one of the top light displays in Canada. There are multi-colour changing displays on the bridge that crosses the illuminated Capilano River. The light show runs from November 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Grouse Mountain runs a “Peak of Christmas” event featuring an 8,000 square foot mountaintop Ice Skating Pond, Theatre in the Sky Christmas movie screenings and hot chocolate, Christmas lights, snowshoeing and skiing (November 23 to December 24, 2025).
