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Where to See the Best Christmas Lights in Vancouver

ByKerry

Are you visiting Vancouver at Christmas and want to go and see some of the best Christmas Lights in the city? Luckily for you, you have choices!

I’ve been living in Vancouver since 2021 and I am OBSESSED with all things Christmas, so seeing the lights are always at the top of my December to do list. In Vancouver you’ll find Christmas Lights in the popular Stanley Park, in botanical gardens, in multiple magical forests and more!

Back when I was living in Sydney, we would go to street Christmas Lights displays. There was this one street that we visited every single year because literally every house on the street was decked out in lights. But now that I live in Vancouver, I’ve become obsessed with the fact that you can visit lights displays in the forests here. There’s even one of them that is a fun snow shoe adventure with a hot chocolate or mulled wine at the end!

So in short, I now have quite the list of my favourite Christmas Lights displays in Vancouver. Read on to choose your favourite!

Girl wearing purple beanie at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park with lights behind her

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Man, women and puppy sitting in a sleigh at christmas at Vancouver's Canyon Lights in CApilano Suspension Bridge Park

Quick Tips for Finding the Best Christmas Lights in Vancouver

🛌 Top Hotels in Vancouver for Christmas:
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.5 rating
Exchange Hotel Vancouver⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.1 rating
Fairmont Pacific Rim⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.1 rating

🎄 My favourite Christmas Lights display: Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Other things to do in Vancouver at Christmas:
– The Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
– Vancouver Christmas Markets or Shipyards Christmas Markets (I prefer Shipyards because it’s less busy and free to enter!)

The Best Christmas Lights in Vancouver, BC

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

I’m putting this one first because it is my favourite place to see the Christmas Lights in Vancouver. Just don’t go on Christmas Eve!!! I repeat DO NOT go on Christmas Eve! We literally had to line up for 25 minutes just to get onto the bridge. I don’t know why I thought no one else would have the great idea to visit Capilano Suspension Bridge on Christmas Eve but I was very very wrong.

girl standing in middle of light tunnel at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
couple standing on bridge in the forest at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Girl walking on bridge during canyon lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Couple standing on Capilano Suspension Bridge

Canyon Lights at Capilano are (in my opinion) the best Christmas Lights in Vancouver because they mix nature with Christmas and isn’t that just the best combination ever?! You’ll wander the tree tops and forest floor surrounded by twinkling lights and feel like you have entered another world. I’ve visited so many times now and I still get excited when I enter and see all of the lights!

Capilano is also dog friendly, however be careful in December because they use the blue chemical to stop the ice which can burn your pups paws. If you visit Capilano in Winter with your dog, bring booties for them.

Do I need to book ahead?

Yes! I highly recommend booking Capilano ahead of time because December is the most popular month to visit and you need to choose your preferred entry timeslot.

VanDusen Festival of Lights

From the moment we first entered the Festival of Lights I knew that I was going to enjoy it. The gardens get completely decked out with fairy lights and you are surrounded by music that makes you feel like you’ve entered a Disney World. There are also some goofy characters throughout the gardens like snowmen and owls and places to grab a bite to eat or a hot chocolate.

If you are looking for some good photo ops with the fairy lights, VanDusen has you covered! My favourite spot was the giant ballball which you could walk into for a photo.

VanDusen Festival of Lights is located at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens, not too far from Queen Elizabeth Park and runs from November 28, to January 4. Tickets are a little more expensive than the normal botanical garden entry. Dogs are not allowed in the gardens.

Girl sitting in lit up snow globe surrounded by fairylights at the VAn Dusen Light Festival in Vancouver BC
Christmas tree with light reflection in water
Snowman at the Van Dusen Light festival in Vancouver

Do I need to book ahead?

You will need to purchase a ticket online ahead of time with your preferred date and time.

Bright Nights at Stanley Park

I’m ashamed to say that we have not been to Bright Nights yet but this year is the year! I’ve heard from lots of other people that it is a great night out… BUT WAIT I’ve actually just read that Bright Nights is moving to Surrey this year! So I guess we have missed out!

I’m sure the event at Surrey will still be wonderful but it seems like the classic Christmas event at Stanley Park is being replaced by Harry Potter’s Forbidden Forest this year. I’m not sure yet if this is a permanent change or just for the 2025 Christmas season.

The Peak of Christmas on Grouse Mountain

I love the Peak of Christmas, however, it is a little pricey. It’s a great event for kids because you can see Santa and his reindeer (although I do always feel pretty sorry for the reindeer), you can go ice skating on the skating pond and wander through the forest to see the lights.

You can also go tubing if you’re feeling up to it!

Your pup will have to stay at home for this one as they are not allowed up on Grouse Mountain.

The top of Grouse Mountain in Winter on a rainy day with snow

Do I need to book ahead?

YES! I recommend booking ahead here as tickets do sell out, especially the closer you get to Christmas. You are going to want to try to book on a day when it’s either clear skies or cold enough to be snowing. I took my parents there last year and it was raining quite a bit which was a shame.

Lights to the Lodge

Lights to the Lodge is a magical snowshoeing experience up on Cypress Mountain. In fact, it is (in my opinion), the best snowshoeing experience in Vancouver because you get to wander through a magical forest covered in thousands of twinkling fairy lights and end at the Hollyburn Lodge where you can warm up with a hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Much like Capilano, if you are wanting to see Christmas Lights and have an adventure at the same time, Lights to the Lodge is the right choice!

Make sure you dress warmly because it’s cold up there! I actually just wore my ski outfit and was nice and warm. Dogs are not allowed on this one.

Girl standing in the snow with snow shoes on with a backdrop of fairy lights on the lights to the ldoge trail on Cypress Mountain

Do I need to book ahead?

You will need to book ahead and if you don’t have your own snowshoes, you can add a pair of rentals to your ticket before you check out.

PNE Winter Fair

This one is still on my list but it sounds pretty fun (although not as fun as their Halloween Fright Nights)! At the PNE Winter Fair you can meet Santa, go ice skating or try one of the ice bumper cars or ride the PNE Holiday Express Train.

Dogs are not allowed at the PNE Winter Fair.

Do I need to book ahead?

I would book ahead for this one too unless you happen to be in the area and want to check it out.

Glow Langley

Okay so technically not in Vancouver but I’ve heard this one is a good one and I’m hoping to fit it in this year because it seriously sounds so magical! I have a feeling this event would be really great for kids (and big kids like me haha).

Some of the attractions at Glow are The Ice Palace and themed lands such as DinoLand, Motor City, Gingerbread Lane, Rainbow Forest, Teddy Town and more and fun activities for kids.

Dogs are not allowed at Glow Langley.

Do I need to book ahead?

Yes! You can buy tickets at the Glow Langley website and choose your preferred date and time. Certain times have a little discount so watch out for that!

frequently asked questions

Most of Vancouver’s Christmas Lights start in mid to late November and run until early January, but exact dates will vary by location.

Some of the best Christmas Lights in Vancouver can be found at Capilano Suspension Bridge’s Canyon Lights, VanDusen Festival of Lights, Grouse Mountain’s Peak of Christmas and Cypress Mountain’s Lights to the Lodge.

There sure are! Free Christmas Light displays in and around Vancouver include:

  • Lights at Lafarge – Coquitlam
  • Holiday Lights in Williams Park – Langley
  • Christmas at Canada Place

For popular events like Canyon Lights at Capilano and VanDusen’s Festival of Lights, it’s best to book in advance online as many nights in December sell out quickly, especially the closer you get to Christmas.

There are some dog-friendly Christmas Lights in Vancouver such as Capilano Suspension Bridge and Bright Nights at Stanley Park. Always check with the venue before bring your dog along.

Hand down Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park! You can get some amazing shots of the bridges there, especially the main bridge and the tree tops walk. You will feel like you have walked into a fantasy land. Another great spot for photos is Cypress Mountains Lights to the Lodge, also in a forest setting (can you tell a have a thing for twinkly lights in the forest haha).

Visiting Vancouver at Christmas? You might find the following guides helpful:

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Guide on the Best Christmas Lights in Vancouver
Guide on the Best Christmas Lights in Vancouver

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2 Comments

  1. What a fantastic list – all wonderful places to visit for their lights!

    I will add my recommendation especially for Lights to the Lodge. My friends and I did this walk for my birthday last year and it was magical! The trail was well laid out and fairly easy to complete on snowshoes. Also, it was also not too expensive to go. And, again, the lights were beautifully done and it was a truly enjoyable experience.

    If you get a chance, I also recommend checking out the lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam. It’s free to go and the city seems to up its game each year to an already impressive array of lights. They layout the lights in themes that change as you meander around the lake. Parking is a bit tight, however, so I recommend carpooling, or taking transit or other forms of transportation if you are able to do so.

    Either way, thank you for the thoughtful ideas for fantastic outings!

    1. Hi Susan!
      ooo yes I absolutely LOVE Lights to the Lodge! Thanks for the extra recommendations! Dave and I will definitely check out Lafarge Lake this year.
      Kerry

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