Things to Do in Vancouver in December 2026

Last Updated on November 6, 2026 by Explore Vancouver

Looking for things to do in Vancouver in December? The month is the peak of the holiday season. Christmas markets, light shows, and mountain snow all overlap, and the city glows after an early sunset. Most of the big events open in late November and run through Christmas Eve or into January, so December is the month to catch them all.

This guide lists Vancouver events in December 2026 in date order, then adds free things to do, rainy day ideas, weather tips and cosy places to warm up. Dates come from event organizers and can change, so check each official page before you go. For more, see our festivals and events hub.

Here are the key December events in Vancouver at a glance:

Date	Event
Nov 16 to Dec 24	Vancouver Christmas Market
Nov 19 to Jan 2	Glow Langley
Nov 20 to Jan 10	Canyon Lights
Nov 20 to Dec 24	Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
Nov 25 to Jan 3	Festive Village at Burnaby Village Museum
Nov 27 to Dec 29	Noël Surrey with Bright Nights
Nov 27 to Jan 3	VanDusen Festival of Lights
Nov 27 to Dec 24	Shipyards Christmas Market
Nov 28 to Jan 8	Dundarave Festival of Lights
Dec 9 to 13	Vancouver Symphony Traditional Christmas
Dec 12	Handel's Messiah and Big Elf Run
Dec 17 to 20	Goh Ballet The Nutcracker
Dec 19 and 20	CP Holiday Train
Dec 25	Christmas Day (most attractions closed)
Dec 26	Boxing Day shopping

Visiting Vancouver in December: what to expect

Is December a good time to visit Vancouver? Yes, if you plan for rain and short days. Crowds are smaller than in summer, the mountains get their first real snow, and the holiday season fills the evenings with lights. Most Vancouver attractions stay open in December, but hours can change around Christmas Day, so check each official page before you go. The weather section further down covers what to wear.

• Early December (Dec 1 to 10): the light shows are in full swing, the Christmas markets are open daily, and the first holiday concerts begin.
• Mid December (Dec 11 to 20): the Nutcracker, Handel's Messiah, and the CP Holiday Train, plus the last full week of the Christmas markets.
• Late December (Dec 21 to 31): the markets close on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is quiet, Boxing Day brings the big sales, and the light shows carry on into the new year.

Vancouver Christmas Market (Nov 16 to Dec 24)

The Vancouver Christmas Market fills Jack Poole Plaza on the downtown waterfront from Nov 16 to Dec 24. Wooden chalets sell European food, mulled wine, ornaments, and crafts, with a three-storey Christmas pyramid at the centre. It is the classic Vancouver Christmas outing, and it closes on Christmas Eve, so plan your visit before Dec 24. Our Christmas markets roundup lists the other markets across Metro Vancouver.

Glow Langley (Nov 19 to Jan 2)

Glow Langley opens on Thursday, Nov 19 and runs to Jan 2 at 6690 216 Street in Langley. It is one of the largest indoor Christmas festivals in BC, with glowing tunnels, themed light displays, and festive gardens. It is a good option if you want a lights outing away from the busier downtown venues, and it works well on a rainy night since much of it is under cover. Check the official page for entry details and nightly hours.

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge (Nov 20 to Jan 10)

Canyon Lights opens on Friday, Nov 20 and runs to Jan 10 at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Hundreds of thousands of lights drape the suspension bridge, the canyon, and the Treetops Adventure. This year adds new WILDLIGHT 3D projections to the forest after dark. The park is closed on Christmas Day. Read our Capilano Suspension Bridge guide for tips on timing your visit and avoiding the busiest hours.

Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain (Nov 20 to Dec 24)

Grouse Mountain's seasonal celebration, Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain, opens on Friday, Nov 20 and runs to Dec 24. Expect skating on the mountaintop pond, sleigh rides, a light walk around Blue Grouse Lake, and holiday meet-and-greets. Mountain weather is colder and wetter than the city, so bring extra layers and waterproof shoes. See our Grouse Mountain guide for how to get up the mountain.

Festive Village at Burnaby Village Museum (Nov 25 to Jan 3)

Festive Village opens on Wednesday, Nov 25 at Burnaby Village Museum and runs to Jan 3. The heritage village glows with Christmas lights, a light tunnel, and a carousel, and gate admission is free. It runs from 2 to 9 pm, Wednesday to Sunday until Dec 13, then daily from Dec 16. The heritage setting makes it feel different from the big-city light shows. Start with our Burnaby Village Museum guide and see our best Christmas lights roundup for more ideas.

Noël Surrey with Bright Nights (Nov 27 to Dec 29)

Noël Surrey with Bright Nights opens on Friday, Nov 27 at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds and runs to Dec 29. Bright Nights, the long-running Christmas lights event, moved here from Stanley Park in 2026, and the fairgrounds host a holiday market alongside the lights. It is closed Nov 30, Dec 7, 24, and 25. It is a good pick for a Surrey-side holiday evening. Check the official page for ticket and entry details, and see our Surrey guide for more to do nearby.

VanDusen Festival of Lights (Nov 27 to Jan 3)

The VanDusen Festival of Lights opens on Friday, Nov 27 and runs to Jan 3, from 4 to 10 pm with last entry at 9 pm. More than a million lights fill the botanical garden's themed displays, and it is closed on Christmas Day. Tickets for popular evenings sell out, so book ahead. Our VanDusen Festival of Lights guide has planning tips.

Shipyards Christmas Market (Nov 27 to Dec 24)

The Shipyards Christmas Market runs from Nov 27 to Dec 24 at Shipbuilders' Square, 125 Victory Ship Way, in North Vancouver. Entry is free, with more than 90 wooden chalets on the waterfront, a free outdoor skating rink from noon to 8 pm, and free photos with Santa. Take the SeaBus from downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay and walk over. Our Christmas markets roundup covers the other markets in the region.

Lights at Lafarge (Nov 27 to Feb 2027)

Lights at Lafarge returns to Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam from Nov 27 into February 2027. It is one of the region's longest-running outdoor light displays, and it is free to visit. The lake loop makes an easy evening walk, and it pairs well with the Coquitlam Christmas Night Market at the lake on select dates. See our best Christmas lights roundup for the full list.

Dundarave Festival of Lights (Nov 28 to Jan 8)

The Dundarave Festival of Lights runs from Nov 28 to Jan 8 at Dundarave Beach in West Vancouver. Local community groups decorate the trees along the beach in the Forest of Miracles, and the whole display is free. It is a quieter, local-feeling alternative to the big ticketed light shows, with the ocean and the mountains as a backdrop.

Astra Lumina at Stanley Park (to Dec 31)

Astra Lumina runs at the Stanley Park Railway site through December and closes on Dec 31. It is a ticketed after-dark light experience, so book ahead and check the official page for times. Wrap up warm, since the walk is outdoors and December nights are damp and cool. Pair it with a daytime visit to Stanley Park for the seawall and forest trails.

Christmas at FlyOver (Nov 19 to Dec 31)

Christmas at FlyOver runs from Nov 19 to Dec 31 at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. The flying theatre ride gets a holiday theme, and it is a good indoor option on a wet December day. Check the official page for showtimes and tickets, and pair it with a walk along the Canada Place waterfront.

LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil (Nov 4 to mid-December)

LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil opened on Wednesday, Nov 4 at the Big Top at Concord Pacific Place and runs to mid-December. It is the first Cirque du Soleil show built around rain, which suits a Vancouver December. Tickets are required and popular dates fill up, so book early.

Elf: The Musical (Nov 12 to Dec 27)

Elf: The Musical runs from Nov 12 to Dec 27 at the Stanley Theatre as part of the Arts Club holiday season. It is a lighthearted family show and a good pick for an evening out with kids. Check the Arts Club page for showtimes and tickets.

Vancouver Symphony Traditional Christmas (Dec 9 to 13)

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs its annual Traditional Christmas series from Dec 9 to 13, with carols and Christmas music at venues across the Lower Mainland. The Vancouver performances are at the Orpheum on Sunday, Dec 13, at 4 pm and 7:30 pm. Check the VSO page for tickets and the full schedule.

Handel’s Messiah and Big Elf Run (Sat Dec 12)

Saturday, Dec 12 has two very different December events. The Vancouver Bach Choir sings Handel's Messiah at the Orpheum at 7:30 pm, a Vancouver holiday tradition. Earlier in the day, the Big Elf Run takes over Stanley Park Pavilion with a festive costumed race through the park. Both are worth booking ahead.

Goh Ballet The Nutcracker (Dec 17 to 20)

Goh Ballet's The Nutcracker runs from Dec 17 to 20 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, with five performances. It is Vancouver's traditional Nutcracker production and one of the most popular holiday shows in the city, so book early if you want good seats.

Langley Christmas Village (Nov 26 to Dec 24)

Langley Christmas Village is new for 2026, running from Nov 26 to Dec 24 at 20340 Fraser Highway in downtown Langley. The European-style Christmas market brings wooden chalets, food, and holiday shopping to the Fraser Valley. It pairs well with Glow Langley, which is a short drive away.

CP Holiday Train (Dec 19 and 20)

The CP Holiday Train rolls through Metro Vancouver on Dec 19 and 20 with free outdoor concerts and a train lit up in holiday lights. The Metro Vancouver stops are Maple Ridge on Dec 19 from 8 to 8:30 pm, Pitt Meadows on Dec 19 from 8 to 8:30 pm, Port Moody on Dec 20 from 5:15 to 5:45 pm, and Port Coquitlam on Dec 20 from 6:45 to 7:15 pm. Admission is free, and visitors are asked to bring donations for local food banks.

Christmas craft fairs in December

December is the last chance for handmade gifts. Our Christmas craft fairs roundup lists 47 fairs across the region, and these run in December: the Toque Craft Fair from Dec 4 to 6 at Western Front, the Tsleil-Waututh Christmas Craft Fair on Dec 5 and 6, the stɑlə̓w̓ Craft Fair on Dec 5 at the Museum of Surrey, the Made in the 604 Winter Pop-Up at Heritage Hall on Dec 5 and 6, Make It Vancouver from Dec 10 to 13 at the PNE Forum, and the Coquitlam Christmas Craft Fair from Dec 4 to 6. The Made in the 604 Lonsdale Quay market runs on select dates to Dec 23.

Robson Square Ice Rink (reopening planned Dec 2026)

The Robson Square Ice Rink is expected to reopen in December 2026, with final dates and hours still to come. It is downtown's free outdoor rink at 800 Robson Street, with skate rentals on site. Check the City of Vancouver page for the opening date before you go.

Canada Place Lights to the Sky (December)

Canada Place Lights to the Sky is a free outdoor light show on the white sails at Canada Place in December. It is an easy add-on to a downtown evening, especially if you are already at the Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza next door. Check the Canada Place page for the current schedule.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day in Vancouver (Dec 25 and 26)

Christmas Day is the quietest day of the month. Most attractions are closed, including Canyon Lights and the VanDusen Festival of Lights, and the Christmas markets all end on Christmas Eve. A few hotel restaurants stay open with holiday menus, so book early if you want to eat out. Boxing Day, Dec 26, is the big shopping day, with Pacific Centre, Metrotown, and Park Royal opening early. The light shows reopen after Christmas Day and run into January.

Free things to do in Vancouver, BC in December

You do not need a ticket to enjoy the month. These options cost nothing, or close to it:

• Walk the free light displays: Dundarave Festival of Lights, Lights at Lafarge, and the Canada Place sails.
• Visit Festive Village at Burnaby Village Museum, where gate admission is free.
• Skate for free at the Shipyards Christmas Market rink with your own skates.
• Catch the CP Holiday Train concerts on Dec 19 and 20, free with a food bank donation.
• Walk the Stanley Park seawall on a dry day.
• Start planning your lights season with our Christmas lights guide.

What to do in Vancouver in December when it rains

Rain is common in December, so keep a few indoor attractions in Vancouver in your back pocket. Museums, galleries, covered markets, and theatres all work well, and many of the events above are indoors, including Glow Langley, LUZIA, and the holiday shows. Our rainy day activities guide has ideas organized by city, and our best museums guide covers the Museum of Anthropology and more.

Vancouver weather in December and what to pack

Vancouver, BC weather in December is cool and damp. Daytime highs in Vancouver, Canada are usually around 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, nights are cooler, and rain is frequent. Sunset arrives before 4:30 pm all month, which is good news for light shows but means short daylight for hikes. Pack a waterproof jacket, warm layers, waterproof shoes, and an umbrella. If you plan to head up Grouse Mountain, bring extra layers for the colder summit, and check the mountain conditions before you go.

Cafes and comfort food

December is cafe season. Warm up with a coffee on Granville Island after the market, or travel for a bookstore cafe like Wendel's Bookstore Cafe in Fort Langley or a waterfront stop at Tell Your Friends Cafe on Bowen Island. Many events above also sell hot drinks and snacks on site, including the Christmas markets and the light shows.

Frequently asked questions