Start the New Year with Winter Fun in Vancouver
byThe rush of the holidays is slowing, the temperature is dropping, and a new year will soon begin. However, just because Santa has come and gone doesn’t mean the festive amusement need to stop! There’s still plenty of winter fun in Vancouver to be had, with many lovely attractions remaining open into 2020.
Winter fun in Vancouver
New Year’s Eve
For a family-friendly New Year’s Eve experience in Vancouver, visit the Robson Square ice rink for free skating, 9:00am to 11:00pm with live entertainment between 6:00pm and 9:00pm. The rink is also open on New Year’s Day from 9:00am to 9:00pm.
Polar Bear Swim
Join the 100th annual Polar Bear Swim at English Bay on New Year’s Day! The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. It’s initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year’s Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers to over 2,500 each year.
Ice Skating
Whether its at Robson Square in the heart of Downtown or at the outdoor skating pond at Aurora Winter Festival (until December 31st) you can bundle up and glide around and enjoy one of the most fun winter activities around. New this year is the skating rink at Lights by the Lake winter festival in Harrison Hot Springs, admission is free and it runs until February, 2020.
Light Displays
Festivale Tropicale at the Bloedel Conservatory runs until January 5, 2020. No matter the weather outside, it’s warm under the dome! Experience 150 free flying exotic birds, magical lights, colourful plant displays, festive music, a scavenger hunt, and much more.
More indoor fun can be found at Glow Gardens, with live entertainment and illuminated sculptures and plenty of photo ops until January 5, 2020.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park is on until the end of 2019, and open on January 1, 2020, and enjoy the Aurora Winter Festival at the PNE grounds — with a giant tube park, six amusement rides, games, entertainment and food trucks — is open until December 31st.
Lights of Hope at St Paul’s Hospital are glowing until January 6th and Christmas at Canada Place lights up the harbour until January 1st.
On the North Shore, Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is glittering and glowing until January 26, 2020 and Grouse Mountain’s light walk, snowshoeing, mountaintop skating, terrain parks and more are open for the entire season.
Stay a While
Stay Vancouver Hotels is running a #VeryMerryVancouver promotion right now. Check in to one of 38 participating downtown Vancouver hotels (ranging from budget to luxury) and get a Visa Prepaid Card valued between $50-$125 for your first night’s stay. Plus, each additional night comes with another $50 Visa Prepaid Card, no matter how long you stay. You can also enter to win prizes from some of the beautiful attractions mentioned in this guide!
More Holiday Fun in Vancouver
For more information, things to do, and inspiration, visit Tourism Vancouver’s online holiday guide here and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter #VeryVancouver.
