It’s tough to save money during the holidays while going to gatherings of friends and family, hosting dinners, and exchanging gifts. However, I know of several activities that will get you in the holiday spirit without sliding you into debt. Here are my top picks for FREE Christmas activities in Metro Vancouver over the next month:
Free Christmas Activities in Metro Vancouver
14. Langley Rivermen BCHL hockey presents RIVMAS, free admission to hockey games and $5 vouchers handed out to fans. December 18-20, 2015.
13. Burnaby Lake Park Holiday Open House
December 6, 2015. Guided walks, history, crafts.
12. Festival of Trees at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver & CF Pacific Centre
Until January 5, 2016. The 29th annual Festival of Trees are on display supporting BC Children’s Hospital.
11. New Westminster Santa Claus Parade
December 5, 2015 along Columbia St
Activities at the Anvil Centre, River Market, Fraser River Discovery Centre.
10. Lantern Festival and Parade in Port Coquitlam
December 5, 2015 at Leigh Square Community Arts Village.
9. Rogers Santa Claus Parade Vancouver
December 6, 2015 on Georgia and along Howe
More family fun at the Coast Capital Savings Christmas Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza and the Robson Square ice rink.
8. Big Rigs for Kids Lighted Truck Parade in Surrey
December 6, 2015 at Surrey City Hall Plaza (and University Blvd)
Before the parade there will be live music and face painting at the plaza.
7. Christmas in Steveston Village
Santa arrives off the boat on Steveston Public Wharf December 6, 2015 at 1:00pm. Free Santa hats, a classic Christmas car display, mascots, carolers, Cannery Farmers’ Market and more.
6. Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas
Until January 1, 2016. Free gate admission includes light displays, entertainment, crafts, and more. Carousel rides are $2.55.
5. St Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope
On now and throughout December. It’s the most impressive light display in Downtown Vancouver, and for a great cause. Stop by and make this part of your holiday activity plans.
4. Christmas at Canada Place
Beginning December 12th, free outdoor displays, lights, the legendary Woodward’s Windows, 15-foot snow globe, and more.
3. CP Holiday Train
After crossing the country from Montreal and visiting 150 communities, the CP Holiday Train will finish its journey in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows (December 18th), ending in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody (December 19th). View the light displays and enjoy a free concert.
2. Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
Free when you bring your own skates. Rentals are available for $4.00. Open December 1st until February, 2015 and on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
1. Lumiere Festival Vancouver
December 11th and 12th, 2015. In addition to dozens of dazzling lighting installations, there will be a free trolley service, free horse-drawn carriages, and free entertainment throughout the West End’s commercial streets. Miss604 is the proud Social Media Sponsor of Lumiere Festival Vancouver.
Honourable Mention: Buy One/Get One
When you purchase tickets to the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden (open December 1st to 31st) you get free admission to Enchanted Nights at Bloedel (which runs December 4th to January 3rd).
If you have any other events to add, send them in via my contact form and I’ll include them (free or not) on the December event list. Thank you!
** Please note that there may be costs associated with extra activities at these events and attractions, such as food/snacks, admission to other attractions or sites, etc. This post covers information available at the time of publishing and any posted signage or fees at these activities should be observed.
This Christmas, add even more magic and wonder to your holiday activity lineup by checking out Enchanted Nights at Bloedel.
The Bloedel Conservatory, celebrating 46 years on December 6th, is one of Vancouver’s most spectacular hidden gems. As Canada’s largest single-structure conservatory, you’ve probably spotted its geodesic-style roof at QE Park and if you’ve ventured inside you would have discovered its exotic birds, plants, and tropical paradise all encapsulated within its unique structure.
Enchanted Nights at Bloedel
Walk through a miniature world of artisan fairy and sprite villages with magical lights, holiday music, and live entertainment set amongst the dome’s tropical plants and exotic birds.
The fun continues outside on the Queen Elizabeth Park plaza. Grab a treat, take a pony ride, and snap a selfie at the highest viewpoint in the city. Make a full date night of it and reserve a table for dinner at Seasons in the Park.
The miniature fairy world has been brought to life by the collective artistries of: Benjamin Kikkert of New-Small & Sterling Studio Glass; Melissa Hume of Dirty Clay Studios; Christopher Moreno of 365 Productions; The Enchanted Forest Collective; Corey Cote.
- Where: Queen Elizabeth Park (4600 Cambie St, Vancouver)
- When: December 4 to 24, 2015 from 4:00pm to 9:00pm
December 25, 2015 Closed; December 26 to January 3, 2016 from 4:00pm to 9:00pm
- Admission: Buy in person or online in advance
When you buy tickets to the Festival of Lights at VanDusen, you get free entry to Enchanted Nights at Bloedel.
Vancouver’s harbinger of all seasons, VanDusen Botanical Garden, is a delight to visit for the new blossoms in the spring, full foliage in summer, and the bright bursts of colour in the fall. When winter approaches, the garden is adorned with over one million sparkling bulbs during the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden.
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Garden
This family-friendly festival features both indoor and outdoor activities and attractions, plenty of photo opportunities, holiday treats, and much more.
- Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden
5251 Oak St (37th and Oak) in Vancouver
- When: December 1 – 17, 2015; December 24, 26 – 31, 2015: 4:30 to 9:00pm
Open late December 18 – 23, 2015: 4:30 to 10:00pm
- Admission: Buy in person or online in advance
Activities range from photos with Santa, the Dancing Lights show on Livingstone Lake, Jardins de Paris, Scandinavian gnome performances, VPL Tales from a Winter’s Night, Make-A-Wish candle grotto, toy train, sound house, and choirs performing certain nights.
Since there’s so much to see and do, you’ll probably need some holiday treats and warm beverages. Dining and snack options include Truffles Café, Truffles Pop-up Café, Shaughnessy Restaurant, Santa’s Kitchen, Ms. Klaus’s Kettle Corn Kiosk, Rudolph on the Roof, Cin City Donuts, and Whistler Wood Fired Pizza.
Follow VanDusen Botanical Garden on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
New! All Festival of Lights tickets include free entry to Enchanted Nights at Bloedel Conservatory.
Extended Days/Hours
VanDusen is extending the Festival of Lights for a few weekends in January. It will be open January 8-10 and January 15-17, 2016.
I’m pretty sure that the Dirty Dancing soundtrack was also the soundtrack for my rugby team back in high school. On our way to tournaments and away games the tape would hit the van’s deck and we’d get pumped by singing along to “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”
It was an odd combination but it did take us to two provincial championships so it must have had a great effect on us.
Dirty Dancing is coming to the big stage in Vancouver and if you have memories of its scenes and music being a part of your life like I do, you’ll want to hop on this pre-sale that’s opening up on Friday.
Pre-Sale Code for Dirty Dancing in Vancouver
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing.
When: January 12 – 17, 2016
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Don’t miss your chance to see this record-breaking live theatre sensation. You will have the time of your life!
Pre-Sale Code & Link
This pre-sale link will be ONLY available November 27 at 10:00am until November 29, 2015 and the code to use is MOVIE.
Tickets
Individual tickets for the Vancouver premiere of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage will go on sale Monday, November 30 at 10am. Tickets are available at 1-855-985-5000 or through Ticketmaster online. Groups of 10 or more can call 1-800-889-8457. American Express® Cardmembers have access to some of the best seats in the house for all the Dirty Dancing performances. Performances run Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, Sunday evening at 7:30pm with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm.
Follow Broadway Across Canada on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their shows coming to Vancouver in 2015-2016.
I am a huge fan of gifting experiences to loved ones for birthday and Christmas, giving them something that will create memories and entertain.
Local tours are a great gift, as not many people enjoy some of the wonderful benefits of being a tourist in their own home town. Better yet, for the craft beer lover in your life, a brewery tour lets them experience the latest and greatest creations brewed up right here in Vancouver – in their neighbourhood and beyond.
Vancouver Brewery Tours
Vancouver Brewery Tours is one of the top-ranked food/drink tours in Vancouver on Trip Advisor! It was the city’s first and only exclusive brewery tour company, and was launched by local craft beer enthusiast Ryan Mackey in 2013.
They bring friends, families and colleagues together with three-hour Public Tours ($75), four-hour Beer and Food Tours ($85) and completely customizable Private and Corporate Group Tours, allowing for truly out-of-the-box gifting and merry making.
Let them do the driving as you visit 3 breweries for behind the scenes, guided tours. Each brewery will show you something different and unique while you learn about the company’s history, operations and the people who started it all for them. On the road, guides will continue to point out interesting facts about the Vancouver craft been scene and the neighbourhoods you’ll visit.
The tour’s partner breweries include Storm Brewing, Brassneck Brewery, Bomber Brewing, Strange Fellows Brewing, Steamworks, Main Street Brewing, Bridge Brewing, Deep Cove Brewers, Big Rock Urban Brewery, Steel Toad Brewpub, R&B Brewing, Off the Rail Brewing, Doan’s Craft Brewing, and Postmark Brewing.
In the online shop you can purchase tour gift certificates, growlers, beer flight paddles, bottle savers, and t-shirts. You can also bundle up and purchase the Holiday Gift Pack.
Win a Holiday Gift Pack
The Vancouver Brewery Tours Holiday Gift Pack has it all: 2 tour passes, a 64oz growler and fill-up while on tour, and a pair of Vancouver Brewery Tours 16-oz beer glasses (value $169). Here’s how you can enter to win this Holiday Gift Pack for yourself, or the beer lover on your shopping list this season.
- Leave a comment naming one of the tour’s partner breweries (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries (must be 19+) at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2015. Please enjoy responsibly. Follow Vancouver Brewery Tours on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Update The winner is Shawn Sorenson!
