From skating to light displays, enjoy the last day of 2023 and ring in 2024 with these family-friendly New Year’s Eve activities in Vancouver.
Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events
Robson Square Ice Rink: Live entertainment on December 31 from DuoTones from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The rink will be open 9:00am to 9:00pm.
Burnaby Village Museum: Open from 1:00pm to 9:00pm on New Year’s Eve. This free, family-friendly attraction dazzles with lights, music, and treats.
Martini Town Merry & Bright: Time slots available from 2:00pm to 7:00pm on New Year’s Eve. Walk through a film backlot decorated from top to bottom for the holidays.
Create & Connect – New Year at Noon: Learn how people around the world celebrate the New Year, enjoy snacks and drinks, and have fun playing games and crafting while sharing hopes for 2024. By donation from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Shipyards.
New Year’s Eve DJ Party: The Shipyards Skate Plaza is turning into a winter wonderland with beats from DJs and a ball drop on ice. Open from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
Holiday Splash – Oceans of Wonder Await: Wave to Scuba Claus during his daily dives, snuggle up on The Polar Express 4D Experience, and more at the Vancouver Aquarium. Open from 10:00am to 3:30pm on December 31.
New Year’s Eve at Cypress: The Downhill area will have a DJ on the patio, there will be live music in the Lodge, and head to the Nordic area for a special meal and cozy fires to roast your s’mores.
New Year’s Eve at Grouse Mountain: A variety of options at the Peak of Vancouver! Skiing and riding: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Light Walk: Dusk until 11:00pm; Fireworks at 9:00pm; Drink specials at Altitudes Bistro; Five-course dinner at The Observatory. Book your dining experiences in advance.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park: Open from 4:00pm to 10:00pm on New Year’s Eve. Walk though a magically lit forest of lights. Admission by donation to the BC Firefighters’ Burn Fund (even without a train ticket).
Winter Wonderland Skate: Holiday skate at Minoru Arenas set under twinkling lights with festive music. Open 10:00am to 4:00pm on December 31st.
Christmas at Canada Place: Open every day until 10:00pm. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the waterfront and take advantage of the many photo ops.
Follow Miss604Holidays this season for the latest arts and culture activities, attraction and event news »
TransLink is making sure everyone can have a safe ride home on New Year’s Eve by offering customers free transit from 5:00pm on December 31st until 5:00am on January 1st.
TransLink reindeer bus – Miss604 photo
Free Transit on New Year’s Eve for Metro Vancouver
During these hours, fare gates at SkyTrain and SeaBus stations will remain open and customers will not be required to tap Compass Cards or use other payment methods. Customers who begin trips before 5:00pm are advised to tap out as normal to ensure they’re charged the correct fare.
Additional SkyTrain staff, Transit Police, and Transit Security officers will be on the system to direct and assist customers.
New Year’s Eve service details:
Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule, with over 30 additional buses throughout the system and extra service on select routes.
SkyTrain service will operate on an extended Sunday schedule.
Last train from Waterfront to King George at 2:16am
Last train from Waterfront to Lougheed at 2:11am
Last train from Waterfront to Production Way–University at 1:40am
Last train from Waterfront to YVR–Airport Station at 2:05am
Last train from Waterfront to Richmond–Brighouse at 2:15am
SeaBus will be running on an extended Sunday schedule, with service every 15 minutes until 1:22am and every 30 minutes until the last sailing from Waterfront Station at 2:22am
NightBus will continue operating after SkyTrain and SeaBus service ends.
NightBus runs throughout the night on key routes in Vancouver, Richmond, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster, and Surrey.
This weekend in Vancouver you can enjoy an array of holiday events, some coming to a close and others will continue on until January. Miss604 sponsors Christmas at Canada Place, and Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village – both free! Find these events and more things to do around Metro Vancouver listed below:
I love the waterfront in Vancouver, I love the festive season, and I love taking photos! All of these wonderfully combine, like a cup of hot chocolate with peppermint, at Christmas at Canada Place. Even though there are dozens of spots, here are my top 5 places for photos at this free attraction:
The Giant Bear (with Liven Up Coal Harbour)
Located right outside Canada Place by the Pan Pacific. I took this photo in the daytime but you’d get an even better shot a night.
Enjoy a lineup of free holiday light displays around Vancouver from December to February. In the darkness, immerse yourself in the sparkling lights and the warmth of the season at these outdoor locations.
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village – Miss604 Photo
Free Holiday Light Displays Around Vancouver
1. Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas from November 25, 2023 to January 5, 2024. Free gate admission includes light displays, entertainment, and more in this 10 acre open air museum site. Miss604 is a proud Media Sponsor.
2. Bright Nights in Stanley Park has free admission to the site (with a suggested donation to the BC Burn Fund) even if you do not have a ticket for the train. Open November 30, 2023 to January 1, 2024 with dazzling light displays and live entertainment in a festive forest setting.
Canada Place Miss604 Photo
3. Christmas at Canada Place December 1, 2023 to January 2, 2024 with free outdoor displays, lights, the legendary Woodward’s Windows, and more. Miss604 is a proud Media Sponsor. You can also walk all the way from Canada Place down to the Westin Bayshore for more displays during Liven Up.
4. Liven Up Festival in Coal Harbour from December 1 to 30 features light installations and plenty of photo ops. Friday and Saturday nights enjoy live music at various spots along the Coal Harbour Seawall.
Near Cardero’s at Coal Harbour Marina – Miss604 Photo
5. Granville Island Festive Lights until January 3, 2024. Walk the expansive grounds of Granville Island’s almost 40 acres. Highlights include a stunning oversized star in the centre of the Public Market courtyard, a perfect star looking over Alder Bay in Ron Basford Park, a canopy of lights hidden in a secret location, glowing benches, and more.
6. Dundarave Forest of Miracles until January 7, 2024. Over 150 beautifully decorated Christmas trees lining the West Vancouver Waterfront from the Grosvenor Ambleside Galleria to Dundarave Beach.
7. Lights at Lafarge in Coquitlam features an extensive light display all around Town Centre Park’s 1.2km lakeside pathway until the end of February.
Lights at Lafarge Miss604 Photo
8. Burnaby Holiday Lights at various locations across Burnaby illuminates corners of the city in the spirit of the season. From Central Park to Civic Square, there’s a map online to plot your festive route.
9. Winter in the Village illuminated until December 31, 2023 decorates the charming Steveston waterfront with holiday lights.
10. Bright Walk in White Rock transforms the White Rock waterfront this holiday season with a lighted display in Memorial Park until January 7, 2024. Including a 20-foot Christmas tree, light installations, an illuminated tunnel, and more.
