The city is silent, presents have been unwrapped, and you’re looking for something fun and festive to do with your loved ones. Look no further! There are a few attractions open on Christmas Day 2018 in Vancouver:
Open on Christmas Day in Vancouver
The Robson Square Ice Rink will be open for skating on Christmas Day from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.
The Vancouver Aquarium will be open from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
Hit the links (weather permitting) and enjoy a round of golf at all Vancouver Parks Golf courses, from 8:00am to 2:00pm.
Local Mountains: Visit the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain for some mountaintop ice skating, skiing, or snowshoeing. and Cypress will also be open for snowshoe, nordic, and downhill.
Light Displays: The free 1.2km trail of Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam will turn on as usual at dusk. Also free, the Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival‘s 150,000 lights on display over 3 acres will be open, along with Christmas at Canada Place along the waterfront in Downtown Vancouver.
Charity Events: Attend the White Spot Christmas Lunch which supports the Richmond Hospital Foundation and Variety – The Children’s Charity.
If you have any other events to add, send them in via my contact form and I’ll include them. Thank you!
Subscribe to the Weekly Events Newsletter
If you wish to receive this weekly/weekend event list right to your email inbox, please sign up for the new Miss604 Weekly Events Newsletter below. It will be sent once a week, only to those who opt-in.
Follow Miss604 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more event news throughout the year.
Ring in the new year with your loved ones with these family friends New Year’s Eve events and attractions happening around Metro Vancouver.
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve in Vancouver
*Some of these events are ticketed and may sell out, so be sure to act fast and book as soon as possible.
Concord’s New Year’s Eve in Downtown Vancouver
When: December 31, 2018 from 7:00pm to 12:15am
Where: Canada Place Way, Vancouver
Info: Website/Tickets »
A free outdoor festival with ticketed VIP upgrades. The free street party starts at 7:00pm, along with an indoor ticketed party at 7:00pm. Family fireworks will be 9:00pm to 9:05pm and the midnight countdown fireworks will illuminate the skies over Burrard Inlet from 12:00am to 12:10am. Outside you’ll find a free public party will include performances from DJ Seko, Rico Uno, Kutcorners, and DJ Marvel. There will also be a nearly 20 food trucks on-site.
Grouse Mountain New Year’s Eve
When: December 31, 2018 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
where: Grouse Mountain (6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver)
Info: Website/Tickets »
Glide on the 8,000-square foot mountaintop Skate Pond, take a sled down our Sliding Zone and be awed by the magical outdoor Light Walk around Blue Grouse Lake. Enjoy performances throughout the night as well – including headliners Delhi to Dublin – as well as a special 9:00pm countdown with fireworks at the Skate Pond.
Family First Night at Mt Seymour
When: December 31, 2018 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
where: Mt. Seymour (1700 Mt Seymour Road, North Vancouver)
Info: Website/Tickets »
Enjoy laser tobogganing, take in live entertainment on the main stage by Vancouver’s magician Joel Eddington and an exciting fire routine performed by Vesta Fire Entertainment. Keep an eye out for Tickles & Yowza our roving clowns and take in some live music under our big top tent. Cozy up to the warmth of Mt Seymour fire pits and indulge in complimentary s’mores, along with food vendor fare. Venture into the woods with your family on an intriguing Snowquest or enjoy a self-guided snowshoe along lantern lit trails. All of this followed by an early NYE countdown, party favors and a fireworks finale at 8:25pm.
Robson Square New Year’s Eve
When: December 31, 2018 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
where: 800 Block Robson (Vancouver)
Info: Website »
Free skating and live music from Rumba Calzada. The ice rink will be open for skating until 11:00pm on New Year’s Eve.
Winter Ice Palace
When: December 31, 2018 at 10:00am to 3:30pm
where: Cloverdale Ice Arena (6090 176 St, Surrey)
Info: Website »
Skate the 20th annual Winter Ice Palace in Cloverdale, open on New Year’s Day as well from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
Winter Wonderland
When: December 31, 2018 at 10:00am to 4:00pm
where: Minoru Arenas (7551 Minoru Gate, Richmond)
Info: Website »
Skate to festive music surrounded by thousands of sparkling lights, real snow banks, decorated holiday trees and more.
Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Variety Show
When: December 31, 2018 from 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
Info: Website/Tickets »
Celebrate with family and friends at Vancouver Cabaret Theatre’s New Year’s Eve Variety Show, with circus acrobats, magic, live music and one of Vancouver’s biggest balloon drops. Appropriate for all ages, yet not just for kids.
New Year’s Eve Toonie Skate
When: December 31, 2017 from 1:45pm to 4:45pm
Where: Kensington Recreation Complex (6159 Curtis Street)
Info: Website
$2.00, includes helmet and skate rental. Enjoy face painting in the lobby with Roland & Emma Nipp (Father/Daughter Duo) performing live music.
New Year Eve Party at Rocky Mountain Flatbread
When: December 31, 2018 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Where: Rocky Mountain Flatbread (1876 1st Ave W, Vancouver)
Info: Website/Tickets
Balloon twisting, face painting, a New Year’s (early) countdown plus a three course winner with kids menu too. Call for reservations: (604) 566-9779.
Holiday Events Open on New Year’s Eve
If you missed out on some of the Christmas events around Vancouver, these are still open through to the new year:
Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas
Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam
VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
Sasquatch-Themed Winter Light Festival at Harrison Lake
Free Transit
All TransLink transit services are free after 5:00pm on December 31 until 5:00am on January 1, 2019.
Follow Miss604 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook in 2018 for more event listings, community info, and contest giveaways!
The White Spot Christmas Day Lunch for Charity continues a heartwarming yuletide tradition for the 16th consecutive year. Staff at the Kingsway Vancouver and Richmond Centre White Spot locations will donate their time and tips on Christmas Day to support local charities.
White Spot Christmas Day Lunch for Charity
Friends and family are invited to join the merriment and enjoy award-winning Legendary burgers and other Spot Classics at either location on Christmas Day to help support two deserving local charities.
The two restaurants hope to beat last year’s combined fundraising total of $21,382. Since the Christmas Day Luncheon’s inception, more than $222,000 has been generated.
Where: Richmond Centre (Unit 1902 – 6551 No. 3 Road)
When: Monday, December 25, 2017 from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Cause: Richmond Hospital Foundation
Where: Kingsway (1476 Kingsway at Knight Street)
When: Monday, December 25, 2017 from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Cause: Variety – The Children’s Charity
Menus vary by location and can be viewed here »
Follow White Spot on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date on their latest menu offerings and promotions.
Imagine opening your presents under the tree on Christmas Day and receiving a certificate saying that you now sponsor a Pacific Great Blue Heron or a majestic Western Red Cedar Tree? Give the gift of symbolic adoption of a Stanley Park plant or animal this holiday season.
Give the Gift of Wildlife and Nature in Stanley Park
Stanley Park is home to many special plants and animals, each with their own ecological needs. Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”) collaboratively leads the stewardship of these organisms through research, conservation, and education.
Adopt a Tree Swallow
To support nest box monitoring on Lost Lagoon. Tree swallow populations, like all swallow species, are in steep decline. Nest boxes = habitat.
Adopt a Pacific Great Blue Heron
To support the seasonal monitoring of one of North America’s largest urban colonies, right in Stanley Park. The GBH is listed as a species of “Special Concern” in this region.
Adopt a Northwestern Salamander
To support SPES’ amphibian surveys. A strong amphibian population indicates healthy Park habitat.
Adopt a Little Brown Bat
To help school children learn about the deadly White Nose Syndrome during our Beautiful Bats program.
Adopt a Western Red Cedar Tree
To support SPES’ Forest Explorers day camps for children.
Adopt a Salmonberry Shrub
To enable native plant purchases for habitat restoration in the Park.
Follow the Stanley Park Ecology Society on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.
