The Bright Nights in Stanley Park Christmas Train is a highlight of the holiday season in Vancouver. Not only does everyone get to share in the the magic of Stanley Park, but under millions of sparkling lights, this event also raises funds for two local causes.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park Christmas Train
| Dates |
Matinee train |
Night train |
| Nov 29 – Dec 13, 2018 |
Friday to Sunday
10:00am – 2:30pm |
Daily
3:00pm – 10:00pm |
| Dec 14 – 23, 2018 |
10:00am – 2:30pm |
3:00pm – 11:00pm |
| Dec24, 2018 |
10:00am – 2:30pm |
3:00pm – 10:00pm |
| Dec 25, 2018 |
Closed |
Closed |
| Dec 26, 2018 |
10:00am – 2:30pm |
3:00pm – 11:00pm |
| Dec 27 – 31, 2018 |
10:00am – 2:30pm |
3:00pm – 10:00pm |
| Jan 1, 2019 |
Closed |
3:00pm – 10:00pm |
| Jan 2 – 5, 2019 (train only) |
Closed |
4:00pm – 9:00pm |
Admission
Admission to the train plaza is by donation ($5 suggested). Enjoy the twinkling lights, displays, live performers, and get photos with Santa. The matinee train ride is a great daytime activity for families, school groups, and groups with children. Journey through the forest with holiday music past magical displays. Note: There are no live performers during matinee train rides.
Train Tickets
You must buy a ticket to ride the train. Tickets are sold in half-hour time slots. Several trains will depart within each time slot. Your ticket is valid for one Bright Nights ride during the time slot shown on the ticket. Buy online or phone 604-252-3700 with TicketLeader online. Ticket sales start at 10:00am (12:00pm when there no matinee trains).
Buy same-day tickets in person at the Train Plaza. A portion of each day’s tickets is set aside. Come early to avoid sold-out time slots. On-site ticket sales start at 10:00am daily until December 31. From January 1 to 5, on-site sales begin at 3:00pm.
Bright Nights has on-site and overflow parking lots. All parking is free. Overflow lots include the Info Booth, Yacht Club, Totem Poles, Brockton Point, North Pipeline Road, and Beaver Lake lots.
Bright Nights Charity Partners
Proceeds support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. Bring non-perishable food items for the food bank and a suggested $5 donation for the Burn Fund (upon admission).
Tips
- Avoid the crowds and come out Monday to Thursday in the first two weeks.
- Purchase your ticket online in advance, it’s going to be busy!
Where to Eat
Reindeer Roadstop and Café, Kobachi Kart, Insomniac’s Coffee, The Praguery food truck, and the Cob House by Stanley Park Ecology Society will all be on site. Food vendors will be open for both matinee and evening show times.
The Bright Nights and Old Spaghetti Factory dinner package includes spaghetti dinner of your choice in Gastown, a ticket to ride at Bright Nights, a bonus $10 gift certificate to the Old Spaghetti Factory when you dine in. A portion from each meal sold during the month of December will be donated to the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund.
Follow Bright Nights in Stanley Park on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Celebrate what’s possible as five daring Disney Princesses spark the courage inside us all in Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream, skating into Vancouver November 21–25, 2018.
Featuring Disney’s Moana for the first time in a live production, hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse bring the Disney magic to life and take audiences on an expedition across raging seas and snow-covered mountains in this action-packed extravaganza with the beloved characters from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Tangled and Cinderella.
Disney on Ice Presents Dare to Dream
- When: November 21-23 at 7:00pm
November 24 at 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:00pm
November 25 at 11:30am, 3:30pm
- Where: Pacific Coliseum at the PNE (2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver)
- Tickets: Ticket prices start at just $20 each* Discount Opening Night tickets available for $15 for select seating* (not valid for VIP/Floor Seat levels). Tickets available for purchase online, charge by phone at (604) 252-3700 or visit the PNE Box Office. *Prices subject to change; additional ticketing/venue fees may apply; discount ticket pricing subject to availability.
In her Disney On Ice debut, see how far Moana will go in a high-seas adventure with demigod Maui, to save her island and discover her true identity. Join Belle as she fearlessly befriends the enchanted castle staff and reveals the Beast’s gentleness.
Experience Anna’s devotion to her sister, Elsa, on her life-changing journey to stop an eternal winter. Explore with Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, Cinderella and friends from around the Disney Kingdom as they find the heart and determination to overcome obstacles and make their dreams come true. Iconic sing-along songs such as “How Far I’ll Go,” “Be Our Guest” and “Let It Go” are paired with powerful skating choreography to instill confidence and embolden audiences to never stop dreaming.
Plus fans are encouraged to arrive early to celebrate family and tradition with a special sing-along with Miguel from Disney Pixar’s Coco in a live fiesta Disney On Ice style prior to the show!
Win Tickets
I have a family 4-pack of tickets to give away to opening night on November 21, 2018. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to see @DisneyOnIce #DareToDream in Vancouver http://ow.ly/zPuY30mwpyf #DisneyOnIce” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.
Follow Disney on Ice on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.
Update The winner is Heather!
You know when you’re watching one of the many holiday movies-of-the-week where the charming hometowns of the protagonist are dressed to the nines in Christmas cheer? Where lights twinkle from every bough, carollers roam, and everyone gathers at a local community hall or cafe for a concert? The ones that make you think: What a magical holiday wonderland they have created for this show… Well, I think I found that real-life place, and you can visit for yourself during Pender Harbour Christmas this year!
During my mid-autumn visit to this Sunshine Coast community, I got to head out on a boat tour with Mark Brezer from SloCat Tours, who told me that the best way to see this region was by boat. So that’s what we did. We spent a morning out on the water, weaving between harbours, coves, bays, and channels as Mark shared some local history.
There are over a dozen Christmas activities and events happening this year, not to mention even more opportunity to shop for hand-made gifts from the Sunshine Coast’s talented roster of artists – many of which have studios based in Pender Harbour and will be at John Henry’s Resort & Marina for their Christmas market.
Key Event Dates
Nov 30, 2018: Tree Lighting at the Hall
Nov 30 – Dec 2; Dec 7-8, 2018: Coast Christmas Market at John Henry’s
December 14, 2018: Boat Parade with Pipers
… and a dozen more! View the full event schedule here »
If You Go
Learn more about Christmastime in Pender Harbour on ZenSeekers »
BC Ferries leaves from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast with around 10 sailings daily, plus sailings from Vancouver Island to the northern Sunshine Coast (Powell River), or you can take advantage of the many other transportation services including float planes, passenger ferry service, and more.
Sunshine Coast Tourism can help make plans.
Tag #SunshineCoastBC and #FestivalSeekers on your travels here and you might be featured on their social media channels.
Metro Vancouver’s largest free lights display is set to return this month. Cue grins! Whether you’re a seasoned Lights at Lafarge explorer, or you plan to visit for the first time, here are a few tips to plan your Coquitlam adventure.
Top Tips for Viewing Coquitlam’s Lights at Lafarge
First of all, consider SkyTrain. The display is just steps from Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station and parking can get busy. The station is also located within City Centre, so you can easily walk around the area to pick up hot drinks, meet for dinner or round up the evening with a nightcap. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
TELUS presents the Vancouver Santa Claus Parade, the largest Christmas parade celebrated in Western Canada, on the first Sunday in December. Join in the free, family-friendly fun with live entertainment and activities, along with supporting the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and the CKNW Orphans’ Fund.
Vancouver Santa Claus Parade
When: Sunday, December 2, 2018 12:00pm
Parade Route: The route will travel from West Georgia and Broughton, then head east along West Georgia, turn south on Howe and finish at Howe and Davie.
This year’s Vancouver Santa Claus Parade will feature marching bands, dance troupes, festive floats and community groups, which entertain over 300,000 spectators.
A very special part of the TELUS presents the Vancouver Santa Claus Parade is celebrating the “Spirit of Giving.” Each year, on parade day, volunteers collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations on behalf of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can purchase $3 worth of food! We are also thrilled to announce our new partnership with the CKNW Kids’ Fund! If just 200 people donate $10 each, the CKNW Kids’ Fund can send a child with special needs to speech therapy, tutoring, or even ensure they have custom hearing aids.
More Activities and Fun
Breakfast with Santa at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (8:30am to 10:30am)
A delicious breakfast buffet and exclusive meet & greet with Santa before the TELUS presents the Vancouver Santa Claus Parade. $40 per adult, $20 per child. Full pre-payment at time of booking, inclusive of taxes & gratuity. Reservations 604-647-0517.
Christmas Square (10:00am to 12:00pm)
Parade spectators are encouraged to arrive early for pre-parade fun. The free festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. with two hours of family entertainment at the Christmas Square the North side of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Christmas Square includes a Food Bank drop off, face painting, Letters to Santa station, and an entertainment stage featuring Live music by LeftCoast.
TELUS Photos with Santa (2:00pm to 4:00pm)
Free photos with Santa after the parade at TELUS Garden (510 W Georgia St)
Vancouver Santa Claus Parade presented by TELUS on Twitter, and Instagram along with the tag #TELUSSantaClausParade.
