The Robson Square ice rink opens for the season on December 1st, providing affordable family fun in Downtown Vancouver throughout the holidays and beyond.
Skating is free with your own skates, otherwise rentals are available. The rink also features a concession stand with snacks and warm drinks. This year Vancouver’s 50th foot Christmas tree will also be located at Robson Square.
Robson Square Ice Rink Hours
Sunday to Thursday: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Friday and Saturday: 9:00am to 11:00pm
*Skate rental ends 30mins prior to close
Holiday Hours
Christmas Eve (Dec. 24): 9:00am-9:00pm
Christmas Day (Dec. 25): 12:00pm-5:00pm
Boxing Day (Dec. 26): 9:00am-9:00pm
New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31): 9:00am-11:00pm
New Year’s Day (Jan. 1): 9:00am-9:00pm
12 Days of Holidays
Enjoy free holiday entertainment from December 13th to 24th with local bands, singers, and entertainers on stage next to the rink.
Robson Square Ice Rink Rentals
Skates: $4.00
Ice Cleats: $2.00
*Helmet included with skate rental. Cash only!
Ice Rink Closures, Schedule Changes & Events
Watch here for updates or call the Robson Square Hotline 604-646-3554. Please be advised that warm weather leads to warm ice! Robson Square Ice Rink may need to close unexpectedly.
School Program
If you are a grade 4-7 school, you can enroll sign up for free skating at the Robson Square Ice Rinks school program. Robson Square will provide your class with free skate and helmet rentals.
The school program runs Monday through Friday with three 1 hour time slots daily.
The The Robson Square ice rink will remain open until February 14, 2017. Tag your photos with #robsonsquare on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share the fun. Robson Square is located at 800 Robson Street between Robson and Georgia, Howe and Hornby.
The Bright Night Christmas Train in Stanley Park is a highlight of the holiday season in my eyes. Not only does everyone get to share in the the magic of Stanley Park, but under millions of sparkling lights this event raises funds for such a worthy cause.
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
| Dates for 2016-2017 |
Matinee train |
Night train |
| Nov 28 – Dec 15 |
Friday to Sunday
10:00am – 2:30pm |
Monday to Thursday
3:00pm – 10:00pm
Friday to Sunday
3:00pm – 11:00pm
|
| Dec 16 – 24 |
Daily
10:00am – 2:30pm |
Daily
3:00pm – 11:00pm |
| Dec 25 |
Closed |
Closed |
| Dec 26 – 27 |
10:00am – 2:30pm |
3:00pm – 11:00pm |
| Dec 27 – Jan 1 |
Daily
10:00am – 2:30pm |
Daily
3:00pm – 10:00pm |
Admission
Admission to the train plaza is by donation ($4 suggested). Enjoy three million twinkling lights, displays, live performers, and get photos with Santa. Purchase snacks, hot and cold drinks, and light meals at the Railway Café concession stand. Or buy hot buttered popcorn at the Stanley Park Ecology Society’s Cob House in the plaza.
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).
Special Offers
Old Spaghetti Factory dinner packages are available through TicketLeader when you buy your train tickets. Add the dinner package after choosing the time slot for your train ride. When you complete your order, it is recommended that you contact the Old Spaghetti Factory to make your dinner reservation in advance.
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 $4 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!
Follow Bright Nights in Stanley Park on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
On Wednesday, December 7th, Cause We Care (in partnership with Capital Direct) will be hosting its 10th annual Christmas hamper drive where 200+ volunteers will assist in stuffing 750 hampers full of essential food items and small gifts.
The hampers will be distributed to 25 frontline organizations in the Lower Mainland that support single mother-led families and children in need.
Cause We Care Hamper Drive
Over the last nine years, Cause We Care has successfully aided frontline organizations by delivering 5,932 hampers stuffed with over 105,000 pounds of food to low-income families across the Greater Vancouver area, making it the largest hamper drive in Vancouver.
How You Can Help
Donate: Vancouverites can help support the drive by donating online – for every online $70 donation, a hamper will be delivered to a local family in need.
Special thanks goes to Save On Foods (Cambie Street), Army & Navy and Purdy’s Chocolatier for their many years of continued support. Thanks to Aritzia for keeping mothers and children warm through the winter with donated gloves and toques; and many thanks to Dueck Auto Group for providing cargo vans for hamper deliveries.
Purchase: Blue Ruby will once again be teaming up with Cause We Care to offer perfectly handcrafted holiday bracelets. These bracelets make a charitable and stylish gift and 100% of proceeds go towards supporting programs and initiatives run by Cause We Care. Prices range from $20 to $150. They are available in all Blue Ruby stores.
Volunteer: Donate your time to help stuff hampers for this campaign on December 7th.
Follow Cause We Care on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra presents Enchanting China: An Orchestral Extravaganza, for just two performances in Vancouver at the end of this month. This traditional Chinese orchestra arrives with more than 70 musicians, and will be joined by singers and dancers in vibrant and exquisite costumery, making this sweeping orchestral extravaganza a true feast for the senses.
The program will showcase an eclectic array of vocal songs, featuring soloists from China, as well as local voices and great instrumental works from across the history of Chinese music. Audiences will also be treated to traditional Chinese dance and a taste of Kunqu Opera – one of the country’s oldest extant forms – with excerpts from The Peony Pavilion.
Enchanting China: An Orchestral Extravaganza
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (600 Block Hamilton St, Vancouver)
When: November 29th & 30th, 2016 at 8:00pm
Tickets: Starting at $28 (plus fees, taxes). Available online now or by calling 1-855-985-2787.
More than 70 musicians including masters of the Sheng (free-reed bamboo pipe), Pipa (four-stringed lute), Erhu (spike fiddle), and many more fascinating authentic instruments will be featured.
Direct from Beijing, the orchestra will be joined by singer Gong Linna, a major artist in Asia and Europe who has been described as ‘China’s Bjork’. Combining traditional and modern vocal techniques, Gong Linna has developed a wholly unique signature style. The concert will mark her first-ever performance in Canada.
In a wonderful cultural exchange, the Vancouver Chamber Choir will also be invited on stage, offering a splendid selection of both Western and Chinese repertoire.
Win Tickets
I have a 4-pack of tickets to offer up for the Enchanting China: An Orchestral Extravaganza performance on November 29th. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Sunday, November 27, 2016. Update The winner is Carmen Braun!
The holiday season is here! Check out these Free Christmas Activities in Metro Vancouver throughout November and December, and the list of things to do in Vancouver this weekend is below:
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.
Friday, November 25, 2016
L’Arche Vancouver Christmas Concert
Grouse Mountain Peak of Christmas
Port Coquitlam Winter Artisan Market
Vancouverite: A Comedy Show
Enchant Vancouver Christmas Market
Park & Tilford Hi-Light Festival
Emily Carr Student Art Sale
Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of Enchantment
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
19th Annual European Union Film Festival
Miss Shakespeare at the Firehall Arts Centre
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
