Up in the crisp North Shore mountain air, with the aroma of evergreens and a rushing river below, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is lit up with thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights for the 10th year of Canyon Lights. Featuring the world’s tallest living Christmas tree — a 250 year old Douglas-fir at 153 feet tall and still growing! — Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge offers a festive experience for families from near and far.

Image courtesy of Capilano Suspension Bridge

Canyon Lights

• Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
  (3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver)
• When: On now until January 3, 2016 (closed Christmas Day)
  11:00am to 9:00pm
• Admission: Purchase online in advance or at the park. Individual tickets available or in Family Packs of 3 and 4. Canyon Lights tickets are valid all day with holiday activities beginning at 4:00pm. Capilano operates a free shuttle to and from Canada Place.

The entire Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, including the Cliffwalk and the Treetops Adventure, will sparkle amongst the trees. Warm up in the comfort of the new Winter Pavilion with a cup of hot chocolate and a gingerbread cookie, do a scavenger hunt around the historic park, and sing along with carollers.

Image courtesy of Capilano Suspension Bridge

Partial proceeds from Canyon Lights ticket sales will be donated to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund for fire and burn education in BC schools. To date, Canyon Lights has raised over $192,000 for this worthy program. In addition, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park will continue hosting 12 community nights for local charities.

Canyon Lights Giveaway

Canyon Lights is now in its 10th year and for the 7th year, I have an awesome prize package up for grabs (valued at $200) that includes:

• Family pack of passes to Canyon Lights (2 adults and 2 kids 16 and under)
• Four fudge vouchers valid for a piece of fudge at the Trading Post Gift Shop
• Four small hot chocolates
• Holiday tree decoration from the Trading Post Gift Store
• … and some extra goodies for the family!

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 9:00am on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is located at 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information about Canyon Lights and year-round activities.

Update The winner is @PawsandTailsPix

The 6th annual Vancouver Christmas Market is on now until Christmas Eve at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza in Downtown Vancouver. This slice of European holiday cheer hosts 50 unique vendors and a variety of themed activities.

Vancouver Christmas Market

Take a spin on Vancouver’s only Christmas Carousel, enjoy some glühwein and schnitzel, and shop for holiday treats, gifts, and decorations. There is also a full schedule of live entertainment.

Being in the open air, with the warm aromas of baked goods and European fare, shopping for gifts and browsing hundreds of unique ornaments are all reasons why I love visiting the market each year.

The Vancouver Christmas Market, located at 650 Hamilton St, will be open daily from 11:00am to 9:00pm, and until 6:00pm on Christmas Eve, December 24th. Admission is $8 for adults (13+), Seniors (60+) receive $1 off admission, youth (7-12) are $4 and children (0-6) are free anytime.

Carousel rides are $3 per ticket; $10 per package of 5 tickets. Purchase your tickets online and receive a receive a free Season Pass plus Express Lane access. You can also turn any Entry Pass into a Season Pass at the gate for an additional $1.00.

Win Tickets

If you would like to check out the market, I have a pair of gate tickets to give away (good for any day of the market). Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite holiday decorations, crafts, or ornaments (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow the Vancouver Christmas Market on Twitter and Facebook for more special event information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, December 7, 2015.

Update The winner is Stephanie!

Our local weekly papers have some excellent readers’ choice awards which can be referenced throughout the year if you’re looking for the Best Spa, Best Car Dealership, Best Brunch, or Best Take-Out. There’s the Straight’s Best of Vancouver, Westender’s Best of the City, the dining issues of each, and also the Surrey Leader Readers’ Choice Awards, the results of which were published in November.

The international award-winning Fusion Festival

This is the 5th annual Surrey Leader Readers’ Choice Awards and it’s a great reference for where to go, what to see, where to eat, and to get to know the people who make the city great. Some of the results this year are:

Most wonderful Surreyite

1. Mitra Castano (Owner/Operator of Triunity Martial Arts Studios National Director @ Jeunesse Global)
2. Kabir Bath (Head coach and owner of Kaboom Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts)
3. Dianne Watts (Conservative Member of Parliament for South Surrey – White Rock, and former Mayor of Surrey)

I was very excited to see that three events that Miss604 sponsors are favourites in the city: Fusion Festival, Movies Under the Stars, and Surrey Tree Lighting Festival. View the full results online and follow the Surrey/North Delta Leader on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

The Downtown Vancouver Christmas tree lighting will happen December 4th at Jack Poole Plaza, with an event presented by Amacon and benefitting the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.

Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting

Where: Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver Convention Centre
When: Friday, December 4, 2015 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Cost: Free

Returning for the 9th year, the ceremony will light four holiday trees for the season, including a 50 foot tree, and have live entertainment, Santa visits, food trucks, free cookies and hot chocolate.

At the event you can donate to the Vancouver International Children’s Festival and its programs that support the Good Neighbour Program, Adopt a Class and the Hospital Outreach Program. Buy a bulb to help them bring deserving kids to the next Children’s Festival. Follow the event on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Vancouver’s largest indie craft market is back and in a new location on a North Shore! Got Craft? Holiday Edition takes place December 12-13, 2015 at The Pipe Shop Building in North Vancouver. Browse and shop with over 80 makers and indie craft designers showcasing organic bath and body products, accessories, home décor items, toys, greeting cards, and so much more.

Got Craft Holiday Edition

• Where: The Pipe Shop Building, 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
• When: Saturday, December 12 to Sunday, December 13, 2015 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
• Tickets: Available online for $3 or at the door for $5. Tickets can be purchased at Got Craft? and are valid for the whole weekend.

Enjoy a day of shopping at the Got Craft? indie craft market with amazing swag bags for the first 50 guests. Free hands-on DIY workshops will be hosted throughout the weekend providing guests the opportunity to get crafty and bring home their own creations.

Holiday shopping is made easy with something for everyone including the tough-to-buy-for foodie, organic fanatic or purist on your list. Guests will enjoy tasty treats, music, swag bags and free craft workshops throughout the day. With vendors coming from all over Canada, Got Craft? supports small business and aims to bring together a community that fosters handmade and DIY culture.

Got Craft? is held twice a year, in May and December, and welcomes over 5000 guests a year. When founders Andrea and Robert are not busy with Got Craft?, they can be found at their shop on East Hastings, London Fields Shoppe.

Prize Pack Giveaway

Got Craft? giveaways are some of my most successful every year so I’m very happy to partner with them once again to offer up an amazing prize pack. They have assembled over $1,000 in prizes!

Win Prizes From

Click here to view the full prize list – you will love what’s up for grabs! Of course the winner will also receive 2 tickets to the market. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment naming a Got Craft? vendor (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow Got Craft? on Twitter and Instagram for more information. I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 6:00pm on Sunday, December 6, 2015. The winner must be able to pick up the prize in person at Got Craft? on December 12th or 13th.

Update The winner is Samantha!