Without a doubt, the holiday season is my favourite time of the year! I don’t know if it’s the lights, the food, the excitement in the air, but there’s something about Christmas that lifts my spirits and delights me in a way that no other time of the year compares.
Now that I’m a mom, I get to experience the holiday thru the eyes of my son. As a grown-up, sometimes I get flustered (because magic takes time and money right?) but every time the stress starts to get to me, we simply pack up and head out to some of our favourite spots to enjoy the lights, the fun and remember how good the season can really be. Nothing can set the mood for Christmas like seeing your child’s face light up at the scenes of one of these magical events:
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
Re-capture the feeling of wonder and excitement of the holiday season and be amazed by the hundreds of thousands of lights throughout the park. The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest, and canyon are transformed into a world of festive lights and visual enchantment.
3735 Capilano Road
North Vancouver
Back for its second year, and moving to bigger digs (the PNE/Playland grounds), we had such a fun time at Aurora last year. The staff really put on the effort to make the little ones believe in magic. Aurora is Canada’s largest winter festival where you can escape to a hidden village with a beautiful skating rink, a tube park, massive light displays, a Christmas Market, amusement rides, food gardens, magical characters, and plenty of other exciting activities. Dylan was quite taken by the beautiful Ice Queen and her fierce Elf warrior.
PNE Grounds
2901 East Hastings Street
November 22, 2019 – January 5, 2020
The Christmas Store at Potters
Potter’s is my one-stop-shop for most of my stocking stuffers and ornaments. This is the largest Christmas store in Western Canada, and you can easily spend a whole morning or afternoon browsing their large variety of goodies. The staff here comb the world for the tasteful and unusual. If Potters doesn’t have it – no one does. Plus the store is so pretty. It’s really lovely to stop by and get lost in all the aisles and simply look around.
HighStreet Tree Lighting and Holiday Show
The 30-minute live show includes performances by the MEI Screaming Eagles Marching Band, Project Dance, Rudolf, Frosty, Spandy Andy, and of course Santa!
November 16: Tree Lighting Ceremony to kick off the Holiday Shows at Highstreet.
Shows run every Saturday from November 16 – December 14 and start at 5PM.
HighStreet Shopping Centre
3122 Mt. Lehman Road,
Exit #83 off Highway 1
Abbotsford BC
Admission: Free
With two locations in the lower mainland (Abbotsford and Vancouver), Glow has become one of the world’s largest indoor Christmas festivals, brightening up 11 cities in 3 countries. It’s all the magic and wonder of an outdoor festival, hosted inside a cozy and spacious venue.
Nov 21 – Jan 5
Abbotsford:
1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC
Vancouver:
Harbour Convention Centre
760 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, BC
The Tree Lighting Event in Surrey
The Surrey Tree Lighting Festival returns to Surrey’s Civic Plaza on Saturday, November 23, 2019.
The expanded Holiday Market will return to offer locally-made goods. The Holiday Fun Zone on University Drive will feature amusement rides, road hockey, food trucks, inflatables, and a DJ.
The lighting of Surrey’s 60-foot Christmas tree will cap the event. This is one of the tallest Christmas trees in Canada.
Surrey City Hall, 13450 104 Ave
Admission: Free
East Van Panto returns for a seventh year, welcoming back the creative team behind last year’s hit Wizard of Oz. This year, their version of the classic tale of Pinocchio gets a very Vancouver makeover that includes the Hasting Race Course, gelato wars, a Beckwoman and cappuccino wars.
The Cultch
1895 Venables Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 2H6
Showtimes:
Nov 20–21, 7PM: Preview
Nov 22, 7PM: Opening
Nov 23 & 24, Nov 26–Dec 01, 7PM
Dec 3–8, 10–15, 17–22, 26–29, 7PM
Jan 2–5, 7PM
Nov 23, 24 & 30, 2PM
Dec 1, 7–8, 14–15, 21–22, 26, 28–29, 2PM
Jan 2, 4, 5, 2PM
Relaxed Performance:
Nov 30, 2PM
Surrey City Orchestra presents: The Nutcracker
On November 30 at 7:30pm, the Surrey City Orchestra will present a variety of local dance troupes and youth choir in a festive presentation of Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet masterpiece, The Nutcracker.
Featuring local, cross-cultural dance and choral groups, this performance of The Nutcracker celebrates the incredible talents and diverse backgrounds of Surrey’s dance and vocal artists and will be unlike any version you have seen before. It’s a must-see. The Orchestra is very new to Surrey, and if you haven’t had a chance to hear them play, you’re in for a treat.
Chandos Pattison Auditorium
10238 168 St, Surrey, BC
Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas
Stroll through the streets of the Village to see wreaths, cedar swags and vintage-themed displays will. At the bandstand, visitors can create their own magical holiday show with lights that change colours to sound.
Special entertainment is scheduled throughout the season including theatre performances, community choirs, street characters, and musicians. Many family-favourite activities are back including a craft for children, special performances, of course, visits with Father Christmas.
One of my family’s favourite holiday traditions!
November 23 – December 13, 2019
Monday to Friday, 1-5:30pm*
Saturday and Sunday, 1-9pm
(December 2: 1-4:30pm)
December 14, 2019 – January 3, 2020
Daily, 1-9pm
(closed December 24 & 25)
Admission: Free
The largest Christmas Show in the Lower Mainland with over 170 artisans and 300 participants, there is something for everyone on your list. You will discover new gift ideas, original art, crafts, woodwork, ceramics, specialty foods, home decor, clothing, furniture, floral designs, jewellery, candles, soaps, toys, and much more.
TRADEX – Fraser Valley Trade & Exhibition Centre
Friday, Nov 15, 1 PM – 9 PM
Saturday, Nov 16, 9 AM – 5 PM
Sunday, Nov 17, 11 AM – 5 PM.
Experience Bear Creek Park Lights in Surrey for two weeks from Saturday, November 2 to Friday, November 15. Illuminated trees and light displays throughout the water park and playground are sure to dazzle your senses.
Bear Creek Park
13750 – 88 Avenue, Surrey BC
Admission: Free
The market is celebrating its 10 year anniversary, can you believe it?
A beloved holiday tradition for locals and visitors alike, the Vancouver Christmas Market features
more than 80 huts of authentic German sweets, treats, and treasures. This is a must for us every year. We love looking around for gifts, eating delicious food and riding the carousel.
Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver
November 20 to December 24
Nov 20 to Dec 23, 11:30AM to 9:30PM
Dec 24, 11:30AM to 6:00PM
I have free tickets to the West Coast Christmas Show AND to the Vancouver Christmas Market to give away! To enter, head to over to my Instagram for the Vancouver Christmas Market (coming soon), or, for the West Coast Christmas Show, tweet the following:
“I want to win tickets to the @westcoastxmas show RT to enter, thanks @maryinvancity wp.me/p17nmD-5ut”
Good luck! And have a merry Christmas and the happiest of holiday seasons!
Mary in Vancity 
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