December brings alight the holiday events all over British Columbia. There are dozens of things to do in Vancouver in December, it is almost impossible to fit all of them in. While some holiday events in Vancouver actually occur in November, most celebrations and events are in December.
If you are wondering what to do in Vancouver in December you will not be disappointed. There are still plenty of Vancouver events to enjoy, and I have listed them all below.
Vancouver Travel Resources for 2023
If you are from out of town these resources should be helpful for your trip to Vancouver!
RENTAL CAR: You definitely want to rent one in advance and grab it at the airport. Start with a rental car comparison company like this one or this one.
LOCAL TOURS: Looking for the perfect city tour, whale watching tour, bus tour, brewery tour (these are awesome) Start with Get Your Guide and Viator Tours.
BOOK A PHOTOSHOOT: Capture those memories! Book a romantic or family photoshoot while on holiday! Click Here to find a local photographer. Use code LINDSAY to save $25 off your first photoshoot!
HOTELS: Find the best hotel selection on booking.comor hostelworld.com
CRUISING? If you are cruising from Vancouver or even considering it in the future, find information and cruise reviews on cruisecritic.com
PACKING TIPS:
A good rain jacket is always a good idea, even in the summer. While you are not likely to get wet in July and August, late august almost always sees a wet day, and May, June and September will also get rain.
A good power bank to charge phones and other devices while out for the day. After a day of videoing, GPS and taking photos, the last thing you want is a dead cell phone. These are inexpensive and come in handy during the day.
A Universal Adapter is going to be handy for International Visitors. Canada uses the same plugs as the USA but if you are coming from somewhere else abroad, grab yourself one before you arrive.
Most stores have gone away from plastic shopping bags and those who do have them likely charge for them. Either buy a cute reusable one (makes a great souvenir) when you arrive or bring a small one with you!
Reusable water bottles are also a good idea. Tap water is drinkable all over Vancouver and there are plenty of water fountain options to get water. You can buy and recycle water bottles anywhere, but why shell out wasteful dollars when you can drink the tap water all over British Columbia?
Fly Over Canada’s Original Production
If you have never seen Fly Over Canada, then you are in for a treat. During the Ultimate Flying Ride you will see numerous cities and vistas across the country. The production team for FlyOver Canada were able to select 18 scenes from over 100 hours of footage to represent Canada in the ride film. There are no subtitles or voice-overs during the experience, as we did not want to detract from the flying sensation
Tickets: Book your tickets online in advance here for the lowest price and to ensure availability.
Dates: Offered Year Round and can be combined with seasonal productions.
Location: 201 – 999 Canada Place Vancouver, BC
Important Notes: The queue is partially exposed to the elements. Ensure you wear proper attire. It is recommended to buy tickets online in advance.
FlyOver Canada’s Seasonal Offering: Soar with Santa
Soar with Santa this Christmas on a magical flight across Canada from FlyOver Canada. This season, we invite audiences to soar with Santa across Canada and the North Pole in an original cinematic ride experience.
Tickets: Book your tickets online in advance here for the lowest price and to ensure availability
Dates: Dec 6th 2021 to Jan 3rd 2022
Location: 201 – 999 Canada Place Vancouver, BC
Important Notes: The queue is partially exposed to the elements. Ensure you wear proper attire. It is recommended to buy tickets online in advance
PNE Winter Fair
The PNE is bringing Vancouver a unique Winter Fair this holiday season! The event runs for ten magical nights and will feature a nightly Christmas-themed concert series, a large indoor skating rink, family-friendly holiday theatre shows that will be a favourite for the little ones, a winter market, tasty food and beverages, and a walk-thru Winter Lights display!
All entertainment elements at PNE Winter Fair are free with admission (except for the Holiday Night Concerts in the Pacific Coliseum).
DATES: December 14-23 2022 4:30 – 10:30
TICKETS: Adults Online $15 at Gate $17, Seniors Online $12 at Gate $14, Child 4-17 Online $12 at Gate $14, kids 0-3 FREE
Christmas Glow in Langley
Guests will experience a family-friendly outdoor Christmas festival with towering light gardens and magical landscapes all under the magic of more than a million lights. Attractions include a kids scavenger hunt, food trucks, a holiday train ride, pictures with Santa, a meet and greet with princesses, and a warm tent space with liver performances and holiday beverages.
This year at Glow Langley, the theme is “the Jolly Jumble” which tells a story and sends families on a mission to find Santa’s tree-decorating team of elves so that they can finish decorating the North Pole’s Christmas Tree!
Dates: November 23rd, 2022 until December 31st 2022
Tickets: Adult $19.99, Family Pass $69.99
Parking: FREE
Location: 6690 216th St, Langley
Shop on Robson Street
In its prime area roughly between Burrard and Jervis Street, Robson Street has every store that you could desire for your fashion wants and holiday shopping. All the major national and international chain stores are located here, from more casual and athletic wear companies such as to well-known clothing retailers. Popular footwear retailers, lingerie and beauty products are all here. You can also pick up some popular Vancouver souvenirs and things you can only get in Canada at souvenir shops Grand Maple Gift and Canadian Crafts on Robson.
Beyond King Tut
With nine galleries to explore, wind through the story of a young boy whose name still looms
large, and how he changed the ancient – and modern – world. Meet Ancient Egyptian gods like
Ra and Anubis before descending into King Tut’s burial chamber and joining his quest for
immortality. Relive one of the greatest discoveries of all time – the king’s tomb with all his
treasures waiting inside, reclaimed from the desert sand after 3,000 years.
Tickets are timed and dated, and advance purchase is strongly encouraged with sellouts
expected. Prices start at $31.99 for adults and $23.99 for children ages 5-15 (plus ticketing fees).
Package rates for families, seniors (on Tuesdays) and groups are available, as well as VIP Tickets,
which include a flex ticket for entry, merchandise and entry to the award-winning
“Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb” VR companion experience voiced by lauded English actor Hugh
Bonneville.
Tickets: www.beyondkingtut.com
Location: 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Prices: Adults $31.99 Children $23.99
Dates: Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 8pm (final entry 7pm) Friday & Saturday: 10am – 10pm (final entry 9pm) CLOSED Dec 25th and Dec 31st
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
Named one of the most spectacular holiday lights displays in the world, Canyon Lights is set to dazzle and amaze, high above the forest floor. The suspension bridge, rainforest and Capilano River are ablaze with lights, making it a perfect spot for photos. Treetops Adventure (the eight tallest Christmas trees in the world) is lit from top to bottom, the “Arc de Lumina” light tunnel mesmerizes on Cliffwalk, while the Snowy Owl Prowl scavenger hunt entertains the whole family.
A tradition for many Vancouver families, Canyon Lights looks forward to welcoming back guests. While normally one of the things to do in Vancouver in December, Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge will again be open to visitors on November 19th 2022. Tickets are available November 3rd!
Dates for Canyon Lights: November 19, 2022 – January 22, 2023
Location: 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Important Notes: Masks are required. Strollers are not allowed. Dress for the outdoors.
Skate at Robson Square
Since 2010, Robson Square ice rink has been open each December for locals and visitors to skate! It is located between Howe and Hornby streets behind the Vancouver Art Gallery and is one of the most popular ice skating rinks in Vancouver. The ice skating rink is in the middle of the square. The rink is open-air, but also covered and partly underground.
Location: 800 Robson Street, Vancouver, V6Z 2E7
More Info: Robson Square Ice rink
Ski at The Local Mountains
A Vancouverite pastime, skiing on the local mountains is what so many adults remember about growing up in Vancouver.
Grouse Mountain features 33 Ski and Snowboard runs, 15 night runs, 4 chairlifts and 6 terrain parks. Single Lift Tickets include access to the Skyride, chairlifts and mountaintop activities. Lift Ticket valid for one uphill and downhill ride on the Skyride in the same day.
Mount Seymour is the closest to downtown Vancouver. has 4 chair lifts, 5 terrain parks, a tube park, snowshoeing and toboggan area. It has 40 marked runs, about half of which are available for nigth skiing.
Cypress is the biggest of the local mountains and has cross country skiing in addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding. there is also snow tubing and snowshoeing.
RELATED: Best snowshoeing in Vancouver
Stanley Park Holiday Train
Welcoming over 200,000 visitors annually, the Stanley Park Railway is popular with locals and tourists alike. The Stanley Park Holiday train is back for the 2022 holiday season in Vancouver
The 20 gauge, 2 km track winds through the forest over ground cleared by Typhoon Freda, the most devastating storm in Vancouver history which blew through in 1962.
Passengers can get a close-up look at a vintage engine and a quick photo before boarding for the 15-minute ride.
The jewel of the Stanley Park Railway’s collection of old locomotives is a locally-built replica of Canadian Pacific Railway Engine #374, famous for pulling Canada’s first transcontinental passenger train into Vancouver in the late 1880s.
Stanley Park Railway is adjacent to other popular destinations such as Lumberman’s Arch, Malkin Bowl, and the Rose Garden.
Tickets: $13 for adults (19-65) Children (3-12) $9, Youth (12-17) $10, Seniors (54+) $10 (under 2 is free). They must be bought online in advance. There are also matinee tickets that are cheaper.
Location: Stanley Park
Dates: 2022 Tickets TBD
Lights on the Lake at Harrison Hot Springs
While this event gained a ton of online press for being mis-marketed as a Whoville, it is a beautiful display of lights in Harrison on Harrison lake. Whether you visit for the day or make it a weekend getaway from Vancouver, it is a great outdoor event is very popular each holiday season.
Dates: Saturday November 19th, 2022 until Sunday January 8th, 2023
Read More: things to do in Harrison Hot Springs
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
Thousands of guests will be transported to a winter wonderland at the Burnaby Village Museum during Heritage Christmas, one of the largest annual holiday celebrations in Metro Vancouver. Twinkling lights will adorn the vintage storefronts at Burnaby Village Museum, while holiday carolers
and characters like Buddy the Elf wander the streets during Heritage Christmas. The result is a magical holiday experience unlike any other in Metro Vancouver and it’s all presented free of charge by the
City of Burnaby.
Location: 6501 Deer Lake, Burnaby BC
Dates for 2022: TBD
Grouse Mountain Peak of Vancouver
Grouse Mountain offers more than just skiing. With skating, light walks, snowshoeing and more, it is worth taking the tram up the mountain. Feel the enchantment and radiance of twinkling lights, the calm echo of the snow and the joy of witnessing real reindeer. Experience the tranquil beauty of skating on our 8,000 square foot mountaintop Ice Skating Pond, surrounded by snow-topped trees.
Dates for 2022: TBD
Vancouver Christmas Market
Vancouver’s largest and longest-running Christmas Market – and only European Christmas Market – invites families and friends to reconnect and celebrate the spirit of the holiday season. For those who like a jump on the holiday season, the Vancouver Christmas Market creates the perfect atmosphere to get into the holiday spirit.
Experience a selection of traditional food and beverages, and browse vendors offering authentic wood carvings and toys, knitted goods, nutcrackers, pottery, and other unique gifts. This is a popular place to get Vancouver souvenirs. It is one of the only places where you can shop while sipping mulled wine!
Dates: November 12 to December 24 2022
Location: Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place
Prices: Tickets start at $9.99 based on the type of ticket you purchase. Kids 6 and under are free.
Tickets: Pre Sale Tickets are available online. Tickets can also be purchased on arrival subject to availability.
Vancouver Santa Claus Parade
Over the years, the annual Vancouver Santa Claus Parade has become known as the city’s kickoff event of the Christmas season, so it’s with a great deal of regret that the organizers announce that the parade has been put on hiatus for 2022.
For 16 years, the annual parade has thrilled audiences of all ages with crowds of 300,000 flocking to downtown Vancouver to watch marching bands, choirs, float entries and community groups perform along the 1.8-km route. In addition to kicking off the holiday season, the parade celebrates the spirit of giving by generating much needed donations for those in need across the Lower Mainland through its support of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, as well as the CKNW Kids’ Fund, which enhances the lives of children living with physical, mental and social challenges in B.C.
Dates: Cancelled for 2022
Lights at Lafarge Lake
Lights at Lafarge Lake is one of the largest free light displays in Metro Vancouver, featuring more than 100,000 twinkling lights. This year’s Lights at Lafarge Kick-off event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Town Centre Park, featuring food vendors, arts activities, live entertainment and a grand finale performance. If you are wondering what to do in Vancouver in November and are looking for an outdoor activity, this is one you should add to your list.
Dates: Nightly from Nov 26th
Photo Courtesy City of Coquitlam
Christmas in Wiliams Park (Langley)
Christmas in Williams Park transforms this popular langley park into a lighted wonderland. This FREE event for families offers a drive-through light experience thanks to the Christmas in Willams Park Society.
Where: 6525 238th St, Langley
Dates: November 25th to December 18th 2022
Is December a Good Time to Visit Vancouver?
December is considered the offseason to visit much of British Columbia but that does not mean you should not visit Vancouver in the winter. It is a festive time of year, one in which you can catch annual events like the Nutcracker across much of BC. Generally, the local ski hills are not open until winter break (between Christmas and New Years) although Whistler Blackcomb opens in line with American Thanksgiving in November. The summer months are peak season to visit Vancouver, so if you want to visit without crowds or are visiting for Christmas, December is a good time to come into the city.
It rains 20 out of 30 days of the month, so make sure you plan for rain. While the city does not see much snow, the wet can be very uncomfortably cold, so ensure you have the right clothing.
Read More: 99 things to do in British Columbia
Does it snow in Vancouver in December?
As you will read below, snow is a rare sight in Vancouver and is usually only seen on higher elevations. With that being said, flakes do fall in the city on occasion. If you are looking for a white Christmas, Christmas in Vancouver is not the right choice (but nearby Whistler or other British Columbia ski resorts are perfect choices!)
Weather in Vancouver in December
Vancouver has a moderate climate for most of the year. It does not get the cold snowy weather that you will find in much of the rest of Canada, but it is important to plan for the elements just in case. There is a likely chance of snow in higher elevations in Metro Vancouver in December, and you are likely to see fresh snow on the mountains around the city (usually the first dusting comes in late October and early November).
Snow on the mountains likely means rain in the city. When planning a trip to Vancouver in December, ensure you are prepped for rain with a decent waterproof jacket and appropriate footwear. You will also want layers.
Get more information on Vancouver weather December with tips on what to pack, temperatures to expect and how likely you are to see wet weather or sunshine.
December in Vancouver: What to Pack
As mentioned above, it does not get extremely cold, but expect wet and cool weather, usually just above freezing. You will want to ensure you have warm, waterproof clothing including sweaters, hoodies, and a heavier jacket. Bring closed-toed shoes and some type of waterproof footwear. You will probably want a light pair of gloves and a hat. If you do not have a packable umbrella, I suggest you buy one.
More Monthly Events in Vancouver:
Things to do in Vancouver in January
Things to do in Vancouver in February
Things to do in Vancouver in March
Things to do in Vancouver in April
Things to do in Vancouver in May
Things to do in Vancouver in September
Things to do in Vancouver in October
Things to do in Vancouver in November
Lindsay Nieminen is the creator of UncoveringBC.com. She grew up and still lives in the suburbs of Vancouver with her family. She aims to inspire inform, and educate others about traveling in her home province of British Columbia. She is also the creator of carpediemourway.com which aims to show parents how to seek out adventure at home or abroad, with their children in tow!