Things to Do in Vancouver This Weekend (December 12–14, 2025)

Brought to you by Vancouver Page

Welcome to your complete Weekend Events Guide, proudly curated by Vancouver Page, your local source for the best events, attractions, and festive activities across Metro Vancouver.

This weekend brings parades, Christmas markets, immersive light displays, live performances, magical train rides, family attractions, and winter celebrations throughout Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, Langley, Coquitlam, Squamish, and Harrison Hot Springs.

Every listing includes quick highlights + direct event links, making it easy to explore what’s happening in your city.

Let’s begin!

⭐ FEATURED EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

🎅 11th Annual Big Elf Run 2025 – Stanley Park

📅 Sat, Dec 13 | 📍 Lumberman’s Arch, Vancouver | 🎟 $23–$45
Vancouver’s most festive fun run returns with multiple distances, costumes, DJs, and a flat, family-friendly seawall course.

🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/big-elf-run/

🎄 Traditional Christmas with the VSO 2025

📅 Dec 12–13 | 📍 North Vancouver & Surrey | 🎟 Ticketed
A heartwarming concert series featuring carols, narration by Christopher Gaze, and festive symphonic arrangements.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/traditional-christmas-with-the-vso/

⛸️ Winter Ice Palace 2025 – Cloverdale Arena

📅 Opens Sat, Dec 13 | 📍 Surrey | 🎟 $5 admission
A magical indoor skating experience filled with holiday décor and multiple skate sessions daily.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/annual-winter-ice-palace/

🎄 PARADES & COMMUNITY FESTIVITIES

🎅 Steveston Santa Claus Parade 2025 – Richmond

📅 Sat, Dec 13 | 6–8 PM | 📍 Steveston Village | 🎟 Free
Glowing floats, performers, live music, and waterfront holiday energy.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/steveston-santa-claus-parade/

🎄 Winter in the Village – Steveston

📅 Nov 20 – Dec 31 | 📍 Steveston Village | 🎟 Free
Seasonal installations, festive treats, light displays, and community holiday activities.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/winter-in-the-village/

⭐ Lights of Hope 2025 – St. Paul’s Hospital

📅 Ongoing | 📍 1081 Burrard St, Vancouver | 🎟 Free
A massive annual light display supporting St. Paul’s Foundation’s holiday fundraising campaign.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/st-pauls-lights-of-hope/

✨ HOLIDAY LIGHT FESTIVALS

🌟 Noel Surrey 2025 – Bright Nights Light Festival

📅 Nov 28 – Dec 28 | 📍 Cloverdale Fairgrounds | 🎟 Ticketed
Features millions of lights, a massive indoor Noel Village, amusement rides & fire pits.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/noel-surrey/

🎄 Holiday Lights in Williams Park – Langley

📅 Dec 13–28 | 5–9 PM | 📍 Williams Park | 🎟 Free (registration required)
A magical drive-through light adventure with 195,000+ holiday lights.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/holiday-lights-williams-park-langley/

🌲 Canyon Lights 2025–2026 – Capilano Suspension Bridge

📅 Nov 21 – Jan 18 | 📍 North Vancouver | 🎟 Park Admission
Forest walkways, cliffwalk, suspension bridge & glowing light installations.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/canyon-lights-at-capilano-suspension-bridge/

🌌 Lights at Lafarge – Coquitlam

📅 Ongoing | 📍 Lafarge Lake, Town Centre Park | 🎟 Free
The region’s largest free outdoor winter light display.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/lights-at-lafarge-coquitlam/

🎄 Merry & Bright 2025 – Martini Town

📅 Nov 21 – Dec 31 | 📍 Langley | 🎟 Tickets Required
A movie-set Christmas village experience inside a real film backlot.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/martini-town-merry-bright-holiday-lights-langley/

🎡 Peak of Christmas – Grouse Mountain

📅 Nov 21 – Dec 24 | 📍 North Vancouver | 🎟 Included with admission
Snowy forest walks, sleigh displays, reindeer, and mountaintop magic.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/the-peak-of-christmas-at-grouse-mountain/

🎄 VanDusen Festival of Lights 2025–2026

📅 Nov 28 – Jan 4 | 📍 VanDusen Garden, Vancouver | 🎟 Ticketed
Over 1 million lights turning the botanical garden into a holiday wonderland.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/vandusen-festival-of-lights/

❄ Lights by the Lake – Harrison Hot Springs

📅 Nov 22 – Jan 11 | 📍 Harrison Village | 🎟 Free
Lakeside walking trail with glowing sculptures and scenic mountain views.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/lights-by-the-lake-harrison-hot-springs/

🐾 HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS, TRAINS & FAMILY FUN

🚂 Bear Creek Park Christmas Train – Surrey

📅 Dec 1–31 | 📍 Bear Creek Park | 🎟 $12.50
Day Train with Santa & Night Train with the Grinch.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/bear-creek-park-christmas-train/

🚂 North Pole Express – Squamish

📅 Dec 13–14 | 📍 Railway Museum of BC | 🎟 Ticketed
A magical Polar Express–style holiday train ride experience.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/north-pole-express/

🐧 Holiday Splash – Vancouver Aquarium

📅 Nov 12 – Dec 24 | 📍 Stanley Park | 🎟 Aquarium Admission
Underwater holiday displays and the return of Scuba Claus.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/holiday-splash-at-vancouver-aquarium/

🦌 Zoo Lights 2025–2026 – Greater Vancouver Zoo

📅 Nov 22 – Jan 10 | 4–9 PM | 📍 Aldergrove | 🎟 From $16
Lantern displays, wildlife-themed lights & holiday market.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/zoo-lights-greater-vancouver-zoo/

🎡 Holiday Ferris Wheel – Vancouver Art Gallery

📅 Dec 2 – Jan 3 | 📍 North Plaza, Vancouver | 🎟 $7
A rooftop view of downtown’s sparkling winter lights.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/holiday-ferris-wheel-in-downtown-vancouver/

🎭 LIVE SHOWS, MUSIC & PERFORMANCES

❄ Mixed Nuts 2025 – Vancouver Playhouse

📅 Dec 12–14 | 📍 Vancouver Playhouse | 🎟 Ticketed
A contemporary, multi-style reimagining of The Nutcracker.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/mixed-nuts-performance/

🎶 Robson Square Ice Rink – Twelve Days of Christmas Music

📅 Dec 13–24 | 📍 Robson Square | 🎟 Free
Live holiday music featuring jazz trios, choirs, DJs & more.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/robson-square-ice-rink/

❄ Disney’s Frozen – The Broadway Musical

📅 Oct 30 – Jan 4 | 📍 Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage | 🎟 Ticketed
A spectacular Broadway holiday hit brought to life by Arts Club Theatre.

🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/disneys-frozen-in-vancouver/

🌲 Spirit of the Season – Sea to Sky Gondola

📅 Nov 29 – Dec 31 | 📍 Squamish | 🎟 Gondola ticket required
Festive forest walks, summit lights, storytelling & alpine activities.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/spirit-of-the-season-at-sea-to-sky-gondola/

✨ Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience

📅 Ongoing | 📍 Stanley Park | 🎟 Ticketed
Walk through a magical interactive forest filled with spells and creatures.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/harry-potter-a-forbidden-forest-experience-stanley-park-vancouver/

🛍 CHRISTMAS MARKETS & SHOPPING EVENTS

🎁 Make It Show Vancouver 2025 – PNE Forum

📅 Dec 11–14 | 📍 PNE Forum | 🎟 $10–$15
One of Canada’s largest handmade markets: 325+ makers.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/make-it-show-vancouver/

🎄 Shipyards Christmas Market – North Vancouver

📅 Nov 28 – Dec 24 | 📍 Shipyards District | 🎟 Free
Seasonal shopping, food, mulled wine & 140+ artisan vendors.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/shipyards-christmas-market/

🎄 Vancouver Christmas Market 2025

📅 Nov 13 – Dec 24 | 📍 Jack Poole Plaza | 🎟 From $6.99
A European-inspired German Christmas village.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/vancouver-christmas-market/

🍬 Gingerbread Lane 2025 – Hyatt Regency

📅 Nov 27 – Dec 28 | 📍 Hyatt Regency | 🎟 Free
Canada’s longest-running gingerbread charity showcase.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/christmas-gingerbread-lane-at-hyatt-regency-vancouver/

🎄 Holidays on Robson

📅 Dec 6–13 | 📍 Robson Street | 🎟 Free
Florals, lights, performances & festive street atmosphere.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/holidays-on-robson/

🎁 Holidays at the Met – Metropolis at Metrotown

📅 Until Dec 30 | 📍 Burnaby | 🎟 Free
Santa experiences, outdoor market, photo ops & more.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/holidays-at-the-met/

🏛 HERITAGE, CULTURE & SEASONAL EXPERIENCES

🌲 Steveston Festival of Trees – Gulf of Georgia Cannery

📅 Nov 29 – Jan 4 | 📍 Steveston, Richmond | 🎟 Admission Required
Community-decorated Christmas trees & holiday exhibits.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/steveston-festival-of-trees/

🎄 Festive Village – Burnaby Village Museum

📅 Nov 22 – Jan 2 | 📍 Burnaby Village Museum | 🎟 Free
A nostalgic 1920s village illuminated for the holidays.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/festive-village-burnaby-village-museum/

🎢 IMMERSIVE ENTERTAINMENT

✨ The Magic of Gastown 2025

📅 Dec 1–31, 2025 | 📍 Gastown, Vancouver | 🎟 Free

Gastown transforms into one of Vancouver’s most enchanting holiday destinations with festive lights, live entertainment, and nostalgic seasonal experiences. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, mariachi parades, roaming carolers, creative installations, and holiday moments around every cobblestone corner throughout December.

🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/the-magic-of-gastown/

🎅 Soar With Santa – FlyOver Canada

📅 Nov 20 – Jan 4 | 📍 Canada Place | 🎟 Ticketed
A 4D simulated flight over Canada ending at the North Pole.
🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/soar-with-santa-at-flyover-canada/