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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!
But just because the big day is here doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Here are 20 great things to do around Vancouver from December 23 to 29. Contact Winter Music Festival, The Jinkx & Dela Holiday Show, and more.
Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town.
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Contact Winter Music Festival
What: Contact Winter Music Festival is returning to Vancouver and some massive stars are coming for the party.
Canada’s largest indoor winter music festival is taking over the Vancouver Convention Centre on December 27 and 28. This year’s headliners include multi-platinum and Grammy Award-nominated artist and producer deadmau5 and America’s Best DJ nominee Seven Lions.
When: December 27 and 28, 2024
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre — 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
What: Get festive and forbidden this season with the Holiday History and Hot Chocolate Tour. Acclaimed guided walking tours company Forbidden Vancouver invites you to step inside downtown’s iconic buildings and discover stories of intrigue, jealousy and murder.
Guests will also enjoy beautiful holiday displays in some of Vancouver’s finest hotel lobbies, get a private viewing inside the Marine Building, and stay warm with a delicious hot chocolate at the award-winning Mink Chocolates.
When: Daily until January 10, 2025 (no tour on Christmas and New Year’s Day)
Time: Various start times
Where: Starts at the corner of Robson Street and Granville Street
Cost: $45-$49. Purchase online
What: Noel Surrey will feature Santa’s castle, a Holly Jolly Hub with food trucks and beverages, bumper cars, and more.
There will also be plenty of interactive light displays and photo ops, including a 1 km accessible outdoor holiday light walk filled with illuminated see-saws, a frosty forest, a 150-foot light tunnel, and more.
When: Closes December 23, 2024
Time: 4 to 10:30 pm
Where: Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Surrey
Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for youth and seniors, and free for children ages 6 and under. Purchase online
The Improv Centre (Chelsey Stuyt/Submitted)
What: The holiday season can be a stressful time for a variety of reasons. That’s why the funny folks at The Improv Centre (TIC) on Granville Island are helping chase away the winter blues with its new seasonal show, Merry/Happy/Jolly.
Audiences will help the improvisers create a brand-new show each night during the “choose-your-own-adventure” performance.
When: Now until December 23, with matinee performances on December 22 and 24.
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: The Improv Centre — 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
What: The Arts Club Theatre Company presents Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol. Based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the heartwarming musical starring Scott Bellis as Scrooge sees the owner of a mining company town learning important lessons to see life and love anew.
When: Now until December 24, 2024
Time: Various times
Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage – 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: From $39, purchase online
What: Vancouver Christmas Market is transforming Jack Poole Plaza into a huge German-style holiday event until Christmas Eve.
A popular holiday tradition for locals and visitors alike, the Vancouver Christmas Market features more than 90 huts of authentic German sweets, treats, and treasures. Plus, there are many festive activities and live entertainment to enjoy.
When: Now until December 24, 2024
Time: Various opening hours
Where: Jack Poole Plaza – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices; season passes are on sale now
Bob Frid/Imagn Images
What: The Canucks have a busy Christmas week, with home games against the San Jose Sharks on December 23 and Seattle Kraken on December 28.
When: December 23 and 28, 2024
Time: Various times
Where: Rogers Arena – 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver
Cost: Various; purchase online
What: Gingerbread Lane, the sweetest street in Vancouver, is back for its 32nd year as the Hyatt Regency once again plays host to the popular festive tradition.
As per tradition over the past three decades, the free event features delightful gingerbread creations designed by secondary school students, amateur culinary artists, and professional bakers.
In addition to providing a welcome dose of holiday feels, the event also helps to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of BC and the Yukon, which is celebrating its 41st year of granting wishes to children living with critical illnesses.
When: Now until December 27, 2024
Time: Regular hotel hours
Where: Hyatt Regency Vancouver — 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free
What: Vancouver’s own Petunia and The Vipers are throwing a huge album release party at The Rio Theatre and you’re invited. Get ready to party at the “hillbilly-flavoured-swing inflected-ragtime-goodtime-thunderously rolling-one-of-a-kind-you-don’t-want-to-miss-this-sort-of-a-show” while listening to their latest album, Calling Me Back.
When: December 27, 2024
Time: Doors 6:30 pm, show 7 pm
Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver
Tickets: $20 early bird plus fees, $26 general admission plus fees. Purchase online
What: The Vancouver Giants face off with the Kelowna Rockets in WHL action on Sunday, December 29.
When: December 29, 2024
Time: 4 pm
Where: Langley Events Centre – 7888 200th Street, Langley
Cost: Various; purchase online
The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Special/Facebook
What: Drag Queens BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon from RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars bring their newest holiday show to Vancouver. Fans can expect a fabulous spectacle in the show co-written and co-created by the duo and directed by BenDeLaCreme, with whip-smart comedy, brand-new songs, and annual favourites.
When: December 28, 2024
Time: Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre — 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase here
What: With winter in full swing, it’s a great time to head inside and watch a great movie.
Hollywood Theatre is here to help with a double feature of How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Love Actually on Monday, December 23. Get seats to one or both films and feel the spirit of the season!
When: December 23, 2024
Time: 6 pm
Where: Hollywood Theatre – 3123 West Broadway, Vancouver
Cost: Various prices. Purchase online
What: The City of White Rock’s Bright Walk event at Memorial Park on Marine Drive is happening every night from December 7 until January 12. You’ll find a ton of illuminated installations, including a sparkling Instagram-worthy light tunnel, a 20-foot Christmas tree, and over 50,000 twinkling lights.
When: Now until January 12, 2025
Time: Lights are on all day on weekends, and from dusk to dawn on weekdays
Where: White Rock Waterfront
Cost: Free
What: Foffy’s Wonderland, a globally touring pop-up, has taken over Lavenderland for an experience full of adventure and fantasy, running now until January 12. Visitors can expect dazzling light displays, family-friendly activities, and live performances, along with Richmond’s first-ever holiday market.
For every ticket sold, 50 cents will be donated to the Social Diversity for Children Foundation. Entry to Floffy’s Wonderland is also free for children aged twelve and under.
When: Now until January 12, 2025
Where: Lavenderland — 8460 Steveston Highway, Richmond
Cost: General admission costs $24.99 and comes with a complimentary lavender hydrosol valued at $28. Free entrance for children — Available here
What: Visitors will find over 85 farms and producers and a selection of food and coffee trucks. Shop for fruits and veggies, eggs and dairy, meat, prepared food, craft beverages, craft items, and more.
When: Every Saturday until March 29, 2025
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Where: 50 E 30th Avenue and Ontario Street, Vancouver
What: Old Yale Brewing is celebrating the festive season with over a dozen themed cocktails, including the Koala La La La, Rudolph’s Replacement, and Santa Slide.
When: Now until December 31, 2024
Where: Old Yale Abbotsford — 33738 Laurel Street, Abbotsford and Old Yale Chilliwack — 404-44550 South Sumas Road, Chilliwack
Pavel Ilyukhin/Shutterstock
What: The 25th annual Winter Ice Palace transforms the Cloverdale Arena into a wintry wonderland. Invite your friends and family to join you for a festive skate, complete with holiday lights, colourful decorations, and seasonal music.
When: Now until January 5, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Cloverdale Ice Arena – 6090 176th Street, Surrey
Cost: $45 per person, $3.50 for skate rentals, $1.75 for helmet rentals. Free admission for annual Recreation Pass and Family Fun Pass holders.
What: Vancouver Mysteries invites super sleuths to try and solve the strange hauntings happening in the downtown core. Paranormal investigators will use all of their skills to explore four different hauntings while learning about life in the city in the 1910s, 1930s and 1970s along the journey.
When: Daily
Time: Various times
Where: Secret location to be revealed to players
Cost: $35 per player plus GST. Purchase Online
What: Science World invites guests to discover how our actions can affect the world in its latest feature exhibit, Earth Matters.
Explore the natural world through the interactive displays, including a coral reef and an insect hotel. Learn about topics like biodiversity, rising temperatures, and more while discovering how everything is connected.
When: Now until January 9, 2025
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Science World – 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available online
What: The Comedy Department invites you to send off 2024 and welcome in 2025 with a blast of laughs at Year-End Update: Hindsight is Hilarious. Take a funny look back at the year that was, including Swifties, AI, shocking headlines, and more. Each show will also include a “fake midnight” countdown.
When: December 27 and 28, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm (Vancouver),
Where: The Show Cellar – 1755 Davie Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online