Christmas Events in Vancouver (and the Lower Mainland)
If you’re new to Canada, you will find that the majority of Canadians celebrate Christmas, an annual holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas Day is December 25th. While considered a Christian holiday, many Canadians have lost the direct affiliation with religion. Instead they focus on the customs of the holiday: giving gifts to family, friends, and loved ones, decorating houses with outdoor lights, cutting down and decorating Christmas trees with lights and ornaments, hanging mistletoes in doorways, and visiting Santa Claus.
There are many free Christmas events throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley:
- The Surrey Libraries (Ocean Park branch) will offer a Christmas Special of stories, songs, snacks, crafts, and a visit from Santa December 13th.
- The City of Coquitlam offers a Winter Lights Display at Lagarge Lake in Town Centre Park: Lights at Lafarge – this is the Lower Mainland’s largest free outdoor lights display.
- The Vancouver Sun offers a guide to Christmas Light displays around Metro Vancouver with a map to the brightest and best displays of lights by homeowners.
- The Burnaby Village Museum offers free admission to their Heritage Christmas. There, you will find vintage-themed displays of wreaths, cedar swags, as well as live theatre performances, community choirs, street characters and musicians.
- The Fraser Valley Public Library (Clearbrook Branch, Abbotsford) invites you to join them for family-friendly festive cheer. You can sing Christmas Carols with the Chilliwack Harmony Chorus and enjoy a special storytime and other fun activities.
- The Robson Square Ice Rink is a great way to try ice-skating for the first time. You can skate for free if you have your own skates, or you can rent a pair for a small fee.
There is much to see and do during this holiday season. I encourage you and your family to try some of these free activities!