15 Things to Do in Vancouver in December

Winter is the best time to make memories with your friends and family. The pandemic had most of the people cancel their summer plans. But the people are ready to have a blast in the winter season with the snow coming. If you are planning to visit the city of Vancouver in December, do not forget to do these 15 amazing yet affordable things:

Join the Vancouver Santa Claus Parade

This is Vancouver’s largest holiday festival. More than 300,000 spectators come here to watch the parade. The parade includes 2500 participants, dance troupes, choirs, marching bands, 40 floats, community groups, and businesses like retirement planners, and vancouver dentists just dancing on the beat. The event starts with a nice and warming breakfast with Santa Claus at the Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver. Visiting the place of the event is free of cost.

Ice skating at Robson Square Ice Rink

It is a government-owned ice-skating rink, where children and adults of any age can skate free of cost. It is located just at the outside plaza of Robson Square. This ice rink opens up to the public just when the temperature starts to drop in Vancouver.

Enjoy the Winter Hayrides in Steveston

Every year, thousands of people go to Steveston village to enjoy the famous winter hayrides. The experience becomes mesmerizing with seasonal sing-a-long, local food, and hospitality of the people of Steveston village. However, you have to pre-register to enjoy the winter hayrides.

Gingerbread village

Gingerbread Village is a charity event for Surrey Christmas Bureau. The gingerbread creations by experts and locals get displayed at central city shopping centers. The attendees then vote for their favorite, buy it with cash, and make a generous donation to the Bureau to help low-income families during the Christmas holiday season.

Cineplex Community Day

Care for a free movie day? why not! A lot of visitors get treated by Cineplex through a huge selection of famous movies. This event continues to be a successful movie day followed by donations for girls’ and boys’ groups, Canada. Selected food items such as drinks, popcorns, and nachos are available at a reduced price of $2.50.

Movies in the Morgue

The police Museum of Vancouver presents a variety of horror films, cults, comedy films, and thriller movies in the old city morgue. Attendees are allowed to bring blankets as well as pillows to make a cozy place in the morgue. However, you’d only get pop and fresh popcorn to eat there.

The Handmade Revolution Festival

This holiday event features more than 260 vendors selling hand-made items with love and that too, at extremely affordable prices. You can shop for hand-made accessories, jewelry, clothing, home décor, children items, goodies, etc. The event also includes various food trucks and drink corners to enlighten the visitors.

The Night Tree Celebration

If you visit Kinsmen’s Hall, do not forget to visit the night tree celebration, hosted by PoCo. You would get to enjoy nature-based entertainment and activities for the whole family. In addition to that, you’d get hot chocolates alongside other scrumptious confectionaries.

Family First night – New Year’s Eve at Mount Seymour

If you get to visit Vancouver on New Year’s Eve, do not forget to attend the Family First night event at Mount Seymour. Your children will get to enjoy laser tobogganing, live performances, live dance, show shoeing, and much more. The food vendors there are ready to serve your hot pipping food. The event ends with a loud countdown and beautiful fireworks.

Winter Ice Palace

Cloverdale ice palace turns into a winter wonderland for an annual winter ice palace. You can enjoy decorations, live music, and hot food with your friends and family while making laps in the ice rink.

Fridays on Front Holiday Market

Are you interested in attending a parade every Friday at a park? If yes, head over to the front street and enjoy a selection of rides, foods, and drinks. The admission is free. The event shows the true spirit of the winter holiday season in Vancouver.

Weirdos Holiday Market

The event, hosted by This Monkey’s Gone Crazy showcases a wide array of fantastic yet weird gift ideas. The market has a lot to offer, especially if you are going with your friends. You would get to see art installation, enjoy live music, and a sword-swallowing performance.

Vancouver Christmas Market

The German-inspired Christmas market in Vancouver features a wide array of food stalls, local businesses (ie. repairmen or brewers) game arenas, live entertainment, children’s activities, bar stalls, and much more. In addition to that, you would get to ride the only Christmas carousel in Vancouver.

Bright Nights at Stanley Park

Enjoy 3 million dazzling nights decorating acres of Vancouver’s only forest. The light decorations reach as high as the forest canopies so that spectators could gaze at them all night long. The visitors also get to enjoy music, light snacks, and manual rides.

Heritage Christmas

Every year, Burnaby Village celebrates the Christmas heritage. The event features theatre performances, vintage-themed displays, live music, live Farmhouse baking and children’s activities. There’s even an option to have turkey dinner before getting sweet treats from a nearby ice cream parlor.

December is the month of celebration in Vancouver. There’s a lot you do in these markets and events hosted by locals.