Lights of Hope: Lighting ceremony
lightsofhope.helpstpauls.com
The setup for the display at St. Paul's Hospital on Burrard Street takes almost six weeks for members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Works to complete and includes installing scaffolding and decorative wrap and more than 10 kilometres of lights. The 2016 fundraising campaign is on track to raise millions of dollars to improve patient care. Visit the website for more information and to register for this community event.
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Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Christmas Market
Nov. 26 to Dec. 31
vancouverchristmasmarket.com
The annual Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Christmas Market has relocated from Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza to Jack Poole Plaza, home of the Olympic Cauldron, a move that means an expansion of 20,000 square-feet of space for a total of 50,000.Ìý Besides 40 merchandise vendors and 24 food and beverage kiosks, highlights of the market include the 23-foot tall Christmas Pyramid complete with floating, rotating angels and German beverages, the Alpine Haus — a heated tent that can accommodate 250 guests, gingerbread decorating, visits with Santa, a Christmas carousel, entertainment, demonstrations and more.
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Enchant: the world’s largest Christmas light maze
Nov. 25 to Dec. 31
enchantchristmas.com
Highlights of this family-friendly festival include a 55,000 square-foot maze of light sculptures, a 64-foot Christmas tree, live performances, an outdoor fire pit and a sprawling marketplace including artists, food and drink vendors serving mulled wine, specialty coffees and holiday beers. Located between Olympic Village and the Cambie Street Bridge,
Enchant will also feature seasonal treats from 12 food trucks and a VIP lounge for private parties and holiday get-togethers including an exclusive entrance into the light maze, private bar, access to all of the food trucks and customizable entertainment options. Enchant is also selling a special Christmas book written by local storyteller Leanne Johnston and illustrated by Sebastian S.C. The story follows the aftermath of a disastrous snowstorm that hits the North Pole the night before Christmas. Children from around the world are asked to explore an enchanted light field and search for missing reindeer in an attempt to help Santa and save the world’s biggest holiday.
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CandyTown
Nov. 26
yaletowninfo.com
The Yaletown Business Improvement Association presents its fifth annual free outdoor ChristmasÌýfestival with lights, candy canes and costumed characters. CandyTown takes place along Mainland Street and a North Pole pop up will be located at the Canada Line Station where kids can visit with Santa for a suggested donation of $5, dedicated to B.C. Children’s Hospital. It’s not just kids who enjoy CandyTown — adults will want to check out the CandyCane martini at OPUS Bar or take a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride. The Yaletown Rotary Club will be back with its Christmas tree lot and food trucks will line the street. There’s a lot more going on, including the Pokémon Holiday Tour. For a complete schedule visit yaletowninfo.com.
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Rogers Santa Claus Parade
Dec. 4, starting at noon
rogerssantaclausparade.com
The parade runs through downtown Vancouver, starting at Georgia Street at Broughton, before continuing east along Georgia before turning south on Howe. In a change from previous years, the parade will now end at Howe and Smithe streets. View the parade from the best seats in the house complete withÌýcomplimentary hot chocolate, coffee and snacks in the VIP area. Contact [email protected] to enquire about VIP seat packages.
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Capilano Suspension Bridge: Canyon Lights
Nov. 24 to Jan. 8
capbridge.com
Visit Canyon Lights and recapture some of those feelings of wonder and excitement about the holiday season you enjoyed so much as a child.Ìý The park has been decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights, including the suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon. See the world’s tallest living Christmas tree (153 ft.), go on a Snowy Owl Prowl, decorate gingerbread cookies, make your own Christmas card (by donation) in the Winter Pavilion and sing-along with the holiday band. New this year is Fireflies, an interactive lighting display in the rainforest. Using giant flashlights, guests can magically awaken waves of tiny lights that glimmer and twinkle like fireflies.
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Sea to Sky Gondola
Dec. 1 to Jan. 1
seatoskygondola.com
Access the Spirit of Christmas activities with a ÌýorÌý to the Sea to Sky Gondola. Take part in a Christmas forest walk (daily) along the Spirit Trail, which is wheelchair and stroller friendly, and leads guests back to the Summit Lodge where they can warm up with hot cocoa by the fire. And don’t miss Pancakes and Pictures with Santa Dec. 3 and 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile Storytime takes place Mondays and Thursdays from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
