Metro Vancouver shimmers like a bauble-covered Christmas tree with twinkling light displays at this time of year. And so long as you’re well-prepared for the weather––long underwear is never a bad idea!––these festive illuminations are a great way to add some fairy-lit magic to your celebrations.

 

Read on for some of our favourite local displays. Then gather your friends and family, adjust your camera settings and head out for a sparkling good time. Browse our Attractions page for more information on your 2024 options––and keep an eye on this story, which we will update as the season unfolds.

 

Blockbuster Favourites

 

For sheer spectacle, it’s hard to beat Capilano Canyon Lights, which transforms the much-loved suspension bridge attraction into a feast of flickering illuminations. The bridge itself shimmers like a multicoloured necklace over the inky-black river canyon, but the rest of the park is also fully decorated—including a gaggle of gigantic living Christmas trees.

 

Beautifully decorated foliage is also in the picture at VanDusen Botanical Garden, where the annual Festival of Lights returns for another enchanting year. An unmissable Christmastime tradition for many locals and visitors, it’s a stroll-around winter wonderland of artful displays and selfie-ready creativity. We also love the excellent gift shop here for last-minute pressie ideas!

 

Another must-see, Bright Nights in Stanley Park is back for its 27th season in 2024. A hugely important fundraiser for the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund, the walk-through spectacle––handily located just a few steps from the park’s transit bus loop––delivers a huge array of festive lights and displays, while its beloved Stanley Park Train will also be available (book ahead for this).

 

Local Sparklers

 

Outside the city, there are also some brilliantly illuminated 2024 events and attractions well worth hopping in the car for. Langley’s Merry & Bright in Martini Town transforms a working movie studio backlot into an utterly beguiling Christmas film set, complete with twinkling storefronts, shimmering streets and movie-magic snowfalls every 30 minutes.

 

There’s also plenty of magic at Glow Langley, where you’ll find more than one million twinkling lights fashioned into artful installations and holiday sculptures. This year’s theme is the Enchanted Forest, which includes talking trees, singing streams and a host of family-friendly activities—plus a three-storey-high Crystal Place that is perfect for lofty photos of the shimmering site.

 

And don't forget to check out a brand new local happening this year. Surrey’s Noel Holiday Lights Festival and Market includes live music, roaming holiday characters and a huge Ferries wheel. There are also lots of kid-friendly activities and an artisan market. But we’re especially looking forward to the 1km light walk, where countless fairy-lights will be arranged and displayed into shimmering, photo-friendly displays. Alternatively, consider driving north for Squamish at Dusk, a unique walk-around woodland attraction adorned with dramatic neon displays, artsy light creations and an all-important Warming Hut––where you can take a break from the fresh mountain air and even dive into dinner.

 

City De-lights

 

Back in Vancouver, there are lots of additional illuminated attractions to wave your camera at. St. Paul’s Lights of Hope has adorned the exterior of downtown’s main hospital site for more than 25 years and is a must-see for many festive-minded locals. Please donate to the hospital’s foundation, if you can.

 

In addition, a huge part of the appeal of the Vancouver Christmas Market––which adorns a large alfresco site near the landmark Olympic Cauldron––is its decorated booths, illuminated vintage carousel and towering Christmas Pyramid centerpiece, which stands out like a festive beacon on the city’s shoreline.

 

One of our favourite must-sees, though, is the PNE Winter Fair, which has become a latter-day holiday tradition for many since launching a few years back. Its WinterLights display is a great way to get your Christmas illuminations fix. But there’s so much more to see here as well, including holiday shows, a hop-aboard train and even some on-ice bumper cars!

 

Tree Toppers

 

Of course it wouldn’t be Christmas without a full serving of sparkling Christmas trees to ogle and admire. And, luckily, there are lots of twinkling local options. If you’re looking to warm-up indoors, consider the Cloverdale Christmas Tree Festival at the Museum of Surrey, where more than 30 unique trees decorated by local organizations will be on display.

 

But if you’re fully fleeced-up, make sure you snap a few shots with the official city trees in both Surrey and Vancouver. We especially enjoy the special switch-on events planned for both: the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival at the Civic Plaza is a two-day affair on November 23 and 24, while the Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting party near the Vancouver Art Gallery runs on November 29—free hot chocolate included!

 

For more information on festive events, attractions and shows in the city and beyond, visit the Vancouver Christmas Guide. Written by Lonely Planet travel writer John Lee, it’s the best online guide to the area’s 2024 holiday happenings. The site was co-created with Christmas Cat Max, who pens its gift reviews and often appears on its @VancouverChristmasGuide Instagram feed.