With Christmas well and truly upon us, many Vancouver families are enjoying some well-earned time together. There are so many ways to enjoy this festive season in Vancouver. For instance, we’ve shared kid-friendly Vancouver holiday activities, given you our tips for getting out and enjoying winter in our fair city (and on the local mountains) and told you where to find a great cup of cocoa to warm you up. One fun way to entertain the kids and yourselves, though, is to check out the Christmas lights in Vancouver. Here are our suggestions for where to find some great displays.
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Five Fabulous Places to See Christmas Lights in Vancouver
1. St. Paul’s Hospital
Many Vancouver mamas welcome their babies at St. Paul’s. Why not take a stroll by this year to enjoy one of the best displays of Christmas lights in Vancouver? The display is built by over 150 volunteers using donated materials. There are more than 100,000 bulbs and hundreds of sponsored stars. And the best part? This charity fundraiser supports that hospital’s patients.
2. Bright Nights at Stanley Park
We already mentioned this, but it bears repeating. Even if you don’t have tickets to ride the train, it’s worth checking out the Stanley Park Train Plaza. It’s filled with glittering light displays and family-friendly fun, and admission is by donation. All donations go directly to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, so it’s not just an affordable evening, you’re supporting a great cause.
vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/bright-nights-train.aspx
3. Capilano Suspension Bridge
You have to pay to get in, but the annual Canyon Lights event at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park on the North Shore is worth shelling out for. And as an added bonus, if you live in BC you can get a year-long pass with your one-time admission. The bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk the forest and canyon are all decorated in honour of the season. And new this year you can check out VocaLites and create your own voice-activated interactive light show.
www.capbridge.com/explore/canyon-lights
4. Rae Street in Port Coquitlam
This may be a bit of a drive, but it is one of the most amazing private displays of Christmas lights in Vancouver (ish). Located at 3313 Rae Street in Port Coquitlam, the display features more than 100,000 lights synchronized to music. The display lights up the night in a way that few others do. You really have to see it to appreciate it. And if you go, bring a donation for the food bank.
5. Trinity Street
This annual festival is not running as usual this year, sadly. However, many homes in 2400 through 2900 blocks of Trinity Street are still decorated. The reason for the change is that the traffic got out of control. So if you visit these Christmas lights in Vancouver, please park (legally) and walk through the neighbourhood to see the sparkle.
We’re sure we missed lots of great places to see Christmas Lights in Vancouver (and the suburbs). What are your favourites? Leave a comment and let us know!