Here is our round-up of North Shore holiday activities for the month of December, including family outings, festivals & light displays, breakfasts with Santa, photos with Santa & charity events. Safe & happy holidays everyone!
FAMILY HOLIDAY OUTINGS
Sat, Nov 23 to Tues, Dec 24 – Grouse Mountain’s Peak of Christmas
Location: Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Van
Details: Santa’s workshop, outdoor ice skating, mountain-top sleigh rides, reindeer tattoos, meet the reindeer, christmas movie favourites in the mountaintop theatre.
Fri, Nov 22 – Tues, Dec 24th – North Pole BC
Location: Lynn Valley Centre (in the old Zellers space), North Van
Details: Gingerbread bakery, toy workshop, the toy inventor, Mrs. Claus’s Story Time, Northern Lights Light Show, Train Ride.
Sun, Dec 1st (starts at 1:00 pm) – Rogers Santa Claus Parade
Location: Downtown Vancouver
Details: Fun for the whole family! Check out the parade website for parade route & other event details.
Thurs, Dec 5 – Sun, Jan 5 (closed Dec 25) – Stanley Park Xmas Train
Location: Stanley Park, Downtown Vancouver
Details: Ride the miniature train and enjoy Stanley Park sparkle with two million twinkling lights, hot cocoa, popcorn, roasted nuts and more! Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.
Sat, Nov 30 – Sat, Jan 4 (closed Dec 25) – Canyon Lights
Location: Capilano Suspension Bridge, 3735 Capilano Road, North Van
Details: Check out the 250,000 lights decorating Capilano bridge, treetop adventures and Cliffwalk, all while listening to live music, decorating gingerbread cookies and watching glass blowing demonstrations.
Fri, Dec 6th (6-8pm) – Tinsel, Trees & Treasures
Location: Parkgate Community Centre, 3625 Banff Court, North Van
Details: Free celebration for the whole family with crafts, carols, cookie decorating, Santa visit and more!
Sat, Dec 7 (noon-4pm) – Celebration in the Woods
Location: Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre, 3663 Park Road, North Van
Details: Celebrate the season with games, treats and a special puppet show!
Tues, Dec 10 (6:30-8:30pm) – Cookies & Carols
Location: Lynn Valley Rec Centre (Cardinal Hall)
Details: Enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, caroling, craft centre & playdough station. Admission by donation to the Food Bank. Must register.
Wed, Dec 18 (1:30 pm) – Christmas Family Story Time (all ages)
Location: West Van Memorial Library
Details: Drop-in for a half hour of festive stories and songs.
Sat, Dec 21 (2-4pm) – Skate with Santa
Location: West Van Rec Centre
Details: Skate with Santa & enjoy Christmas snacks & refreshments, games & fun activities.
HOLIDAY FESTIVALS
All of December – Christmas in Edgemont Village
Location: Edgemont Village, North Van
Details: Edgemont Village transforms into a winter wonderland each Christmas.
Sat, Dec 7th (4:30-8:00pm) – Lower Lonsdale Christmas Festival
Location: Shipbuilders’ Square at the foot of Lonsdale Ave, North Van
Details: The Square will be a sparkling Christmas wonderland complete with lights & carolers. Enjoy bug lantern building workshop, gingerbread man decorating, festive crafts and complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and cookies! And Santa visit at 5:30 pm!
Sat, Nov 30 to Sat, Jan 4 – Dundarave Festival of Lights
Location: Dundarave Beach, 25th Street & Marine Drive, West Van
Details: Free live concerts at Dundarave beach every Saturday night before Christmas from noon until dusk, sponsorship of hundreds of outdoor Christmas trees you can decorate to benefit homelessness charities on the North Shore, and so much more!
Sun, Dec 1st to Sun, Dec 22 – A Lynn Valley Christmas
Location: Lynn Valley Village, 1233 – 1277 Lynn Valley Road
Details: Christmas tree lighting ceremony, music, face painting & Santa visit on Dec 1st, then two full days of family festivities on Dec 21st and 22nd. Christmas tree walk throughout December.
HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAYS
- Donate for Harvest Project – 4967 Chalet Place, North Van
- Capilano Suspension Bridge – 3735 Capilano Road, North Van
- 256 East 6th Street, North Van
- Grouse Mountain – 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Van
- Park & Tilford Gardens – 333 Brooksbank Ave, North Van
- City Hall, North Van
- Dundarave, West Van
BREAKFASTS WITH SANTA
Sat, Dec 7 (9-10:45 or 11-12:45) – Breakfast with Santa at Parkgate
Location: Parkgate Community Centre, 3625 Banff Court, North Van
Details: Pancake breakfast with Santa.
Sat, Dec 14 (9:30 – 11:00 am) – Breakfast with Santa at Neighbourhood
Location: Neighbourhood House, North Van
Details: Pancake breakfast with Santa, including crafts for the kids.
Sat, Dec 14 to Tues, Dec 24 – Breakfast with Santa on Grouse
Location: Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Van
Details: Delicious hot and cold buffet, Christmas sing-a-long, face painting, reindeer antler-making, and a visit from Santa. Book early!
Sat, Dec 14 (9:30-12) – Breakfast with Santa & Family Swim
Location: Ron Andrews Rec Centre
Details: Delicious breakfast, visit with Santa, festive crafts & entertainment. Stay for a Family Swim after breakfast!
PHOTOS WITH SANTA
Sat, Nov 23 – Mon, Dec 23 – Capilano Mall (North Van)
Sat, Nov 23 – Tues, Dec 24 – Park Royal Mall (West Van)
Details: Every child receives a candy cane, ornament & reindeer antlers.
Sat, Nov 23 – Tues, Dec 24 – Lynn Valley Centre (N. Van)
Details: Every child receives a free bag of goodies from Santa’s workshop.
CHARITY/ NOT-FOR-PROFIT
Ongoing – Bikes for Tykes Program (FS of the N. Shore)
Location: Obsession Bikes, 94 Lonsdale Avenue, North Van
Details: Obsession Bikes needs previously owned bikes to restore to “like new” condition and deliver to children on the North Shore for Christmas. For more info email James Wilson at info@obsessionbikes.com or Janet Sanderson at Christmas@familyservices.bc.ca.
If you know of any other holiday happenings around town, please send an email to angela@modernmama.com and we’d be happy to add them!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS MAMAS!
– Angela