UPDATED: DECEMBER 13, 2020

I don’t need to tell you that 2020 has been different. Very different. You already know that. We’ve had to adapt, like building candy chutes for Halloween. And hosting virtual game nights over Zoom. And so, as we head into the 2020 holiday season, you may be wondering what Christmas in Vancouver is going to look like this year. Are the various festivals, events and celebrations still happening? Yes and no…

(Please note that the information below is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but circumstances are obviously subject to change. Check with each individual event organizer for the most up-to-date information. If you hear anything, please comment below or send me a tweet. I’ll update this post accordingly. Please also check the accompanying post on Santa photos and virtual visits.)

Christmas Celebrations Happening This Year

PNE WinterLights promises a “magical journey to Santa” at the PNE fairgrounds. The drive-thru event leads you along a 2-kilometer route where you’ll visit “nine enchanted lands filled with glowing lights… with special characters and festive performers to help you along your way. The event is open select nights December 12 to December 30, from 4pm to 10pm. Admission price is by carload, based on number of passengers.

  • $39 for vehicles with 4 or fewer people
  • $49 for vehicles with 5 or more people
  • $25 for late night date night (up to 2 people, 9-10pm)

Glow Gardens Langley previously planned for an event at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove this year. They have since switched to a drive-through, touchless experience at Darvonda Nurseries. You’ll drive through “dazzling landscapes created by nearly a million lights,” including a 100-foot dancing light tunnel. The event runs from December 8 to January 2 (closed Sundays and December 25). One vehicle, with up to 7 visitors, is $29.99. Your car pass includes:

  • One bag of mini donuts
  • One bag of popcorn
  • One keepsake gift to remember your visit to Glow

FlyOver Canada is pausing operations effective December 3 and until further notice. They anticipate reopening when restrictions are lifted. Previously, FlyOver Canada launched its Fly Like Santa experience on November 19 and planned on running it until January 3. Fly Like Santa welcomes guests to “experience the magic of Christmas as you fly across Canada and up to the North Pole with Santa.” After enjoying the immersive pre-show, you’ll hang suspended with feet dangling for “an exhilarating 8-minute journey across Canada.” Weekday prices are:

  • $23 for adults
  • $13 for children
  • $17 for seniors and students

Lumiere Vancouver is back for another season of lighting up Vancouver’s West End. There are two locations for the interactive art installations this year: English Bay (1800 Morton Avenue) and Jim Deva Plaza (1200 Bute Street). Light sculptures include a 24-foot-tall grizzly bear, a 7-meter-long orca whale, and “The Future Promised by Virtual Reality.” Most displays will be up starting today until November 30. Lumiere Vancouver is free.

The City of Burnaby is setting up a number of Digital Art Experiences in Burnaby Parks. As you walk around many of the city’s parks, you’ll find posters with QR codes. Scan the code with your phone and “enjoy a video on the spot hosted by dancers, artists, musicians, poets, puppeteers, storytellers and more.” The free cultural video experiences are set up at the following locations around Burnaby:

  • Confederation Park
  • Burnaby Mountain
  • Cameron Park
  • Barnet Marine Park
  • Edmonds Park
  • Fraser Foreshore Park
  • Byrne Creek Ravine
  • Central Park
  • Civic Square
  • Deer Lake Park
  • Burnaby City Hall 

Got Craft? is hosting a “holiday pop-up virtual market” in lieu of its in-person market. Support over 50 artisans, makers and small shops from across Canada. They’ll send out your purchases in a single package by mail or for curbside pickup. The virtual market runs from November 25 to December 6.

Vancouver Christmas Events Canceled for 2020

Unfortunately, several Vancouver Christmas events, festivals and displays aren’t happening this year.

Bright Nights in Stanley Park has been cancelled. They had previously announced that the event was “back on track,” scheduled to run from November 26 to January 1. At the time, organizers were keeping the Christmas train but not lighting up the entire plaza. Train rides were priced at $10 for all riders 3 and up, free for children 2 and under.

VanDusen Festival of Lights is cancelled. They had planned to invite visitors to its “magical winter wonderland with more than one million lights” at VanDusen Botanical Garden. The schedule originally called for opening dates of November 27 to January 3, with visits limited to a maximum of 45 minutes. Prices were listed as $14 for adults, $10 for seniors and youth, $8 for children (4-12), and free for kids 3 and under.

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge is cancelled for 2020. They had previously planned to transform the Cliffwalk into an “Arc de Lumina” light tunnel. The original dates were December 1 to January 3. Tickets ranged from $18.95 for children, up to $54.95 for adults, with 30-minute timed entry.

Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum “is cancelled until further notice.” The original plan was to open from November 21 to January 1. Admission would’ve still been free.

Lights at Lafarge was the biggest free lights display in Metro Vancouver. Visitors could take a stroll around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake at Town Centre Park, surrounding by holiday lights. This year, they plan to light the perimeter of the lake “in a passive way” instead.

Vancouver Christmas Market celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019. The German-style Christmas market offered popular holiday favorites like pork hock (Schweinshaxe), mulled wine (gluhwein), handcrafted Christmas ornaments and more. For now, the market is postponed until 2021 as event organizers “must prioritize the safety of our staff, vendors and guests.” In lieu of the market, they’re doing gift boxes.

Vancouver Glow Gardens described itself as a “family-friendly indoor winter festival” last year at Harbour Convention Centre. Sadly, that “indoor” part likely rendered this year’s event too challenging to run while following appropriate safety protocols.

Aurora Winter Festival moved to a larger location at PNE last year. It offered food vendors, lots of lights (including the rainbow tunnel you see below), ice skating, amusement park rides and live music. To the best of my understanding, Aurora is not returning for 2020. Instead, there is the drive-thru PNE WinterLights experience described above.

The Vancouver Santa Claus Parade has officially been cancelled. Organizers explored “alternative formats and options,” but when you consider the sizable crowds that the annual parade draws along its 1.8km route, it would be nigh impossible to accommodate physical distancing measures. By extension, they’ve also cancelled Breakfast with Santa at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Christmas Square at Vancouver Art Gallery, and Photos with Santa at TELUS Garden.

The Bear Creek Park Christmas Train in Surrey has officially been cancelled for 2020 due to COVID-19. They were able to run the Halloween train in October, but circumstances have changed considerably since then.

Are These Holiday Events Still Happening?

At this point, I don’t think it’s likely that photos with Santa are going to be a thing this year. I don’t see how the mall Santa can work, as you’re necessarily in close quarters with someone outside your bubble. It’s too bad, since Santa pictures are one of our family’s favorite holiday traditions. I guess everyone’s doing a bit of Photoshop?

(UPDATE: Here’s a list of Santa photos and virtual Santa visits in Metro Vancouver. I will try to keep that list as updated as possible as well)

What am I missing? If you have any information about Vancouver Christmas events that are missing from this list, please comment below! Do you plan on heading out to enjoy Christmas events? Or are you keeping it close to home with your immediate household?