In case you’re still looking for things to do in and around Vancouver this holiday season, you may wish to experience one or more of the many family friendly Christmas events taking place this year:
Holiday Traditions at the Vancouver Aquarium
The aquarium’s much-loved Christmas events include Scuba Claus who will dive daily in the Strait of Georgia habitat, the ‘shocking’ electric eel-powered Christmas tree, as well as the impressive marine debris tree. New this year, the little ones will enjoy a Kelp Forest Maze and for the young and young-at-heart, enjoy screenings of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the 4-D theatre. • Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Stanley Park • Until Jan. 7, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. • $22-$39, 604-659-3473, vanaqua.org/holiday-traditions
Sea to Sky Gondola: The Spirit of Christmas
Enjoy a walk in a winter wonderland on a trail festively decorated for the Christmas Forest Walk. The whimsically decorated and lit trail leads guests back to the Summit Lodge to warm up with a hot chocolate. Other snow play activities include snowshoeing and winter walking, snowtubing, headlamp hikes departing at 4:30 p.m., and a decadent holiday fondue. Special activities feature Breakfast with Santa, Winter Storytime, musical performances and concerts, a Community Christmas Dinner, and a Holiday Wine Pairing Dinner • Sea to Sky Hwy., Squamish, until Jan. 7 • seatoskygondola.com/christmas-events-and-activities
Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum
A season of old-fashioned fun and spectacular light displays. Stroll through the streets of the Village to see wreaths, cedar swags and vintage-themed displays will. At the bandstand, visitors can create their own magical holiday show with lights that change colours to sound. Special entertainment is scheduled throughout the season including theatre performances, community choirs, street characters and musicians. Many family-favourite activities are back including a craft for children, baking in the Farmhouse and, of course, visits with Father Christmas. • Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby • Until Jan. 5 • Free gate admission, carousel rides $2.65, 604-297-4557, burnabyvillagemuseum.ca
Timberline Country Christmas 2017
Leave the busy city behind, and enjoy a short trip to this 73-acre horse ranch that has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Be enchanted by glorious lights, beautiful trees, interactive scenes, lovely music, and lots of activities including cookie decorating, crafts, a wagon ride, petting zoo, snowball-themed ball pit, and so much more. • Timberline Ranch, 22351 144 Ave., Maple Ridge • Until Dec. 20 • $8-$12, 604-463-9278, timberlinechristmas.ca
Gingerbread Village
The Downtown Surrey BIA presents a brand new Christmas event. The Gingerbread Village encourages everyone in the community to build their own gingerbread creation, whether it’s a house, school, playground, or even an iconic Surrey building! Entries will be on display Dec. 14-16 from 5-9 p.m. A fundraiser for the Surrey Christmas Bureau • Central City Shopping Centre, Surrey • 604-580-2321, downtownsurreybia.com
Holiday Heights at Bloedel – Arctic Oasis
Warm up inside the tropical dome while enjoying the exotic birds, lush gardens and holiday light display produced by MK Illumination. Find all the hidden penguins in the arctic oasis for our holiday-themed scavenger hunt. Enjoy the evening city views and lit fountains at Queen Elizabeth Park. • Bloedel Conservatory, Queen Elizabeth Park • Dec. 15-Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. • $3.15-$6.50
Christmas in Kerrisdale
Free horse carriage rides all set in the beautifully decorated village. • Kerrisdale Village, 2225 W. 41st Ave. • Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. until Dec. 23 • kerrisdaleinsider.com/events
Christmas Lights
Bright Nights Christmas Train
Celebrate 20 years of Bright Nights in Stanley Park! During the holiday season, the miniature train and the train plaza will sparkle with three million twinkling lights. Experience the lights, breathtaking displays, and live performers along the train route, or view the displays at the train plaza by donation ($5 suggested). Proceeds benefit the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. • Until Jan. 6 • $6-$12 at ticketleader.ca
28th Annual Hi-Light Festival
This annual Christmas event boasts more than 150,000 lights on display over three acres. Come down for Family Friday Nights on Dec. 8, 15 and 22 and enjoy a variety of live entertainment, and take a selfie with Santa! • Park & Tilford Gardens, 333 Brooksbank Ave., North Van • Until 31, 5-9 p.m. • By donation, all proceeds go to the North Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society, http://vancouversnorthshore.com/events/hi-light-festival
Karaoke Christmas Lights
Join The Vancouver Trolley Company and sing your favourite holiday carols while visiting two of Vancouver’s most spectacular light displays. Festively decorated Trolleys equipped with TVs and karaoke machines for your seasonal singing enjoyment will depart every evening from Canada Place at 6:30 p.m. Sing your way past the city lights of downtown before stop at Bright Nights at Stanley Park. Then tour past the English Bay Christmas Tree, Hycroft Manor and Canuck Place. The second stop of the evening will be at VanDusen Botanical Garden for the Festival of Lights. Hop aboard one last time for the return trip to downtown Vancouver and viewing of St. Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope. • Until Dec. 29, 6:30 p.m. • $45 for adults, $30 for children, 604-649-5506, vancouvertrolley.com/tours
Multicultural Events
Vancouver Chinese Lantern Festival
Experience Vancouver in a whole new light in this five-week celebration of Chinese culture featuring massive lanterns, amazing performances, and incredible food. This festival is the largest festival of its kind in Canada and features 35 illuminated displays transforming more than 14 acres of Hastings Park into an explosion of light and colours. Enjoy two performances each night featuring a variety of Chinese entertainment and art, including face changing, acrobatics, plate spinning, folk dance and more. • PNE Fairgrounds • Dec. 15-Jan. 21 • $13.50-$19, ticketleader.ca, vancouverlanternfestival.ca/
The Festival of Chanukah
Celebrate with the lighting of Canada’s tallest candelabra (Menorah), the Silber Family Agam Menorah. There will be live music, free refreshments and a gelt drop. • Vancouver Art Gallery plaza, Georgia and Hornby St. • Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m. • Free, 604-266-1313, lubavitchbc.com
For additional events and information, visit:Â http://vancouversun.com/entertainment
Global Montessori has been offering childcare, after school care, and the Montessori method of schooling since 1988. We accept infants, toddlers, kindergarten and elementary school students living in and around the Langley area and beyond. For more information, visit https://globalmontessorischool.com