Festive, Frugal, and Thriving: Christmas in Vancouver
Christmas in Vancouver is festive, sometimes drenched, magical, and quite inconvenient for your bank account. Between tuition, rent, and saving up for getting your loved ones’ presents, the holiday season can feel less festive and more financially concerning.
While Vancouver’s holiday events might seem weak in comparison to places like New York City or London, we actually do have several great festive activities going on in and around the city - and luckily enough, a lot of these activities are affordable or free! This list proves you can still romanticize Christmas even on a student budget.
Free Festive Activities:
Shipyards Christmas Market
Where: 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
When: November 28 - December 24, 2025
Free
This Christmas market in North Vancouver is completely free to enter in order to check out the 100+ stalls, enjoy the festive music, and admire the Christmas decorations. If you own a pair of ice skates, there is also a free skating rink open to the public! No worries if you don’t own skates, there are also skate rentals available for only $8.
Dundarave Festival of Lights
Where: Dundarave, West Vancouver
When; November 29th, 2025 - early January, 2026
Free
This Festival of Lights in West Vancouver is not only free, but it is also the largest outdoor display of Christmas Trees in coastal BC, what more can you ask for! There’s not much better than a scenic walk along the ocean, gazing at the streets lined with glowing holiday displays.
Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt Regency
655 Burrard Street, Vancouver
November 27 - December 28, 2025
Free
Gingerbread Lane is a charity event supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the Hyatt Regency downtown. When walking through this exhibit of edible decor, you will see some of the most stylish and creative gingerbread houses you have ever seen. Entering is free, but donations are encouraged if you have a couple of extra bucks to spare.
Affordable Festive Activities:
VanDusen Festival of Lights
VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
November 28, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Adults $29
If you’re thinking about going to see the Capilano Suspension to see the Christmas lights, but aren’t feeling up to paying $75 to enter, VanDusen Festival of Lights might be right for you. For the holiday season, VanDusen decks out 15 acres with over a million lights. This place is perfect for a date, a friend group photoshoot, or just a solo walk to get yourself in a festive mood.
Merry & Bright at Martini Town
1123 272 Street, Langley
November 21 - December 31st, 2025
Adults $24
Although it will take a bit of a journey to get to this next location, Martini Town is absolutely worth the wait. Martini Town completely transforms into a Christmas Hallmark movie set during the holiday season and it makes sense because this small town is made from a collection of movie sets from dozens of popular productions. You can walk around all day enjoying the entertainment, exploring the film sets, and checking out the cute places to eat.
Noel Surrey: The Magic of Bright Lights
Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Surrey
November 28 - December 28, 2025
Adults = $22 during the week, $25 during the weekend
This beautiful walk through millions of Christmas lights is the perfect way to spend a night during the holidays. This event is a fundraiser where every ticket purchased helps support the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, so go check out the Bright Nights walk and the 30,000 square foot indoor ‘Noel Village’.
You don’t need to spend a fortune to feel festive this year. Gather your friends, layer up, grab a raincoat, and get that holiday spirit activated!