Here's your comprehensive guide to the holidays in New Westminster! Find all the top festive events and attractions. Whether you're a New Westminster expert or a novice, this guide unlocks the city's festive secrets.
This season, the enchanting Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms the iconic site into a dazzling spectacle adorned with millions of lights. Plus, the Vancouver Christmas Market offers a delightful array of artisan stalls and festive treats, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. And the Bright Nights event features a captivating display of lights in a picturesque park setting, creating a memorable experience for visitors of all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around New Westminster
- Bright Nights (Vancouver)
- Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge (Vancouver)
- Vancouver Christmas Market (Vancouver)
- Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden (Vancouver)
- Shipyards Christmas Market (North Vancouver)
- Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market (Surrey)
- Spirit of the Season Festival (North Vancouver)
- PNE Winter Fair (Vancouver)
- Holidays at Hycroft (Vancouver)
- Christmas Glow (Langley)
See these and even more events listed below!
New Westminster Holiday Light Displays
Bright Nights
What to Expect:
Holiday light display with a miniature train and festive activities.
Description:
Bright Nights at Stanley Park features millions of sparkling lights, a miniature train, and festive activities like Santa's Workshop and live performances. The event supports the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Bright Nights
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
What to Expect:
Multi-colored light display on a historic suspension bridge.
Description:
Capilano Suspension Bridge transforms into a spectacular display of lights and colors, featuring a world-famous bridge, Treetops Adventure, and Cliffwalk. Visitors can walk through a glittering rainforest, capture Instagram-worthy photos, and enjoy hot chocolate while listening to live festive tunes.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden
What to Expect:
Interactive light installations and sensory-friendly environment.
Description:
Explore 15 acres of VanDusen Botanical Garden adorned with over 1 million twinkling lights, featuring a new interactive mycelium installation and a display inspired by the Great Bear Rainforest of BC. Enjoy themed light areas, Dancing Lights sets, and a variety of food vendors.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light displays and interactive activities.
Description:
The Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market in Surrey features over 1 million sparkling lights, a 30,000 sq. ft. indoor venue, and a 1km accessible holiday light walk. Enjoy live music, dance performances, and activities like face painting and balloon twisting. Visit Santa, explore the Christmas Market, and ride the 50-foot Ferris Wheel.
Where: Surrey | More Info: Noel Holiday Light Festival & Market
Christmas Glow
What to Expect:
Immersive outdoor Christmas festival with interactive light installations and family-friendly activities.
Description:
Christmas Glow in Langley features over a million lights, an outdoor maze, indoor market vendors, live entertainment, and a three-storey crystal palace. The event includes a kids' scavenger hunt, wand adventure, and a Merry Makers Market with local vendors.
Where: Langley | More Info: Christmas Glow
Dundarave Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Largest outdoor displays of Christmas trees in coastal British Columbia.
Description:
The Dundarave Festival of Lights is a community-driven event featuring a forest of lovingly decorated Christmas trees along West Vancouver's waterfront. It includes free live concerts and activities, celebrating the holiday season with a focus on community and local artists.
Where: West Vancouver | More Info: Dundarave Festival of Lights
Lights at Lafarge
What to Expect:
Community-driven display with over a thousand volunteers and themed zones.
Description:
Lights at Lafarge is Metro Vancouver's largest free outdoor winter lights display, featuring over 100,000 lights and themed zones around Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam. The event includes a 1.2-kilometer pathway decorated with sparkling holiday lights, illuminated archways, and festive displays.
Where: Coquitlam | More Info: Lights at Lafarge
Squamish at Dusk
What to Expect:
Interactive light art installations weaving regional stories.
Description:
Squamish at Dusk is a winter light art experience merging creativity and illumination to share stories and create memories. The event features light art, narrative about the region, interactive installations, and popup immersive environments in Rose Park, transforming it into a vibrant nighttime winter hub with fun for all ages.
Where: Squamish | More Info: Squamish at Dusk
Surrey Santa Parade of Lights
What to Expect:
Dazzling lighted parade with a mix of antique vehicles and big rigs.
Description:
The Surrey Santa Parade of Lights is a festive event featuring a lighted parade with floats, marching bands, antique vehicles, and big rigs. It is organized by the Cloverdale BIA and includes local businesses, non-profit organizations, and volunteers. The event aims to raise funds for the Surrey Food Bank and the Surrey Christmas Bureau.
Where: Surrey | More Info: Surrey Santa Parade of Lights
Bright Walk in White Rock
What to Expect:
Extensive light installations along the waterfront.
Description:
Bright Walk in White Rock is a winter light display featuring over 50,000 lights, a 20-foot Christmas tree, and an LED light tunnel in Memorial Park. The event includes photo opportunities with an eight-foot-tall selfie frame and snowflakes.
Where: White Rock | More Info: Bright Walk in White Rock
Mission Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Largest nighttime parade in the Fraser Valley.
Description:
The Mission Candlelight Parade is an annual event celebrating Christmas and the community of Mission. It features floats, holiday tunes, and a festive atmosphere along First Avenue between Horne Street and Park Street. The event supports local charities and draws over 10,000 spectators.
Where: Mission | More Info: Mission Christmas Parade
New Westminster Holiday Markets and Shopping
Vancouver Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Traditional German Christmas market with artisan shops and festive eats.
Description:
The Vancouver Christmas Market is an outdoor event at Jack Poole Plaza, featuring traditional German Christmas market stalls, artisan shops, and festive eats. Enjoy live entertainment, special events, and unique attractions like the Aeroplan Holiday Carousel and Walk-Through Christmas Tree.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Vancouver Christmas Market
Shipyards Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Free admission to a community-driven European-style Christmas market.
Description:
The Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver offers a delightful holiday experience with 75+ wooden stalls selling unique artisanal gifts, festive music, an ice rink, and seasonal treats like bratwursts, mulled wine, and hot cocoa.
Where: North Vancouver | More Info: Shipyards Christmas Market
Holidays at Hycroft
What to Expect:
Upscale artisan market in a historic heritage building.
Description:
Hycroft for the Holidays is an upscale Christmas-themed artisan market featuring handmade and homemade treasures, unique gifts, crafts, gourmet treats, and a silent auction. The event takes place in the historic Hycroft House, offering a unique shopping experience with live jazz performances and beautifully decorated heritage surroundings.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Holidays at Hycroft
Coquitlam Christmas Night Market
What to Expect:
Diverse international cuisines and cultural performances.
Description:
The Coquitlam Christmas Night Market is a unique blend of traditional Christmas markets and Asian night market elements, featuring a diverse array of international cuisines, handcrafted gifts, and cultural performances. Wander through rows of twinkling stalls, where the aroma of mulled wine mingles with the scent of sizzling street food.
Where: Coquitlam | More Info: Coquitlam Christmas Night Market
Candytown
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday activities and local vendors.
Description:
CandyTown is a free outdoor winter festival in Yaletown, Vancouver, featuring live ice sculpting, holiday characters, a gift market, and live music.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Candytown
New Westminster Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Spirit of the Season Festival
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with live music and ice skating.
Description:
The Spirit of the Season Festival in North Vancouver features live music, ice skating, and entertainment under dazzling holiday lights. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire truck, followed by Indigenous welcomes and the lighting of a 30-foot Christmas tree. The event includes a holiday artisan market, free hot chocolate, and various performances by local groups.
Where: North Vancouver | More Info: Spirit of the Season Festival
PNE Winter Fair
What to Expect:
Interactive Santa-themed adventure with toy testing and holiday train ride.
Description:
The PNE Winter Fair is a family-friendly event featuring holiday lights, food, ice skating, ice bumper cars, and live shows. It includes a holiday market, the PNE Holiday Express, and interactive activities like meeting Santa and toy testing.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: PNE Winter Fair
New Westminster Other Holiday Activities
Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Community-driven parade with floats, marching bands, and Santa.
Description:
The Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Parade is a community event featuring floats, marching bands, and Santa, taking place in historic downtown Chilliwack. It includes a variety of decorated vehicles, live bands, and festive activities.
Where: Chilliwack | More Info: Chilliwack Rotary Christmas Parade
Maple Ridge Christmas Festival
What to Expect:
Santa Claus Parade with festive lights and family activities.
Description:
The Maple Ridge Christmas Festival features a Santa Claus Parade, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities at Memorial Peace Park, celebrating the start of the holiday season with festive lights and holiday-themed events.
Where: Maple Ridge | More Info: Maple Ridge Christmas Festival
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Delta (4 miles)
- Burnaby (5 miles)
- Port Moody (6 miles)
- Port Coquitlam (8 miles)
- Coquitlam (8 miles)
- Surrey (8 miles)
- Vancouver (10 miles)
- North Vancouver (10 miles)
- Richmond (11 miles)
- Ladner (11 miles)
- West End (11 miles)
- Walnut Grove (13 miles)
- Langley (14 miles)
- White Rock (14 miles)
- Maple Ridge (14 miles)
- Tsawwassen (15 miles)
- West Vancouver (16 miles)
- Mission (28 miles)
- Abbotsford (31 miles)
- Bellingham (36 miles)
- North Cowichan (43 miles)
- Chilliwack (43 miles)