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Surrey tree lighting, Coquitlam lights and lots of holiday markets happening in Metro Vancouver this weekend

Bymichael

Don’t look now, but Christmas is less than five weeks away, and holiday festivities are ramping up across Metro Vancouver. Here are some events to check out this weekend. Surrey’s Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market Surrey’s holiday tradition returns for its 14th year this weekend and – like last year – it will be a two-day affair. The free festival will take over Surrey Civic Plaza from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with the titular lighting of the city’s 60-foot Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m. Surrounding the marquee event will be four stages of live entertainment, a holiday market, amusement rides and light displays. A full schedule of events and lots more information can be found on the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival website.  Lights at Lafarge Coquitlam’s signature winter event also kicks off this weekend with the return of Lights at Lafarge. Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display features a 1.2-kilometre pathway with more lights and “reimagined elements,” according to the city. The lights will be on from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily beginning Friday night, and this year the display will continue into February. The city is hosting an opening ceremony event with live entertainment and food trucks from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.  Canyon Lights Another holiday light display kicking off this weekend is Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. From Friday through Jan. 19, visitors to the suspension bridge will find it illuminated from end to end with a changing multicolour display. There will also be live music and other lights displayed throughout the park. Canyon Lights is included with the price of park admission, but tickets must be purchased online in advance and a limited number are available during peak times, according to the attraction.  Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Head to the Burnaby Village Museum in Deer Lake Park starting Saturday for “Heritage Christmas.” The 10-acre open-air site will be decorated with lights and classic decor, and guests will be treated to seasonal activities and roving entertainers. Admission to Heritage Christmas is free and the festivities run through Jan. 3. However, it is closed on Mondays, as well as on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. More information can be found on the Burnaby Village Museum website.  ‘Soar with Santa’ In Vancouver, this weekend marks the return of “Soar with Santa,” the annual Christmas version of Flyover Canada at Canada Place. From Thursday through Jan. 1, the attraction says it will be celebrating with “special activities and surprises” to get guests into the holiday spirit. Flyover Canada is open daily and tickets can be booked online.  Holiday markets, craft fairs and art sales Numerous holiday markets and craft fairs are scheduled around the region in the coming weeks. Here’s a roundup of some of the ones happening this weekend. Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair : More than 140 local artisans will gather at Dunbar Community Centre in Vancouver from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Children 12 and under get in free.  North Shore Artists Winter Art Sale : North Shore artists will be selling their work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School on West Keith Road in North Vancouver.  Emily Carr Indigenous Winter Market : The Aboriginal Gathering Place on the Emily Carr University campus will host an Indigenous Winter Market as part of the university’s Student Art Sale. The Indigenous market will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.  Got Craft Holiday Market : Got Craft is hosting its holiday market at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at the door. 

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15 fun things to do in Vancouver this weekend: November 22 to 24

ByDaniel Chai

Enjoy the suite life this fall with Delta Hotels by Marriott Vancouver Downtown Suites! Make the most of your Vancouver stay with spacious suites, central downtown location, and unique restaurant & bar, Stock & Supply. So much to do, so little time! Vancouver is packed with great events this weekend! Here are 15 exciting events to check out around town from November 22 to 24. Find stunning holiday lights, hilarious comedy shows, and more! Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town. And to stay up to date on everything happening in Metro Vancouver, BC, and beyond, sign up for our newsletters! Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park What: Cross the world-famous bridge, lit end-to-end with a changing multi-colour display, and sway high above the illuminated Capilano River. Journey into a glittering rainforest and walk high above the forest floor on a transformed Treetops Adventure. Finally, walk along the sparkling cliffside pathway of Cliffwalk.  Don’t forget to snap an Instagram-worthy photo, sip a decadent hot chocolate to the sound of live festive tunes and get in on all the festive fun of the many kids activities around the Park. Tickets are on sale now and must be purchased in advance online. There are limited tickets available during peak event times, and visits are scheduled in 30-minute arrival increments. When: November 22, 2024, until January 19, 2025 (closed on December 25) Time: 11 am to 9 pm daily. Guests are allowed to stay in the park up to an hour after closing. Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver Tickets: Various prices, with annual passes (included with admission) available for BC residents. Purchase online Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market What: Holiday festivities are just around the corner and one of our favourite events is helping to kick things off in a big way in the City of Surrey. The 14th annual Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market, presented by Concord Pacific, will be held on November 23 and 24 at Surrey Civic Plaza. The outdoor event will offer plenty of free activities and entertainment for all ages, including live music and dance, food trucks, amusement rides, and more. When: November 23 and 24, 2024 Time: Noon to 8 pm Where: Surrey Civic Plaza – 13450 104th Avenue, Surrey Cost: Free Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week What: Indigenous fashion designers from across Turtle Island (North America) are coming to Vancouver this week for a huge celebration of artistry and resilience. Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW) takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from November 20 to 23. The highly anticipated third edition of VIFW will feature a Red Dress Event, an Indigenous artisan marketplace, and dozens of Indigenous designers with new collections on the runway. When: Now until November 23, 2024 Time: Various times Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre — 650 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Tickets: Various prices, purchase online Got Craft Holiday Market Got Craft What: Vancouver can’t get enough of holiday markets, and Got Craft is back to help festive shoppers find the perfect gifts this season. The 17th annual Got Craft Holiday Market takes over the Croatian Cultural Centre on Commercial Drive on November 23 and 24. With 100 makers to discover, it’s one of BC’s largest curated markets of creatives, designers, and small shops. It’s the perfect way to shop locally for everyone on your list. When: November 23 and 24, 2024 Time: 10 am to 5 pm Where:: Croatian Cultural Centre – 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver Admission: $5 online and at the door. Children 12 and under are free Zoe Si – OKAY art show What: Pulitzer-nominated cartoonist, illustrator, and writer Zoe Si is hosting a new art show at Lucky’s Books and Comics titled OKAY. The Vancouver-born creator will bring a mix of existing and new comics and paintings, both original art and prints, to the East Vancouver comic shop starting on November 23 and remaining available to view throughout the holidays. When: Opens November 23 and runs throughout the holidays Time: Store Hours 11 am to 6 pm (Monday to Thursday, Saturday), 11 am to 7 pm (Friday), 11 am to 5 pm (Sunday) Where: 3128 Main Street, Vancouver Admission: Free Les jolies choses (The Pretty Things) by Compagnie Catherine Gaudet (Montreal) What: DanceHouse and Compagnie Catherine Gaudet are teaming up for Les jolies chooses (The Pretty Things). Montreal choreographer Catherine Gaudet explores the power of endurance and exhaustion, of bodies sodden with effort, but somehow continuing. Be prepared to experience the synchronized, metronomic rhythms that offer no means of respite, but soon the mechanistic rituals become something new. Come before the performance for a pre-show talk, or stay after for a post-show social on Friday. When: November 22 and 23, 2024 Time: 8 pm Where: Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver Tickets: Starts at $40.75, purchase online Merry/Happy/Jolly at The Improv Centre The Improv Centre (Chelsey Stuyt/Submitted) What: The holiday season can be a stressful time for a variety of reasons. That’s why the funny folks at The Improv Centre (TIC) on Granville Island are helping chase away the winter blues with its new seasonal show, Merry/Happy/Jolly. Audiences will help the improvisers create a brand-new show each night during the “choose-your-own-adventure” performance. When: Fridays and Saturdays from November 22 until December 23, with an opening night performance on November 21 and matinee performances on December 15, 22, and 24. Time: 7:30 pm Where: The Improv Centre — 1502

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Over 20 FREE and cheap holiday events around Vancouver this season

ByDaniel Chai

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and there are so many holly and jolly events to check out around the city. But there’s no need to blow your budget this holiday season! Get festive with our list of 23 FREE and cheap things to do around Metro Vancouver, including Christmas lights, ice skating, artisan markets, and more. Be sure to check out our Listed section for more fantastic things happening around town. And to stay up to date on everything happening in Metro Vancouver, BC, and beyond, sign up for our newsletters! Lights at Lafarge Lights at Lafarge What: Lights at Lafarge, Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display, is back again for another holiday season. The annual tradition will illuminate Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam throughout the season, with over 100,000 twinkling lights to enjoy until the end of February. Guests of all ages can explore the outdoor display that wraps its way entirely around the lake, leading them on a 1.2 km loop through themed zones. When: November 22, 2024 until February 2025 Time: Nightly from 4 to 11 pm Where: Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam Cost: Free St. Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope kickoff and fireworks What: The holidays in Vancouver just wouldn’t be as bright without the Lights of Hope, and this year is kicking off with the return of the popular fireworks display. St. Paul’s Foundation’s massive light display outside of St. Paul’s Hospital has been an annual Christmastime tradition and fundraising campaign since 1998. More than 100,000 lights and hundreds of shining stars recognizing the support of generous donors will be officially switched on Wednesday, November 27. And fireworks will commemorate the occasion on opening night. When: November 27, 2024 (lights will be on display until January 3, 2025) Time: 6 to 8 pm for kickoff, nightly throughout the holiday season Where: St. Paul’s Hospital – 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver Admission: Free The Christmas Store at Potters What: The Christmas Store at Potters is back for its 20th year of delighting shoppers with its opulent holiday displays and festive fun. The most magical place in Metro Vancouver to get inspired for the holidays is now open to the public in Surrey. It features a massive array of decor items, stocking stuffers, and one-of-a-kind gifts. When: November 1 until December 24, 2024 Where: 19158 48th Avenue, Surrey Admission: Free Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market City of Surrey/Submitted What: Holiday festivities are just around the corner and one of our favourite events is helping to kick things off in a big way in the City of Surrey. The 14th annual Surrey Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market, presented by Concord Pacific, will be held on November 23 and 24 at Surrey Civic Plaza. The outdoor event will offer plenty of free activities and entertainment for all ages, including live music and dance, food trucks, amusement rides, and more. When: November 23 and 24, 2024 Time: Noon to 8 pm Where: Surrey Civic Plaza – 13450 104th Avenue, Surrey Cost: Free Bright Nights at Stanley Park What: The Christmas Train tickets may be sold out for the season, but there is plenty of family fun and holiday cheer in Stanley Park throughout December. Guests will be treated to stunning light displays during their visit, including returning favourites like the giant red reindeer, a vintage fire truck, and the tunnel of lights in the plaza. The event is also in support of the Burn Fund. When: November 29, 2024, to January 4, 2025 (closed on December 25) Time: 4 to 10 pm Where: Pipeline Road in Stanley Park, via the West Georgia Street park entrance Admission: Train tickets are sold out. Free to visit the holiday lights display and festive activities in the plaza Shipyards Christmas Market What: It’s never too early to think about Christmas, especially when a new festive event is gearing up for its Metro Vancouver debut this fall. The Shipyards Christmas Market is launching in North Vancouver starting on November 29 and running through to December 24. With dozens of artisan stalls, food vendors, and live performers, as well as visits with Santa, and more, it is shaping up to be everything we’ve asked for on our wish list. When: November 29 to December 24, 2024 Time: 11 am to 9 pm (Monday to Thursday), 11 am to 10 pm (Saturday and Sunday), 11 am to 5 pm (December 24) Where: The Shipyards — 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver Cost: Free PNE Winter Fair PNE Winter Fair What: PNE’s popular Winter Fair returns this December, with holiday-themed food and drinks, light displays and live entertainment, and more. The most unique winter fair in BC is presented by BCAA and will run from December 6 to 8 and 12 to 23. It promises to delight guests of all ages once again through the return of familiar favourites like the WinterLights, the enchanting illuminated train, Nutcracker on Ice, Ice Bumper Cars, and more. When: December 6 to 8, and 12 to 23, 2024 Time: 4 to 10 pm Where: Hastings Park – 2901 E Hastings Street, Vancouver Cost: PNE Winter Fair tickets are $7.50-$20 in advance, purchase online. Group rates and BCAA discounted tickets are also available. Holiday Shop at The Polygon Gallery What: The festive season is just around the corner, and The Polygon Gallery is making sure that your holidays are ready to shine bright. The vibrant public art institution in North Vancouver is hosting its annual Holiday Shop from November 13 to January 5. Visitors to The Polygon