While the holidays can be a busy time for most, there’s always a few opportunities to put down the wrapping paper, turn off the oven and experience a fun event, tailored just for you.

Leave the planning (and driving) to someone else when you check out any of our 10 best holiday events to visit on transit. Dress warmly, charge up your phone and get ready to snap some pretty pics. 

Plan your trip at translink.ca/tripplanner. Tell us where you’re starting from and where you want to go and we’ll find the best route to get you there.

Don’t forget! You can tap to pay an adult cash fare with your contactless credit or debit card. Our card readers accept contactless Interac Debit, American Express, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

1. PNE Winter Fair

📍 Address: 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver
🚌 Transit: R5 Hastings St RapidBus, 16 Arbutus/29th Avenue Station
💰 Cost: Tickets begin at $25 for adults, buy online in advance to save some cash.
⌚ When: Now until Dec. 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily 

Enjoy live shows, a holiday market, and festive food at the the PNE Winter Fair. Watch dazzling light displays and experience themed zones like candy cane lane and the polar passage light tunnel. Ride the PNE Holiday Express Train, sponsored by TransLink, for only $2, then spend some time ice skating and bumper cars. 

Find Santa with their interactive journey including writing letter and making ornaments, before catching a live show or live music at the Winter Chalet. 

2. Shipyards Christmas Market 

📍 Address: 19 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver, BC V7L 0B2
🚌 Transit: SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay
💰 Cost: Free!
⌚ When: Now until Dec. 24

Marvel at the dazzling light displays and visit over 70 wooden stall offering unique gifts and crafts at the Shipyards Christmas Market. Enjoy bratwursts, mulled wine, hot cocoa, and more. There’s ice skating, live music, and community entertainment, so be sure to visit Santa and take memorable photos before popping in for a drink at the champagne tent! 

3. Lights at Lafarge

📍 Address: 1299 Pinetree Wy, Coquitlam
🚌 Transit: Lafarge–Lake Douglas Station (Millennium Line)
💰 Cost: Free!
⌚ When: Now until Feb. 2025

Lights at Lafarge is a spectacular holiday event held annually at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam. This free event features over 100,000 twinkling lights along a 1.2-kilometre pathway. Enjoy themed zones, festive installations, and special evenings with activities like carolling and craft workshops. Lights are on from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

4. Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum

📍 Address: 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
🚌 Transit: 144 Metrotown Station/SFU
💰 Cost: Free!
⌚ When: From now until Jan. 3, open at 1 p.m. most days until 5:30 p.m.

Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum is a free, family-friendly celebration, featuring festive lights and decorations. The 10-acre open-air museum is beautifully illuminated with holiday lights and classic decorations. Enjoy performances from carol singers, roving entertainers, and meet Father Christmas on select dates.

Participate in engaging scavenger hunts and explore exhibits centered around sports and games. Take a ride on the historic 1912 C.W. Parker Carousel for only $2.62 per ride.

5. VanDusen Festival of Lights

📍 Address: 5251 Oak St, Vancouver
🚌 Transit: 99 UBC B-Line, R4 41st Ave RapidBus
💰 Cost: Tickets for adults start at $28
⌚ When: Now until Jan. 5

Wander through a magical garden filled with millions of lights at the VanDusen Festival of Lights. Highlights include interactive displays, three unique sets of dancing lights shows, running every 20 minutes, and opportunities to enjoy festive treats from various food vendors.

6. Christmas at Canada Place

📍 Address: 999 Canada Pl, Vancouver
🚌 Transit: Waterfront Station (Expo and Canada Line, and SeaBus)
💰 Cost: Free!
⌚ When: From now until Jan. 1, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily

 The iconic sails of Canada Place are illuminated with festive lights to celebrate Christmas at Canada Place!

Visit nostalgic displays from the former Woodward’s Department Store, showcasing vintage scenes and animatronic figures. Take photos with the GIANT “Chrismoose,” a 15-foot-tall moose light sculpture and wander through the Avenue of Trees, a beautifully decorated pathway of Christmas trees.

7. Noel Festival

📍 Address: Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 17905 62 Ave #17607, Surrey
🚌 Transit: 364 64th Avenue to Scottsdale/Langley Centre, 395 King George Station/Langley Centre
💰 Cost: Tickets are $15 for youth and seniors, $20 for adults, and free for children 6 and under
⌚ When: Now until Dec. 23

Activities and entertainment for all ages at Noel Festival! Noel is a light festival that brings people together to embrace the joy and wonder of the holiday season. With dazzling light installations and enchanting holiday décor, experience a festive atmosphere perfect for families, friends, and all holiday enthusiasts.

8. Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge

📍 Address: 3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver
🚌 Transit: 232 Grouse Mountain/Phibbs Exchange, 236 Grouse Mountain/Lonsdale Quay, and 247 Downtown/Grouse Mountain
💰 Cost: $71.95 for adults when purchased online, $74.95 on-site. 
⌚ When: Now until Jan. 19

See the suspension bridge and surrounding forest illuminated with thousands of lights at Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge. Enjoy new light displays, while sipping on hot chocolate. Listen to live festive tunes, and participate in various kids’ activities in this enchanting setting. 

9. Christmas at FlyOver Canada

📍 Address: 999 Canada Pl #201, Vancouver
🚌 Transit: Burrard Station
💰 Cost: Tickets begin at $29 for adults  
⌚ When: Now until Jan. 1

Experience a special holiday-themed flight ride over Canada, featuring the “Soar with Santa” experience at FlyOver Canada. Kids ride free with a paying adult from Monday to Thursday! Enjoy holiday-themed events, including visits with Santa, writing letters to Santa, and festive food and drinks at the Flying Whale Waterfront Cafe.

10. Vancouver Christmas Market

📍 Address: Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver
🚌 Transit: Waterfront Station (Expo and Canada Line, and SeaBus), Burrard Station (Expo Line)
💰 Cost: Single entry admission starts at $19.99 for adults
⌚ When: Now until Dec. 24, open at 11 a.m. most days. 

Held annually at Jack Poole Plaza, the Vancouver Christmas Market features a charming German-style Christmas village with over 90 huts offering a variety of holiday treats, artisan gifts, and festive activities.

Visitors can enjoy gourmet food, authentic German drinks, and sweets, as well as family-friendly attractions like the holiday carousel and live entertainment. The market runs until Christmas Eve, providing a delightful holiday experience for all ages.

So, which ones will you be checking out? If you ride transit to any of these, we’d love to see it! Be sure to use #MyTransLink when posting so we can view them.