The new Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver brings some badly needed competition to December events. Downtown Vancouver has had a Christmas Market since 2010, but it has become what most consider a total rip-off with a hefty $21 (!!) entry price and crowds of people.
Location of the new market is fantastic in the Lower Lonsdale area and it is easy to get to by SeaBus from Downtown.
The market is definitely bigger than the one in Downtown and takes good use of the new Shipyards entertainment area.
We visited early in the season on December 1st, but already then the market was bustling with people, maybe thanks to the fantastic weather.
There is lots to see and do for all ages.
Skating ring is something other Christmas markets don't have and definitely a hit with the kids.
Food stalls can be quite expensive here as well, but at least the market is completely free to visit, which on its own already pays for the food.
We had a good time visiting the new market and are sure to be back in coming years. Competition has been sorely needed and the new event is pretty sure to be a success.
Great photos. We went the night of the CNV tree lighting ceremony and it was honestly fantastic. Sure there's the usual touristy stuff and it was a bit expensive but I was pleased with the legit German/Swiss/Austrian food including some surprisingly good mulled wine. And it's FREE. Thank god. I don't mind paying a $2 entry fee but the $21 for the coal harbour market is shocking.
Christmas light installations and displays are always a fun sight to see at this time of year. We begin our tour in the Fraser Heights neighborhood in Surrey just before the dusk.
From there we are off across the Fraser River to Maple Ridge to check out few beautiful houses in there.
It doesn't matter how small your yard is if you are a Christmas light fanatic - there is always a way.
Finally, we are onto Coquitlam to check out few houses near town center.
Final stop is Lafarge Lake where the annual Christmas light event is one of the best free events in whole Metro Vancouver each December.
It was a nice tour of some beautiful light installations which at this point is an annual tradition for us.
Probably the most famous Christmas light installation is in Metro Vancouver is Miracle on Rae Street in Port Coquitlam, which lights the entire neighborhood!
The entire installation has over 200,000 lights, which must be a record for any private person.
The house and the yard are not even that big, but there is so much to see and explore here. It's a true joy for kids.
The Brindley family has been putting up an installation for over a decade and it is well-known in Vancouver, attracting some 10,000 visitors each December.
Everything is done for charity and the Brindley's raise thousands of dollars for local food bank each year. Based on my experience touring many Metro Vancouver Christmas lights each year, Rae Street sits on its own level and much of what is on display also changes every year!
Last batch of photos from the final days of December.
North Vancouver Christmas Markets are only into their second year and already a massive hit among visitors.
It was so packed and busy on the last weekend before Christmas, that we couldn't spend any money with every vendor having a long line.
Overall, it's a nice experience that also caters to the Instagram crowd.
Downtown views are always amazing from the Lower Lonsdale.
Even if it was a wash of a visit, kids still enjoy the ride on Skytrain and Seabus.
Coquitlam's free Light at Lafarge Lake holiday event is by now an annual tradition in our household and always worth the trip, even if it doesn't change that much each year.
The holidays also allowed us to finally visit Forth Langley National Historic Site, which was a bit eerie when being shrouded in thick fog.
The fort was founded in 1839 as a commercial hub for the Hudson's Bay Company and was the first permanent European settlement in what is today known as Lower Mainland.
The site was free to visit on that day, but still not busy at all in the morning. I didn't know what to expect from it, but there are 10 buildings to explore with various displays from that era. I bet it is very lively in the summer.
All in all, we have so little history here in Vancouver, that visiting Fort Langley was and interesting insight into how everything got started and the fog made our visit special.
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