Holiday lights, Christmas markets and winter festivals 2026

The Butchart Gardens

December 1, 2026 – January 6, 2027

Gates 3:00–9:00 p.m. The gardens stay open until 10:00 p.m. Carollers and brass alternate every half hour from 5:00–9:00 p.m.

Adults 18+ $41.00. Youth 13–17 $20.50. Children 5–12 $5.00. Tax included.

Closed December 25. The Japanese and Mediterranean gardens are closed. Snowflake exchange and hot chocolate for children 12 and under. Open until 10:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, with no fireworks. The official light-up is December 1 at 6:00 p.m.

BC Parliament Buildings

November 27, 2026

3:00–6:30 p.m. Inside activities 3:00–5:30 p.m. Driveway lighting 6:00–6:30 p.m.

Free. No tickets.

Family-friendly activities and performances inside, then the driveway lighting outside.

Starts at Government and Belleville

November 28, 2026

5:30 p.m.

Free.

Supports the Mustard Seed. A food-bank team is at Government and Wharf at 5:00 p.m.

Lower Causeway and Ship Point Pier

December 3, 2026

5:00–8:00 p.m.

Free.

Family-friendly. Hot chocolate, cookies, an artisan market, live music, and Santa arriving by boat.

3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver

November 20, 2026 – January 10, 2027

11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Last entry 9:00 p.m. Closed December 25.

Included with park admission or an Annual Pass.

Kids’ activities are part of the night.

Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 17905 62 Ave, Cloverdale

November 27 – December 29, 2026

3:00–9:30 p.m. Closed November 30, December 7, December 24 and December 25.

Kids 6 and under free. Youth 7–18 from $18. Adults 19–64 from $24. Seniors 65+ from $18. Plus tax and service charges. Parking is free.

The Ferris wheel is included. Bright Nights is the light walk on the grounds.

5251 Oak Street at West 37th

November 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027

4:00–10:00 p.m. Last entry 9:00 p.m. Closed December 25.

Before tax and service fees: adults 19–64 $29, seniors 65+ $19, youth 13–18 $19, children 5–12 $12, garden members $18. Ages 4 and under free with a reservation. A $1 AIF is included.

Timed tickets go on sale November 4. Sensory-friendly evening on Tuesday, December 1: capacity reduced by half, lower audio, no flashing lights. Parking is free in the lot off West 37th, and limited.

Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place

November 16 – December 24, 2026

November 16–December 3: Monday–Friday 4:00–9:30 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. December 4–18: Sunday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m. December 19–23: 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. December 24: 11:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Admission from $7.99. Kids 6 and under free. Season pass from $30.99 before November 15, then from $35.99. Family pass (2 adults 15+ and 2 youth 7–14) from $69.99 before November 15.

Family-friendly, with Santa’s Workshop and a carousel.

Stuart Park, 1430 Water St

November 28, 2026

Market 12:00–6:00 p.m. Tree lighting at 5:00 p.m.

Free. Hot chocolate by donation for the Central Okanagan Food Bank.

Santa photos in the tent until 4:45 p.m. Santa and Mayor Dyas light the tree at 5:00 p.m.

Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo

November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Nightly 5:30–9:30 p.m. Last admission 9:00 p.m. Closed December 25.

Presented by Olympia Trust Company. 30th anniversary, with more than a million lights. Santa’s Polar Palace runs November 13–December 23, 5:30–9:30 p.m. Members only until 6:30 p.m. on November 16, 23 and 30 and December 7 and 14. The Wildlife Carousel is free, last ride load 9:15 p.m. Animal buildings are closed. North Gate parking is $14 through ParkPlus. New Year’s Eve is 5:30–9:30 p.m. Wonder Wednesdays, November 18–December 16, take 20% off Sunlight to ZOOLIGHTS and ZOOLIGHTS tickets.

18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW, Calgary

November 13–15, 2026 · November 20–22, 2026 · November 27–29, 2026 · December 4–6, 2026

Fridays 12:00–6:00 p.m. for all ages, then 6:00–9:00 p.m. for ages 18+. Saturdays 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Sundays 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Adults $20. Kids 3–12 and seniors 65+ $12, plus GST. Ages 2 and under free. Parking included.

Weekends only: November 13–15, 20–22 and 27–29, and December 4–6. Friday evenings are 18+.

55 Mill Street, Distillery Historic District

November 12, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Tree lighting Thursday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are required on opening night, from 4:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday, from 4:00 p.m. every Thursday in December, and from 4:00 p.m. daily December 14–31. Free all day Monday–Wednesday through December 13, and at other times that are not ticketed. Thursdays in November are free except opening night. Be inside before 4:00 p.m. on a ticketed day to enter free.

Tickets from $16 plus HST and a service charge. Kids 9 and under are always free and do not need a ticket.

Closed Christmas Day. There is no on-site box office.

Nathan Phillips Square

November 28, 2026 – January 7, 2027

5:00–10:00 p.m.

Opening night is November 28: performances, the tree and square lighting, installations, free public skating and a figure-skating showcase. Lighting, selected installations and free public skating continue through January 7. For families and all ages.

Quartier des spectacles, Sainte-Catherine Street West

January 21 – March 7, 2027

Free entrance.

17th edition. Entertainment for children.

Place des Festivals, 1499 Rue Jeanne-Mance

November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027

November 13–December 20: closed Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday–Friday 3:00–10:00 p.m. Saturday 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. December 21–January 3: Monday–Friday 3:00–10:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. December 21–23: 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. December 24 and 25: 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. December 31: 3:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.

Free admission.

40 chalets. For all ages. Closed Monday and Tuesday through December 20.

Pavillon Jacques-Cartier, 2 rue de la Commune Est

November 27–29, 2026 · December 4–6, 2026

Free admission.

40 indoor kiosks each weekend, 80 Québec makers in all. Presented by Signé Local.