Where to See Vancouver Holiday Lights:
1. Festival of Lights, VanDusen Botanical Garden
© Chloë Ernst
At 4:30 p.m. the plants, trees, paths, and decorations at VanDusen Botanical Garden glow with impressive holiday light displays.
Dates: Dec. 7, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2013, closed Dec. 25
Address: 5251 Oak St. (at West 37th Ave.)
Phone: 604-257-8335
Hours: Lights from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: $14.25 adult, $10.50 senior and youth, $7.75 child, $32.50 family
2. Burrard Street
© Chloë Ernst
Two major light displays brighten Vancouver's Burrard Street, cheering afternoon commuters as the days shorten and dusk arrive earlier. The large Sheraton Wall Centre courtyard is lit with thousands of blue-white lights in the trees. A block south, at Helmcken Street, the Lights of Hope are an eye-catching fundraiser at historic St. Paul's Hospital.
Location: Burrard Street between Nelson and Helmcken
3. Bright Nights in Stanley Park
The lights number two million at this city-run attraction, and you'll get to see them all by riding the miniature train.
Dates: Nov. 29, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2013, closed Dec. 25
Address: Stanley Park, off Pineline Rd.
Phone: 1-855-985-5000 (tickets)
Hours: Wed, Sat, and Sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sun to Thurs 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fri and Sat 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Admission: $10 adult, $7 youth, seniors, and children
4. Capilano Suspension Bridge
Lights decorate the 122 m (400 ft.) suspension bridge, the daring Cliffwalk, and the ancient trees in the park.
Address: 3735 Capilano Rd.
Phone: 604-985-7474
Dates: Dec. 1, 2012 to Jan. 5, 2013, closed Dec. 25
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with holiday lights and activities after 4 p.m.
Admission: $65 family rate (2 adults, 2 children)
5. Carol Ships Parade of Lights
For more than 50 years, Vancouver boats have decorated their decks with holiday lights. Each night the boats take a different route, so check the schedule for a specific date. The Lions Gate Bridge is a great spot to catch the flotilla, and many Vancouver boat tours join the water parade.
Dates: Dec. 1 to 23, 2012
Location: Various, including the Lions Gate Bridge, Canada Place, English Bay, False Creek, Science World, West Vancouver, and Deep Cove
Hours: Nightly, approximately 7 to 10 p.m.
6. Bloedel Conservatory
© Chloë Ernst
Tropical palms and lighted waterfalls are part of the holiday-lights decorations at this Vancouver attraction in Queen Elizabeth Park. I especially love to see the glowing conservatory from the outside.
Dates: Dec. 6, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2013, closed Dec. 25
Address: West 33rd Ave. and Cambie St.
Phone: 604-257-8584
Hours: Conservatory closes at 4 p.m. and the lights are on 4:30-9 p.m.
Admission: $7 adult
7. Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
See delicate paper animals, stars, and other lanterns at this pretty solstice festival, which takes place in five Vancouver neighborhoods.
Address: Various neighborhoods
Dates: Dec. 21, 2012
Hours: 6–10 p.m.
Admission: Free
8. Granville Island
It's not on a grand scale, but a few illuminated decorations make Granville Island look extra lovely around Christmas. Bright snowflakes on the lampposts make for a pretty stroll.
Location: Granville Island
9. Beach Avenue
© Chloë Ernst
Along the seawall at Bidwell Street, tree giants lit with more than 12,000 lights are known as the English Bay's Elm Grove. They are pretty to see up close, or from across False Creek.
Location: Beach Avenue at Bidwell Street
10. George Wainborn Park
© Chloë Ernst
Another city light displays sees a giant Sequoia in Yaletown strung with 5,000 holiday lights.
Location: George Wainborn Park, at the southwest end of Richards Street
