Where is the Christmas Train, and Bright Nights?

Bright Nights, and the Christmas Train, take place in the Miniature Train area of Stanley Park.

The Miniature Train is located not far from the Vancouver Aquarium, and Lumberman’s Arch.

A few steps away is the Stanley Park Children’s Farmyard: a cute place where kids can see sheep, goats, cows, giant pig, and snakes.

While the 10-minute Miniature Train ride is fun for little kids year-round, twice a year it transforms into a popular night-time event. Even older kids like the Halloween Ghost Train and the “Christmas Train”, aka as Stanley Park “Bright Nights” because of the sparkling display of lights created every year to benefit the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.

How to Enjoy Stanley Park Bright Nights

• Visitors are free to stroll through the displays of lights without riding the train: you may wish to make a donation to the Burn Fund, but it’s not required.
• parking is free after 3 p.m.
• Dates for Bright Nights are from November 28 2008 to January 3 2009, 3 pm – 10 pm (closed Christmas Day).
• Snacks on-the-spot include hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts, and popcorn sold by the Stanley Park Ecology Society.
• Street entertainers, choirs, bands add to the fun
• allow enough time to visit the Children’s Farmyard (which closes earlier, at 9 p.m.)
• kids can visit Santa in his “living room” at the train station

The “Christmas Train” Ride

• ticket price includes entrance to the Children’s Farmyard too.
• rates are $8/adult, $5 for kids 2 to 1
• tickets are sold for half-hour time slots
• Tickets sell out fast; fortunately, you can buy online. See Stanley Park Bright Nights for purchase link.
• each day, half the tickets for that night’s rides will be reserved to go on sale at noon, on a first-come first-served basis.

This means that — even if you don’t buy tickets in advance– if you arrive early, you should have a good chance of riding the train that night. While waiting for the train ride you can play at a nearby playground, stroll the seawall, or even drive to a nearby restaurant and return for your time slot.

And of course, once it’s dark, you can enjoy the displays of a million sparkling lights in Stanley Park’s forest setting.

The West Coast Christmas Show debuting this November 28-30 at the Tradex Exhibition Centre, is Western Canada’s first Holiday Season Show that brings together under one roof Holiday décor, gifts, food, personal services, festive seminars and celebrity stage presentations.

Visitors to the West Coast Christmas Show will discover amongst the multitude of exhibits new ideas and products for holiday gift shopping, entertaining and home decorating. Amongst the many exhibits visitors will find a wide range of holiday decor items, holiday spirits & wine, specialty foods, beverages, condiments, seasonings, cheeses and chocolates along with unique and hard to find gift items both from artisans as well as unique manufacturers.

New holiday decorating ideas will abound throughout the show amongst the unique seasonal décor exhibits as well as on the HGTV Festive Decor Stage where HG Television celebrities will teach and entertain with the latest in design and décor ideas for the home.

Also featured will be wineries and  spirits vendors sampling their products in the adults only Holiday Spirits Tasting Pavilion. In the adjacent Grapes & Hops Presentation Stage area continuous seminars will be conducted on mixology and wine and liquor tasting and appreciation.

With 27 days remaining before Christmas, the West Coast Christmas Show’s timing is perfect for visitors to stock up on holiday entertaining needs and discover new ideas on home decorating and entertaining for a fun-filled Holiday Season.

Christmas at Canada Place – Dec 4th to 31st (Light shows from 6pm to 10pm nightly) – See Canada Place like never before as we unveil Christmas at Canada Place… On the Sails! This year’s event features high impact holiday light shows from December 4 to 31 on Canada Place’s iconic five sails. Viewable from Coal Harbour, Stanley Park, the North Shore, Gastown and Carol Ships on the water, watch as Canada Place’s sails transform into a dazzling display of light and colour.

If you feel like letting off steam and having some fun after a busy day of work, we have the answer. Join Meet Market Adventures and Hundreds Of Singles at the trendy Cellar Lounge for a night unlike no other. Enjoy Mingling, Networking, Flirting & Dancing with Over 200 Of Vancouver’s Hottest Singles! Aimed at professionals, these events are the perfect way to meet plenty of like-minded single people in a relaxed party atmosphere. This magnificent soiree will include complimentary light Hors d’oeuvres, fun icebreakers, tons of giveaways, GREAT drink specials, DJ & Dancing all night long. Arrive early and your name will be entered in our Grand Prize Draw for an All Expense Paid Weekend Adventure! This is positively a party you won’t want to miss!

Shop the Stops – FREE Holiday Shopping Trolley – Grab a FREE ride on the Holiday Shopping Trolley and support shops along the future Canada Line. This holiday season, shoppers are invited to enjoy the FREE Canada Line Holiday Shopping Trolley. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday leading up to Christmas, beginning November 28th until Dec 21, the Canada Line Holiday Shopping Trolley will pick up and drop off at convenient locations along the future Canada Line route, helping you to Shop the Line and find those unique gifts while supporting your favourite local businesses.

Rogers Santa Claus Parade – Sunday December 7, 2008  from 1:00pm – 2:30pm Downtown Vancouver – The Rogers Santa Claus Parade features over 60 marching bands, dance troupes, festive floats and community groups, which entertain over 300,000 spectators. Produced by Rogers Retail, Rogers Wireless and Rogers Radio, the televised Parade is the Lower Mainland’s biggest winter event lining the streets of West Georgia and Howe. A very special part of the Rogers Santa Claus Parade is celebrating the “Spirit of Giving”. Each year, Rogers volunteers collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations on behalf of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Like to make your own gifts? BC’s Creative Expo is on November 7-8th at the Vancouver Convention Centre – BC’s Largest Hands-On Craft Show. A consumer education trade event showcasing: Scrapbooking, Quilting, Sewing, Knitting, Needlework, Fiber Arts, Beading and Crafting. Exhibits, Hands on Classes, Educational Seminars, Free Stage Shows, Contests and Door Prizes.

Just want to buy the hand-made gifts? The 35th annual Circle Craft Christmas Market will be a six day show starting Tuesday, Nov. 11 until Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 where you can find more than 266 Canadian artisans under the sails of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre to present their wares at Western Canada’s largest one-of-a-kind gift fair. Shoppers and attendees will find gorgeous clay work, the newest and hottest of Canadian fashion and jewelery design, stunning glasswork, handmade candles and soaps, unique clothing and toy items for children, an assortment of amazing home décor items (from ceiling tin to floor mats to garden sculptures), fine art from acclaimed visual artists, and many more carefully handcrafted items in felt, wool, wood, leather and metal. And, there’s food—delicious chocolates, sauces, dressings and more!

A Christmas Carol – The Musical unfolds with Scrooge conducting his daily banking business in the midst of joyous Christmas caroling. November 14-30th @ Shadbolt Centre For The Arts. The holidays are a wonderful time for the spectacle of theatre, and this is the year to make sure to include Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” in your theatrical plans.  Come and awaken your holiday spirit with us!

The annual Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk brings families and friends together. The event is held across North America, so check the city closest to you and sign up! Dec. 6th in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Nanimo, and Victoria!