Sponsored by Gateway Theatre

School’s out, and Christmas is just around the corner, making this the perfect weekend to visit some of Metro Vancouver’s best holiday attractions and events! Don’t spend your weekend indoors shopping – check out our Gift Guide and purchase tickets or memberships so friends and family can enjoy special events throughout the year! Happy Holidays 🎄

Here are our top picks for family-friendly events for the weekend of December 19-21, 2025

🎟 Gateway Theatre presents “Annie” | Richmond

If you’re looking for a meaningful and heartfelt all-ages show to see with your family this holiday season, don’t miss Gateway Theatre’s production of Annie. This iconic, toe-tapping, uplifting show is perfect for audience members of all ages, from those who remember the original film starring Shirley Temple to those who are meeting Annie, Sandy, and Mr. Warbucks for the very first time.

🎅 Starlight with Santa at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre | Vancouver

Step into the 360° Star Theatre, an immersive experience where families can sit under the vast planetarium screens and watch exciting films showcasing the best developments and stories in astronomy. Families can choose the show and time that fits best for their afternoon. After the show, head to the Cosmic Holiday Craft corner to make some stellar ornaments to hang on your tree, head to the Cosmic Courtyard to watch live science demonstrations, and be sure to visit with Santa himself! Snap a festive photo with the big man in red as you whisper your Christmas wishes for him to take back to the North Pole.

☃️ The Peak of Christmas | North Vancouver

Experience a truly magical Christmas atmosphere at The Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain Resort. Christmas in Metro Vancouver is usually grey and wet, but families looking for a Hallmark Christmas experience will find it at The Peak of Christmas. Take in the snow-capped mountains and fresh mountain air while you explore the many family-friendly festive events. Start your day with a magical Breakfast with Santa, an event that sells out each year, before heading over to Santa’s Workshop for crafts and activities, plus a special visit from Santa’s (real!) reindeer in their habitat. Meet iconic holiday characters, enjoy mountaintop skating on the outdoor pond, check out the sliding zone and take in a special holiday movie.

🚂 CP Holiday Train | Agassiz, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is one of the most popular FREE family events every holiday season.   Each event features a boxcar stage, a lineup of great musical talent and a contribution to the local food bank.  All donations stay in the community in which the gift was given. For 2025, the musical performers are Barenaked Ladies! The train rolls into Agassiz, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on December 19, and Port Moody and Port Coquitlam on December 20.

🎄Timberline Ranch | Maple Ridge

Avoid the crowded malls, skip the lengthy line-ups to see Santa, and enjoy a family-friendly, interactive holiday experience at Timberline Country Christmas. Take a wagon ride through a tree-lined country road, learn about the history of Christmas traditions, decorate a sugar cookie, visit the petting zoo and enjoy the many kid-friendly activities throughout.

❄️ Winter Solstice Festival | Vancouver

Celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival at the Chinese Canadian Museum with tangyuan tastings, trilingual storytime, and a special snowy drop-in craft activity!

⭐️ Magic of Gastown | Vancouver

Gastown is transforming into a holiday wonderland, inviting guests to experience The Magic of Gastown—a neighbourhood-wide holiday celebration filled with festive entertainment, nostalgic traditions, immersive experiences and creative displays from local businesses. Throughout the neighbourhood, visitors will encounter roaming carolers, neighbourhood elves, boutique holiday shopping, and twinkling lights set against Gastown’s historic cobblestones. Additionally, free horse-drawn carriage rides return on December 21, reviving a beloved tradition that began in Gastown in the 1980s.

🆓 Christmas Convoy Parade | Maple Ridge

Don’t miss out on this beloved Maple Ridge tradition! Dress up your vehicle to join the parade, or sit along the route to enjoy the convoy of decorated vehicles passing by!  Click on the link above to find out the route, which is slightly different on December 20th and 21st.

 ⛸ Holiday Skating | Various cities

Get a little physical activity into your weekend with holiday-themed skates! This weekend, enjoy an Ugly Christmas Sweater Skate in Burnaby, and a Skate with Santa event in Port Coquitlam. Plus, find out which cities are offering Christmas Eve skates for the whole family!

🎼 Christmas with Chor Leoni | Vancouver

The holidays always make me think of voices raised in song, and no one does a holiday concert quite like Chor Leoni! Chor Leoni presents the joyous return of their treasured holiday tradition, Christmas with Chor Leoni, performed live at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United (1022 Nelson St). Featuring an eclectic program of boisterous holiday classics and soulful candlelit carols, the annual Yuletide program is a beloved holiday favourite.

But wait…There’s more!

Love our list of awesome kid-friendly activities to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend? Then you’ll love our monthly guides too! Take a look at What’s Happening in December.  Don’t forget to bookmark our events calendar to stay updated on awesome events happening in your neighbourhood!

Do you like to be in the know? Sign up for the monthly Family Fun Vancouver newsletter. We give you a peek at all of the great, upcoming, family-friendly activities scheduled for Metro Vancouver.

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If you’re looking for a meaningful and heartfelt all-ages show to see with your family this holiday season, don’t miss Gateway Theatre’s production of Annie. This iconic, toe-tapping, uplifting show is perfect for audience members of all ages, from those who remember the original film starring Shirley Temple to those who are meeting Annie, Sandy, and Mr. Warbucks for the very first time. It’s the 1930s in New York City, and young orphan Annie is desperately trying to hold on to hope and positivity as she searches for a family that will love her. Abandoned as a baby to an orphanage under the cruel directress Miss Hannigan, Annie longs for a life filled with excitement, joy, and most of all, love. Watch as Annie charms those around her with her innocent and lovable outlook on life, her capacity for love and joy, and her deep longing to be part of a family that wants her. This heartwarming production will make audiences hug their own families closer and call to mind the true meaning of the holidays. Click here to purchase your tickets today!