If you are on the hunt for Christmas lights this holiday season, look no further than Bright Nights at Stanley Park, another one of our families favourite events. Where else can you immerse yourself in over 3 million twinkling lights, festive displays, live entertainment and even Santa Claus himself all while enjoying a cozy train ride as a family?
When I say this is an event our family looks forward to each year, I’m not exaggerating. In fact, the minute we step off the train each Christmas, A is already asking to go right back on. While you can walk around the grounds and enjoy many fun things before boarding the train, she truly finds the magic happens during the ride. The evening train ride is our favorite, with hot chocolates in hand we love the 14-minute experience through the forest, featuring some incredible lights, live displays, and performers all while listening to some festive holiday music. Have an early sleeper or prefer the daytime ride? The matinee train is a great activity for families, school groups and groups with children, there are no live performers during the matinee train but there is still lots of magic to see!
Families can enjoy Santa’s Workshop where Photos with Santa Claus himself will be available on Bright Nights for $10 each with proceeds benefiting the BC Burn Fund. Santa will be onsite November 30 – December 22 from 4-9pm, and December 23-24 from 1-9pm. In my experience, Santa gets busy so definitely line up early or have someone save you a spot.
Kris Kringle’s Craft Cabin – Warm up in Kris Kringle’s Craft Cabin with an array of family-friendly activities including face painting, crafts, and holiday films. This fun, indoor addition to Bright Nights is open all operating hours during matinee and evenings.
Live Music – On Saturday & Sunday nights, the Bright Nights plaza will feature live music from the Scrooge Horns and the Tishomingo String Band to get train passengers in the mood for some festive fun.
Food Bank Donations – When you visit Bright Nights, please give generously to our partner charity, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. Bring your non-perishable food items for the food bank.
Food Vendors – Get fuelled for your Bright Nights experience! There will be some yummy treats and food items available at Bright Nights this year. Old Country Pierogis’ Polish comfort food will keep everyone warm and happy, whether it’s a tasty bowl of hunter’s stew or a big plate of pierogis. Or escape from the winter weather to the Reindeers’ Chilly Hut and heat up with chili and classic hot chocolate. Insomniac’s Coffee will be serving up their specialty coffee concoctions for moms and dads while the kids will have a hard time choosing between cotton candy and candy apples from A Sweet Mind. The Praguery food truck will feature mouth-watering Chimney Cakes
– traditional rolled and baked to order pastries with a range of toppings and fillings, and no train ride is complete without a bag of delicious organic popcorn from the CobHouse. Food vendors will be open for both matinee and evening show times.
If that isn’t reason enough to visit, each year Bright Nights in Stanley Park raises money for the BC Burn Fund, it’s one of their largest annual fundraisers in fact. All in-person donations and partial proceeds from ticket sales go to support the BC Burn Fund programs which provide life-saving, life supporting and life enriching services to people in British Columbia and the Yukon. Since 1998 Bright Nights has raised $1.4 million towards Burn Awareness, Research, and Prevention Programs.
Event Details:
Where: Stanley Park Train, Vancouver
When: November 30 2017 – January 6, 2018
Hours:
| Dates | Matinee Train | Night Train |
|---|---|---|
| November 30 – December 14 | Friday to Sunday 10:00am – 2:30pm |
Monday to Sunday 3:00pm – 10:00pm |
| December 15 – December 26 | Daily 10:00am – 2:30pm |
Daily 3:00pm – 11:00pm |
| December 25 | Closed | Closed |
| December 26 | 10:00am – 2:30pm | 3:00pm – 11:00pm |
| December 27 – January 1 | Daily 10:00am – 2:30pm |
Daily 3:00pm – 10:00pm |
| January 2 – January 6
Matinee Train Pricing & |
Closed | Daily 4:00pm – 9:00pm |
Tickets: Adult (19 – 64 years) $12.00 + GST, Senior (65+ years) $9.00 + GST, Youth (13 – 18 years) $9.00 + GST
Child (3 – 12 years) $8.00 + GST, Children (2 years and under) Free | Matinee train $6.00 + GST
Tickets are available online at www.brightnights.ca – Is the time slot you want sold out online? A portion of tickets for each night are reserved for on-site purchase, so even if online tickets are sold out for that day, there will still be tickets for sale on-site. However, since this event is so popular, tickets for the day can sell out quickly. Come early!
On-site ticket sales start at 10:00am from November 30 – January 1 and at 2:00pm from January 2 – 6.
CELEBRATE – 20th Anniversary of Bright Nights
Bright Nights is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this holiday season with a Nostalgic Christmas – a look back on Bright Nights memories, family traditions, classic holiday films, vintage toys and more! Join the celebration by sharing your favourite Bright Nights memory by tagging #BrightNights20 on social.
On Saturday, December 2 from 3-5pm, Bright Nights welcomes family and friends for a special anniversary event to celebrate 20 years of giving, festivities, and lights with an anniversary cake and more!
