3 Seasonal Outdoor Events to Enjoy in Vancouver This November

If you’re looking to get in the festive spirit or even just looking for some fun date night or family fun ideas, there are lots to do in the month of November in Vancouver. As one of Canada’s busiest cities, there’s always something to do, no matter the time of year, but the transition from fall to winter comes with some extra special events. Whether you’re looking to light up the night at a Lumiere light installation, drink hot cocoa at a German-inspired Christmas market, or enjoy a stroll through CandyTown, there’s something for everyone.

Lumiere 2021

One of the most unique events that has happened every year in Vancouver for the past five years is the Lumiere art exhibit that takes place all over the city. The event features a number of art installations in well-known locations like Granville Island, English Bay, and Jim Deva Plaza. Inspired by light and artistic impression, Lumiere 2021 takes place from November 12th to 30th. Visit the various exhibits and enjoy the artistic expression, perfect for a night out on the town, a date, or a family outing. 

Vancouver Christmas Market

A throwback to festive old-world festivities, the Vancouver Christmas Market is a seasonal celebration of food, drink, shopping, and music. It’s the perfect place to find a gift for friends and loved ones at Christmas. The market features over 80 artisan huts offering handcrafted gifts, festive food, mulled wine, European beers and spirits, and sweet and savoury desserts of all kinds. 

The European-inspired village is located at Jack Poole Plaza and runs from November 13th to December 24th. Wander down lover’s lane, explore the walk-in Christmas tree, spend some quality time in the alpine lounge, or attach a lock at the love-lock installation. 

No matter your interests, there’s plenty to do and see! 

CandyTown Yaletown Holiday Festival

Taking place exclusively on November 27th from noon to 6 pm in Yaletown, the CandyTown Yaletown Holiday Festival is the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. This family-friendly street festival is completely free and features live music, a market full of handcrafted gifts, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice carving demonstrations, and the CandyTown cocktail tour. 

The Roundhouse Community Centre will also be featuring Vancouver’s own version of the Polar Express at the event, with a historic steam engine, decorated with twinkling lights—a unique photo opportunity for kids of all ages. Enjoy an afternoon in the city and get your Christmas shopping done all at the same time. 

Bonus Event!

The Winter Pop-up Event at the Rosewood Hotel will be back this year begining in mid-November for a very short, but festive, 40-day run! Visit www.rosewoodhotels.com or their Instagram for all the details!

Get in the festive season and enjoy these amazing attractions throughout the month of November. While you’re visiting, be sure to take advantage of the awesome offers from Stay Vancouver Hotels where you can stay and receive gift certificates for Amazon, Starbucks, or iTunes, or take in the city with two half-day bike rentals from CycleCity.  

Cycle Your Way Through May in Downtown Vancouver

If you’re wondering what’s happening this May in Vancouver, embracing the warm weather and locals-only restrictions is on the top of our agenda! It has never been a better time to be a tourist in your own hometown!

Whether enjoying a lunch break now that you’re back at the office, taking advantage of our special staycation discount packages for the whole family, or simply visiting downtown for the day, Cycle City Vancouver has it covered! Assess your cycling route level at bikehub.ca or simply hit the road with this all-ages family route:  

Cycle Vancouver’s Top Self-Guided Stanley Park Tour

Source: Instagram.com/cyclevancouver 

Sharing their most popular bike ride for your safe bubble in DIY fashion, Cycle Vancouver recommends a unique spin on Stanley Park! Borrowing the park’s 28 kilometre long, uninterrupted pathway, you will embark on the familiar path that was constructed almost 100 years ago (due to shipping erosion!) This tour is especially rooted in first nations history as Stanley Park remains unceded First Nations territory. Admire countless monuments, art pieces, attractions and a thousand acres of temperate rainforest. Instagram worthy stops you will enjoy include:

  • The Drop
  • Lost Lagoon
  • Totem Poles
  • Girl in Wetsuit
  • Kid’s Water Park
  • Beaver Lake
  • Prospect Point
  • Hollow Tree
  • Third Beach
  • Old Growth Trees
  • Two-Spirit Stump 
  • Second Beach Pool
  • A-Maze-ing Laughter

Read their full article with all the details of this tour and more at cyclevancouver.com or Get two FREE half-day bike rentals (up to 5 hours) when you book a downtown staycation using promo code “City Cycle”

Source: cyclevancouver.com (snapshot current as of April 2021)

We Love the Spring and, We #LoveVancouver

Spring has sprung Vancouver! March 20 marked the end of winter 2021 and a season of new, outdoor fun to come. So, what is there to do right now in downtown Vancouver? Let’s get outside…

Visit the Local Gardens

Source: TripSavvy

Although the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden remains temporarily closed, the VanDusen Botanical Gardens are open and blooming! Touring this 55-acre landscape, which hosts 7,500+ plant species in the heart of Vancouver means an opportunity for multiple entertaining visits.

VanDusen Botanical Gardens include restaurants, patios and even a full -sizes Elizebethian maze.

Speaking of Queen’s named Elizabeth, visit another of our monarch’s namesakes with a trip to Queen Elizabeth Park.

The Many Murals

Source: Fintan Magee 

It’s no secret there are beautiful murals covering our city streets and brightening the most surprising corners and allies all across town, but did you know there are now more than 250!? Find them all by following the maps created for each neighbourhood at vanmuralfest.ca  

Imagine Van Gogh  

Source: Meeting Professionals International 

Let’s face it… spring or not we may have to plan for rain. We should plan for rain. Imagine Van Gogh is here and, luckily, our sold out staycation package is back too! Book a stay in one of our 38 participating downtown Vancouver hotels for later this summer, and get access to half price tickets to see Imagine Van Gogh Immersive Exhibition at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The original immersive exhibition from Europe featuring more than 200 of the Dutch artist’s paintings. Learn more.

Retail Therapy – Stay and Shop

Who’s not a fan of some retail therapy? We are! Put the fun in spring cleaning by going out with the old and in with the new spring fashions! Spend a weekend shopping in Downtown Vancouver and get a $50 CF SHOP! card® for CF Pacific Centre with ANY Booking.

The $50 CF SHOP! card® is accepted by all retailers at CF Pacific Centre. Use the promo code “StayandShop

Check out the monuments

Instagram @seaside_signs

There are certainly silver linings to this past year of enjoying a little hometown tourism without the crowds and well, tourists!

Take advantage of 2 FREE half day bike rentals and go on a self-guided Downtown Vancouver  Biking tour.  Discover what exactly is up with the many unique statues and sculptures we’re so used to driving right by.Learn More.

What else is happening?

Source: #LoveVancouver

We’d like you to let us know by participating in the ongoing #LoveVancouver event!   Get out and explore Vancouver this spring.  Tell us what are your favourite spots?.  #LoveVancouver neighbourhoods here.

Things To Do October 2020 | Hallowe’en 2020 Vancouver

Hallowe’en 2020 falls on a Blue Moon. That’s right Downtown Vancouver, it’s more than just an expression. A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month, and this isn’t the only reason Hallowe’en 2020 is special. This year will occur on a:

  • Blue moon: The next blue moon will be 2023
  • Saturday: The next time Saturday Halloween will be in 2026
  • Full moon: The next full moon on Halloween will be 2039
  • Plus there is that whole pandemic spook factor… (we’ll just hope that will recur approximately never.)

With all those spooktacular factors aligning on the very year, we all could use an extra excuse for some light-hearted and distracting fun this Haunted Season, it begs the question: Is there a safe way to celebrate this tradition in 2020?

Luckily for us, safe Hallowe’en fun in Downtown Vancouver occurs far more frequently than an average blue moon.

Gastown Ghost Tour 

Photo courtesy of Gastown Ghost Walking Tour

Craving some ghoulish fun? From the Great Fire in 1886 and unsolved murders to the chilling tales of George Vancouver and Gaoler’s Mews,  this Gastown walking tour takes you to the heart of Vancouver’s paranormal activity… Do you dare to learn more?

 

The Forbidden Downtown & Chinatown

Photo courtesy of Prohibition City Walking Tour

Few may remember how far north prohibition spread, but the gangstersspeakeasies and bootleggers from Vancouver’s rum-running past have yet to be forgotten – if you know where to look that is…learn more

Dark Secrets of Stanley Park

 

October Halloween 2020 vancouver
Photo Courtesy of Forbidden Vancouver

Think you know Stanley Park? Are you familiar with the Hidden Cemeteries, Historic Totem Poles, Notorious Crime Scenes, Legends of Ancient Wars, Deadman’s Island, and something strange beneath the seawall? 

Learn when you can tour all the dark secrets of Stanley Park here.

 

Slayland by Playland

Photo courtesy of PNE.ca

While the haunted houses won’t be open, complimentary masks will be limited, rides will be open and Playland will make sure all your screams come true…learn more.

 

 

Trick-or-Treating is Approved Province Wide

Photo Courtesy of Hocus Pocus

For most of the province, our worst fears were settled when Dr. Bonnie Henry declared that, provided certain guidelines are followed, trick or treating will still be safe to proceed this year.

Early instructions include: 

? Pre-packaging treats

? Keeping groups smaller than 5-6

? Encouraging masks (a happy coincidence) 

?Handing out candy in single file lines (perhaps from a cauldron spoon for good measure?)

 

Do you have a Vancouver event or attraction to share? Let us know for a chance to be featured.

10 Ways to Enjoy Vancouver this October!

It’s no secret that Vancouver offers never-ending entertainment for all ages and lifestyles – especially when the city promotes a natural splendour and dazzle that is so hard to resist!

In order to truly experience Vancouver this autumn, we thought we would dig a little deeper. The findings? Regardless of whether you are a tourist, a resident or perhaps just in need of a few envy-worthy snaps for your social media feed, mark your calendars and get ready to experience Vancouver like never before!

Family Fun

Head Down to Harvestland

The whole family is Willkommen to this traditional Bavarian event… learn more

Video courtesy of Harvestland Festival

Fifth Annual Scarecrow Festival

Have you ever attended a scarecrow festival? Come on down for this family fun event, full of hayrides, scavenger hunts, and lots of activities… learn more

Photo courtesy of Art’s Nursery Garden & Home

Big Day BBQ Tailgate Pop-up

Already missing those summer BBQs? Well, this is the ultimate fall BBQ party! Every Sunday until December 29th, 2019 at The American…learn more

Photo courtesy of The American

Celebrate Diwali

Experience everything from cooking classes to dancing and massive performances at the Vancouver Public Library…learn more

Photo courtesy of Vancouver Indian Boat Parties

Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours

Discover the natural beauty of Vancouver’s Stanley Park aboard a horse-drawn carriage on this charming 1-hour tour. Sit back….learn more

Photo courtesy of Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours

Vancouver Fall Home Show

Looking for cozy inspiration this fall? “Leave it to” the Vancouver Home Show — and HGTV’s Bryan Baumler to help you find the latest trends… Learn more

Photo courtesy of Vancouver Home Shows

Halloween Happenings

Gastown Ghost Tour 

Craving some ghoulish fun? This Gastown walking tour takes you to the heart of Vancouver’s paranormal activity… Do you dare to learn more?

Photo courtesy of Gastown Ghost Walking Tour

The Forbidden Downtown & Chinatown

Few may remember how far north prohibition spread, but the speakeasies and bootleggers from Vancouver’s rum-running past have yet to be forgotten – if you know where to look that is…learn more

Photo courtesy of Prohibition City Walking Tour

Dare to Enter Potter’s House of Horrors

Looking for family fun? Potter’s House of Horror is back and they’ve added a second haunted house! Bring your family and friends this Halloween… learn more.

Photo courtesy of Gord Goble/Surrey Now

Fright Nights at Playland

Fright Nights is back again! Leave it to Playland to make sure all your screams come true…learn more.

Photo courtesy of Erik Andersen

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StayVancouverHotels.com wants to help send you to these fun events! Beginning October 15th, receive up to $125 in FREE Visa Reward Cards when you book your stay (or staycation) at any of our 39 Vancouver properties! Staying for more than a night? Earn an additional $50 for each night of your stay. Limited time offer.

Top 5 Beaches in Vancouver

August is the warmest month in Vancouver, BC and an exciting time to be out enjoying the summer weather! Lucky for us, we have excellent beaches that are easily accessible from the best hotels in downtown.

Here are 5 beaches in Vancouver that we highly recommend and which you will absolutely love  – yet another reason to have yourself a staycation in this beautiful city!

 

Continue reading “Top 5 Beaches in Vancouver”