Don't miss the Capilano Suspension Bridge's annual holiday light show, Canyon Lights. Located just north of Vancouver, British Columbia, the bridge stretches across the forest canopy and a flowing river, offering amazing views of the surrounding scenery. Through the month of December, more than 250,000 tiny lights transform the Capilano Bridge into a glowing streak of color, high above the treetops. With the exception of Christmas day, visitors can enjoy live holiday music nightly, costumed performers, glass blowing demonstrations and live Christmas trees throughout the park.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
3735 Capilano Road
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1
604-985-7474
capbridge.com/index.html
If Edmonton, Alberta is your destination, don't miss the city's annual light show and tour. For a small fee, volunteer transit drivers will take guests on an hour and a half tour of the city's most beautiful light displays, starting at City Hall and driving through downtown Edmonton, the province's Legislature, and through the BrightNights Festival display in Hawrelak Park.
Edmonton BrightNights Festival
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7
780-496-5784
edmonton.ca/city_government/news/8696.aspx
Visitors to the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario can enjoy a dazzling lightshow at the parliament building. Each night from mid-December to just after New Years, more than 300,000 lights create a glittering display.
Ottawa Capital Lightshow
Parliament Hill
Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
866-599-4999
ottawakiosk.com/christmas-guide.html
Ottawa's downtown Victorian Christmas Festival is another don't-miss. Enjoy a Christmas parade, warm cider and kettle corn, caroling, a live nativity scene and a special lunch with Santa. Activities take place throughout the downtown district.
If your travel plans include Winchester, Ontario, attend the annual Country Christmas Parade of Lights. Each year, the township of North Dundas transforms into Santa's Village--complete with live music, shopping, visits from Santa, ice sculpting and a Christmas parade.
Country Christmas Parade of Lights
636 St. Lawrence Street
Winchester, ON K0C 2K0
613-774-2105
northdundas.com/tourism/parade/parade.htm
Don't miss the Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival held on December 21 inVancuver, BC. Join the party in the streets as performers, musicians, artists and revelers celebrate the season as they sing and dance their way through Vancouver's streets with fiery lanterns in hand.
Secret Lantern Society
#3 -- 717 W. 8th. Ave.
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1C9
604-873-5055
secretlantern.org/
If you're in the Calgary, Alberta area, don't miss the Twelve Days of Christmas celebration at the Heritage Park Historical Village. Every weekend from late November until Christmas, you can enjoy a Christmas breakfast buffet, then bundle up for a horse-drawn wagon ride through the quaint streets of the Park. Other activities include tours of three historically decorated homes, a Christmas railroad for the kids and gingerbread man decorating for the whole family. Finish the day with some shopping at the unique shops in Heritage Park; watch out for the strolling carolers and a certain visitor from the North Pole.
Heritage Park Historical Village
1900 Heritage Drive Southwest
Calgary, AB T2V 2X3
403-268-8500
heritagepark.ca
If you're working over the Christmas break, never fear: HaHaHoHo on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC can help put you in the holiday spirit. This annual Christmas celebration, complete with comedic performances, live music and a gourmet dinner served buffet-style, is the perfect way to celebrate the season with your office-mates.
Just for office workers and their guests, HaHaHoHo is a community Christmas celebration that takes the work out of that annual party. Sign up your small- to medium-sized business, and give your office's party planning committee a break.
HaHaHoHo
#126, 1628 West 1st Ave.
Vancouver, BC V6J 1G1
604-817-1315
hahahoho.ca/about.html
