Check out these family-friendly winter holiday events in Metro Vancouver

CBC News has compiled a list of holiday events in Metro Vancouver, including appearances from Santa Claus! 

Some are free, while others require purchasing tickets online in advance. While there are a myriad of Christmas craft fairs and small celebrations in every community, we've mostly focused on the larger events that feature light displays.

The opening days and hours for the events below vary quite a bit, and some close early or are entirely closed on Dec. 24, 25, 26, Dec. 31 and Jan 1. To avoid disappointment, check a specific event's website for the most up-to-date information before you go.

Vancouver

Festival of Lights at Van Dusen Gardens
Nov. 29 - Jan. 5
Five-acre garden decorated with more than one million tiny lights.
Wheelchair accessible, with detailed accessibility information on website.
Tickets available online only.

Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza
Dec. 13 - Nov. 24
An outdoor market that includes live music, lights, food, an outdoor carousel.
Santa is available for photo ops during select hours.
Buy tickets online or in person.

Bright Nights Train at Stanley Park
Nov. 29 - Jan. 4
Sold out. No tickets available. Tickets were sold exclusively online starting Nov. 8, and no tickets are available in person.

Burnaby

Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel
Nov. 23 - Jan. 3
The 10-acre outdoor site overlooking Deer Lake is decorated with lights, and live entertainers and carolers abound. Santa is on site.
Free entry, carousel is $2.75 per ride.
Parking is limited. Check the website in advance, as it may be at capacity during busy hours.
Site and carousel are wheelchair accessible.

Surrey

Bear Creek Christmas Train
Dec. 4 - Dec. 29
Includes a greeting from Santa and the Grinch, a craft table and a special treat. Santa will be on site until Dec. 24 only.
Tickets are available both online and in-person, but train times vary, so check the website in advance.
Wheelchair accessible. Call for details.

Noel Holiday Light Festival and Market at Cloverdale Fairgrounds
Nov. 28 - Dec. 23
Outdoor light festival with a holiday market. The festival site includes a Ferris wheel, face-painting, visits from the Grinch, Holiday princesses (Elsa lookalikes) and picture opportunities with Santa every night.
Tickets available online.
 

White Rock

Bright Walk in White Rock
Dec. 7 - Jan. 12
The city's waterfront and long, wooden pier are illuminated with festive lights after dusk. Various other holiday events happen near the pier. Check the city's website for more details.
Free

Coquitlam

Lights at Lafarge Lake
Nov. 22 - Feb. 28
A one-kilometre-long path around the lake is decorated with lights that turn on from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Because it's free, it gets busy, so the city recommends taking public transit. The Millennium Line SkyTrain stops beside the lake at the Lafarge Lake-Douglas stop. If you drive, check the website ahead of time for the parking map.
Accessibility: Trail is flat and mostly paved but with one section of finely packed gravel.

Richmond

Steveston's Winter in the Village
Nov. 23 - Dec. 31
Extensive holiday light displays, live music, craft markets, story-time events and dress-up opportunities.
Mostly free. Some locations are ticketed.
Hours and offerings vary. Check the city's calendar of events for details.

Festival of Trees at Steveston's Gulf of Georgia Cannery
Dec. 1 - Jan. 7
Local groups and companies have decorated their own trees which are on display inside the museum, and competing for first place. 
Tickets available at the entrance.
Free admission on Dec. 3, during which Santa will be available for pictures during select hours. Check website.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train - Various Locations

You can't ride the CPKC Holiday Train, but it is a full-sized train decorated with lights, and you can watch it pull into the station (giving it Polar Bear Express vibes). A stage door then lowers, and musicians perform from aboard. The event itself runs for less than an hour, so don't be late. There are only five stops in or near Metro Vancouver, with several others in the Interior. Check the website for detailed stop locations and times.

Stops in Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Agassiz
Dec. 19

Stops in Port Moody and in Port Coquitlam
Dec. 20