Spirit of the Season Festival
49°19′ N 123°05′ WFestivalNov 28, 2026Dates projectedSeasonal
The Spirit of the Season Festival at the Shipyards in North Vancouver suits families who want Santa and a tree lighting on one free evening by the harbour. The City of North Vancouver had not set the 2026 date by 16 October 2026, and the 2025 festival ran on Saturday 29 November from 4 pm to 8 pm.
Photo Braveheart · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dates and hours
- November 28, 2026Projected from past yearschecked Oct 16, 2026
- November 29, 2025Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 16, 2026
Date rule: A Saturday in late November (the last Saturday of the month in 2025)
In 2025 Santa and Mrs. Claus pulled up on a City fire truck at Shipbuilders' Square at 3:45 pm. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ) opened the evening at 4 pm with a welcome and song, and the Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) followed with its welcome and the Eagle Song Dancers. Mayor Linda Buchanan and Council then led everyone to the foot of Lonsdale to light the City's giant holiday tree.
The Shipyards Christmas Market ran from 11 am to 10 pm that day, and a holiday pop-up by the Vancouver Etsy Co. filled the Pipe Shop from 11 am to 5 pm. The whole festival was free.
Worth knowing
- Ride the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and walk a few minutes east to the Shipyards.
Quick answers about Spirit of the Season Festival
When is the Shipyards tree lighting in 2026?
The City of North Vancouver had not announced the 2026 Spirit of the Season Festival date by 16 October 2026. The 2025 festival ran on Saturday 29 November, and the tree at the foot of Lonsdale lit up between 4:20 and 4:45 pm.
Is the Spirit of the Season Festival free?
Yes. The City of North Vancouver's Spirit of the Season Festival at the Shipyards was free for everyone in 2025.
What are the opening hours of Spirit of the Season Festival?
Spirit of the Season Festival is open the 2025 festival ran from 4 pm to 8 pm, and the tree went up in lights between 4:20 and 4:45 pm.
In the journal
