Shipyards Christmas Market
49°19′ N 123°05′ WLower LonsdaleNov 27 to Dec 24, 2026Seasonal
The Shipyards Christmas Market suits families and couples who want a free European-style Christmas market on the North Vancouver waterfront, and it runs daily from 27 November to 24 December 2026. Expect lineups after 4 pm, when the lights come on and the lanes fill.
Photo Braveheart · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Field card · Market · No. 012 · checked 16 Oct 2026
Lineups start after 4 pm, when the lights come on.
Dates and hours
- November 27, 2026 to December 24, 2026Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 16, 2026
Hours · Mon–Thu 11:00–21:00; Fri–Sat 11:00–22:00; Sun 11:00–21:00
- Dec 20, 2026 · 11:00–22:00 (Christmas week late hours)
- Dec 21, 2026 · 11:00–22:00 (Christmas week late hours)
- Dec 22, 2026 · 11:00–22:00 (Christmas week late hours)
- Dec 23, 2026 · 11:00–22:00 (Christmas week late hours)
- Dec 24, 2026 · 11:00–20:00 (Christmas Eve, the last day)
Look out for these at the market
- The City of North Vancouver's outdoor rink sits inside the market, and skating on it costs nothing with your own skates.
- Santa and Mrs Claus pose for photos that the market's elves take for free.
- The keepsake Glühwein mug is new each season and sells only at the market's info booth.
A North Vancouver family started the market in 2024 through their company Parfait Productions, and entry has stayed free. More than 120 vendors sell from over 90 wooden chalets in Shipbuilders' Square. The organizers say every vendor for the past two years has been an independent business from British Columbia. The food stalls sell bratwurst, roasted pork hock, raclette and hot cocoa. Christmas beer pours on tap beside the Glühwein.
Most days run from 11 am to 9 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays go to 10 pm. From 18 to 23 December the market stays open to 10 pm every night, and on Christmas Eve it closes at 8 pm. The City of North Vancouver's Skate Plaza sits inside the market and opens with it. Bring your own skates and the ice is free, or rent a pair at the hut in sizes from kids' 8 to adults' 13.
Santa and Mrs Claus take photos from 4:30 to 8 pm on weekdays and from noon to 3 pm and 5 to 8 pm at weekends. The SeaBus crossing from Waterfront Station takes 12 minutes, and the organizers say the market starts two minutes from the terminal. They acknowledge the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Worth knowing
- Come on a weekday before 4 pm if you want the makers to have time to talk, because the organizers say the stalls stay quiet then.
- Carry some cash, because the organizers say many small makers don't take cards.
- Wear boots and a hood. The quay gets wet after rain, and the wind comes in cold off the water.
Quick answers about Shipyards Christmas Market
Is the Shipyards Christmas Market free?
Yes. The Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver charges no entry fee and asks for no time slot, so you can come back as often as you like.
When is the Shipyards Christmas Market in 2026?
The Shipyards Christmas Market runs daily from Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 at Shipbuilders' Square in North Vancouver. It opens at 11 am every day and closes at 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. From 18 to 23 December it stays open to 10 pm, and on Christmas Eve it closes at 8 pm.
Can you skate at the Shipyards Christmas Market?
Yes. The City of North Vancouver's outdoor rink sits inside the Shipyards Christmas Market and is free with your own skates, and rentals come from the hut beside the ice.
Are dogs allowed at the Shipyards Christmas Market?
Yes. The organizers describe the Shipyards Christmas Market as pet friendly.
What are the hours of Shipyards Christmas Market?
The hours tables on the organizer's home and visit pages start the 10 pm closes on 18 December, and its FAQ starts them on Thursday 17 December. These hours keep the 9 pm close that Thursday, so check before a late visit. Santa's chalet and the entertainment stage keep their own daily schedules.
How many stalls does Shipyards Christmas Market have?
Shipyards Christmas Market has about 90 stalls, by Parfait Productions Inc.'s count.
Where is Shipyards Christmas Market?
Shipyards Christmas Market sets up at Shipbuilders' Square at the Shipyards, Shipbuilders' Square, 125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC.
How much does Shipyards Christmas Market cost?
Shipyards Christmas Market is free to visit.
Is Shipyards Christmas Market open all year?
Shipyards Christmas Market opens for part of the year. The 2026 market opens on Friday 27 November. The organizer has posted the dates and hours, and the stage schedule is still to come.
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In the journal
Read more about Shipyards Christmas Market
Feature · 7 min read
What was the Burrard Dry Dock at the foot of Lonsdale, and what stands on the Shipyards now?
For most of the 20th century the foot of Lonsdale built ships. The City of North Vancouver kept the yard's frames, piers and one crane and built a public waterfront around them.
Feature · 7 min read
Where should you eat and drink in Lower Lonsdale between the Quay and the Shipyards?
Lower Lonsdale packs most of its eating into the blocks between the SeaBus and 3rd Street, and every stop on this walk sits within about 800 metres of the boat.