Visit Santa Guide 2019: Vancouver, Richmond, North Van, Burnaby, and Surrey, BC

November 12, 2019

Hooray for Christmas! It’s time to visit Santa and lie through your teeth. As far as he knows, you’ve been good all year, ate all your vegetables, and you never tried to ride the cat.

Here are all the places you can find the big guy in red and you might get a candy cane out of it.

Please note, there were lots of websites with incomplete info, so I haven’t mentioned those. If you know if a great Santa photo-op that I missed, add it in the comments.

Metro Vancouver

Location: Aurora Winter Festival, Hastings/PNE
Dates: November 22, 2019 – January 5, 2020
Prices: $12.99 – $17.99
Hours: 4pm – 10pm: Time-specific tickets – book yours here

Meet Santa after storytime – details to come.

Location: Oakridge Mall
Dates: November 15 – December 1
Price: $26.99 – $46.99
Hours:
Saturday to Tuesday: 11 AM – 1 PM | 2 PM – 5 PM
Wednesday to Friday: 11 AM – 1 PM | 2 PM – 5 PM | 6 PM – 8 PM

December 2 – December 23
Monday to Saturday: 11 AM – 1 PM | 2 PM – 5 PM | 6 PM – 8 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 1 PM | 2 PM – 5 PM
December 24: 11 AM – 2 PM

BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS
Bring your baby in for its first photo with Santa and receive a complimentary 2019 commemorative “Year of the Piggy” bank that you can personalize with your child’s name.

QUIET SUNDAY MORNINGS WITH SANTA
This sensory-friendly Santa experience is back and continues to grow in popularity every year. Guests can book a 5-minute private session with the big guy himself. Please make an online booking at the link below for the following dates:

December 1: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM – Tickets
December 8: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM – Tickets
December 15: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM – Tickets

SANTA PAWS & MRS CLAWS
Back by popular demand! Oakridge will be offering an expanded “Pet” photo schedule in 2019 on four evenings.

Sunday, November 17 & 24: 6pm – 8pm*
Monday, November 18 & 25: 6pm – 8pm*
*Line-ups are cut off at 8 PM, photos will continue until everyone has been seen.

Location: Van Deusen Festival of Lights
Dates: Nov 30 – Jan 5
Price:
Adults (19-64 years) $19 – $24
Seniors (65+) $14.50 – $19
Garden VBGA members: $14.25 – $18
Children (4-12) $11.50 – $14.75
Children under 3 – Free
Premium nights are December 7, 8, 14, 15, and 21 to 29
Festival of Lights Hours:
Nov 30th to Dec 24th – 4pm – 9:30pm
Dec 25th – closed
Dec 26th to Jan 5 – 4pm – 9:30pm

Santa will be on-site from 4:30pm to 6pm and 7pm to 8:30pm every night.

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Burnaby

Location: Metropolis at Metrotown
Dates: Nov 15 – Dec 24
Price: Minimum donation of $4 per photo, visitors will receive a digital photo with Santa, with proceeds benefiting the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.
Hours:
November 15 – December 18
Monday – Saturday
11 am – 1 pm, 2 pm – 5 pm, 6 pm – 8 pm

Sundays
11 am-2 pm, 3 pm-6 pm

December 19 – December 24*
11am – 1pm, 2 pm – 5 pm, 6 pm – 8 pm

Christmas Eve (December 24)
11 am – 1 pm , 2 pm – 5 pm, 6 pm – 8 pm.

*Photos with Santa closes at 5 pm on Christmas Eve.

Additional services to make your holiday shopping easier:

Text Guest Services: Shoppers can text 604-359-9111 to reach Metropolis’ Guest Services for assistance while in the mall or planning their trip to the mall. Inquire about finding a store, mall hours, parking, children’s stroller, and more.
Extended Holiday Hours: Metropolis offers extended holiday hours from December 1 straight through until Christmas Eve as follows:
- November 29: 8:00am – 10:00pm
- December 1 – 18: 10:00am – 9:00pm – Daily (Expect Sundays: 10:00am – 7:00pm)
- December 19 – 23: 10:00am – 10:00pm – Moonlight Madness
- December 24: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- December 26: 8:00am – 10:00pm

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Location: Burnaby Village Museum, Heritage Christmas
Dates: November 23, 2019 – January 3, 2020 (1:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Price: Free gate admission, Carousel rides $2.65 each (and you’ll want to go on this at least twice)
Hours:
November 23 – Dec 13, 2019
Mon-Fri 1-5:30pm*
Sat-Sun 1-9pm
(Dec 2nd, 1-4:30pm)

Dec 14 – Jan 3 2020
Daily, 1-9pm
(Closed Dec 24th and 25th)

Special entertainment is scheduled throughout the season including theatre performances, community choirs, street characters, and musicians. Many family-favourite activities are back including a craft for children, special performances, and visits with Santa!

North Vancouver

Location: Capilano Mall, North Vancouver
Dates: November 23
Price: Unknown

If you’re there on the first day, see Santa, take a photo and watch a “Live from the North Pole” Christmas Concert and Gingerbread Decorating Workshop with Mrs. Claus in the Grand Court from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Plus, the first 100 children (aged 10 years or younger) that purchase a photo package receive a free Santa lollipop from Purdys Chocolatier. Complimentary hot chocolate (courtesy of Starbucks) is available at Guest Services, too!

(That’s all the info I could find).

Location: Grouse Mountain
Dates: November 22, 2019 – January 5, 2020
Price:
Adult (17-64) – $39
Senior (65+) – $29
Child (5-16) – $19
Family (2 Adults/2 Children) – $99
Tots (0-4)

Events: Breakfast with Santa:
Feel the magic of Vancouver’s North Pole and enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet with a visit with Santa Claus himself!
Altitudes Bistro – 8:30am-10am-Dec: 1, 7, 8, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Lupins Cafe – 9am-10:30am – Nov: 30-Dec: 1, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Enjoy the natural beauty of Blue Grouse Lake, lit by breathtaking light installations. Stroll through the light tunnel and marvel at new additions including a magnificent lit deer.

Experience the tranquil beauty of skating on our 8,000 square foot mountaintop Ice Skating Pond, surrounded by snow-topped trees.
Visit the Theatre in the Sky to enjoy Christmas movies on our large high-definition screen. Or visit Elf Headquarters and create your very own Christmas craft, write a letter to Santa or see how you measure up to an Elf.
These fabulous Peak of Christmas activities are all complimentary with a Mountain Admission Ticket, Annual Membership, Winter Season Pass, or Lift Ticket.

Surrey

Location: Central City Mall
Dates: Nov 15 – Dec 24th
Prices: Click here for Santa’s FastPass payment option to reduce photo line-up wait time and offer convenient online ordering.
Hours: Click here for Santa’s visiting hours.

Photos with Santa are offered from November 15 to December 24 at Santa Land, on the south side of the shopping centre near Tim Hortons.

All kids that visit Santa will receive free treats (while quantities last).
Click here for information on Pet Photos with Santa.
Click here for information on exclusive sensory-friendly photo experiences.