The Vancouver Trolley Company’s Karaoke Lights Trolley returns this year for a three-hour tour loaded with festive entertainment. The onboard karaoke machine is back and ready to play all your favourite seasonal tunes.
This year, the trolley leaves from Canada Place (just west of the Pan Pacific Hotel at the Fly Over Canada booth).
The Christmas Market is back for its fourth year. I’ve visited the past three years, and each year, the market grows with even more local artisans, foodstuffs, and dining options. The big opening day happens on November 22 at 11 am.
The handmade German ornaments are still within the larger decorative house in back, while traditional wooden booths are home to a myriad of gift-giving options.
[Top: Candy Meister’s mulled wine candy; L-R: winter-warming ham and cheese spaetzle; a peek through the glass at Das Apfelhaus]
A mug of glühwein (the traditional German mulled wine) along with a juicy sausage or schupfnudeln (rolled noodle) is one of the popular draws for snacking. A tummy-warming portion of spaetzle served with ham and cheese is a great option for a crisp winter visit.
Local glassmaker Braden Hammond will again share a booth with other glass artisans, selling beautiful jewellery, glass bowls, and other trinkets close to the market entrance.
Choir singing, a merry-go-round for kids of all ages, salivating smells: bring it on! The market is a stress-free, enjoyable stroll through a recreated traditional German market, without the jet lag.
The Karaoke Lights Tour visits both Bright Nights at Stanley Park and Festival of Lights at VanDusen Gardens. What’s nice about this tour is the fact that you’ll also get to see Canuck Place, Hycroft House, and St. Paul’s Hospital Lights of Hope holiday displays en route, along with historical tidbits about their origins.
Santa’s on board for added entertainment value. He’s also got a warped sense of humour if you’re willing to engage him. The tour stops at both parks, with just enough time to enjoy their highlights (there won’t be enough time to ride the Stanley Park Christmas train though).
As VanDusen is a much larger park (55 acres), more time is given there to enjoy the dancing light show on the half hour, Santa’s House, and hot drinks or snacks along the way.
The trolley returns to its original starting point. It’s best to head to the Christmas Market first: you’ll want to eat some warm food before the three hour tour, and the market closes at 9 pm.
There are VIP package tours also available, combining both the market and tour. Visit the Vancouver Trolley website for more information.
The Karaoke Christmas Lights tour runs from December 11 to December 30. Pricing is $40 for adults, $35 for seniors/students, and $25 for children. The tour includes park admissions as well as a donation to the Vancouver Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund at Stanley Park’s Bright Nights. Reservations are required.
The Vancouver Christmas Market runs from November 22 to December 24 (11 am to 9 pm daily; December 24, 11 am to 6 pm). Pricing is $6 adults (4 to 9 pm, 11 am to 9 pm weekends); $3 children (aged 7 to 12), and free for kids 6 and under.
There’s a Monday to Friday adult special ticket priced at just $3 between 11 am and 4 pm. Every paid admission includes a re-entry pass valid for the rest of the season.
