Kid-Friendly Vancouver Holiday Fun at the Christmas Market

December is marching on, the doors on the advent calendars are gradually being opened and we’ve even had a sprinkling of snow. If though you’re still lacking a bit of festive cheer why not head down to the Christmas Market for some kid-friendly Vancouver holiday fun? With local school choirs belting out Christmas classics, thousands of twinkling lights, a huge Christmas tree, oversized candy canes and downtown Vancouver’s first and only Christmas Carousel (which my enthusiastic little elves went on five times) it’s the perfect kid-friendly place to get in the holiday spirit.

Delicious Treats and Gifts

The German style market’s numerous food and drink stalls provide plenty of delicious holiday treats. From chocolate marshmallows and decorate your own gingerbread men to stollen, gulash, schnitzel and roast chestnuts there’s something to suit any palate. Though perhaps get the kids to have their fill of the beautiful carousel ride before sampling the treats. Of course, there’s also scrumptious gluwein for the adults, the cherry flavoured one definitely helped keep my cheeks rosy on a cold crisp evening.

There are also plenty of stalls selling delightful presents and decorations. You’ll find exquisitely carved wooden decorations and ornaments in the Kathe Wohlfahrt, traditional Lauscha glass ornaments from Dresden Germany, accessories from It’s Posh, Richmond and quirky soaps from Art of Soap and plenty more. With all this to choose from you are sure to find a gift for even the pickiest of relative.

Kid-Friendly Vancouver Holiday Fun

The market is full of kid-friendly Vancouver holiday fun. Holly and Jolly, the market’s gingerbread mascots are always about and there’s a fun scavenger hunt too keep them entertained. The Vancouver Christmas Market oozes tradition and it’s a great place to learn about Christmas traditions around the world, some more surprising than others, keep your eyes peeled for the interesting tale of the Christmas Pickle – a US tradition involving hiding a pickle shaped ornament on the tree.

The market is situated on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza at 650 Hamilton Street and is open daily until December 23, 2013 from 11:00am-9:00pm and on December 24, 2013 from 11:00am-6:00pm. It does get busy but we arrived at around 5:30pm and there was plenty of space for little ones to enjoy the atmosphere.

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Vancouver’s Ugliest Christmas Carol Singalong

For a slightly different take on kid-friendly Vancouver holiday fun, head down to the Christmas Market this Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 11:30am. Organizers are asking you to don your ugliest Christmas apparel, sweaters and all. You’ll get a song sheet at the door, and you can pick up a cup of spiced apple cider to whet your whistle. The event promises to be one of the most uplifting and delightfully ugly events of the holiday season.